The Scottish Borders region includes about 1,800 square miles of land, stretching below Edinburgh and The Lothians, from the moors in the west, to the Berwickshire coast in the east. It’s a landscape as spectacular as it has been contested. Bloody battles have been fought here, but the Scottish kings have also built some impressive monuments to their wealth and power in the region. Some of the best places to stay in the Borders are the old manor houses and strongholds built to fortify and rule the area, and we'e uncovered a couple of country house hotels, as well as foodie-friendly pubs-with-rooms, and a couple of great options for walkers and other sports lovers.

Keen walkers will know the Scottish Borders as the northern end of the Pennine Way, the long distance walking trail which follows part of Hadrian's Wall from Edale to Kirk Yetholm, and there are plenty of stretches of Way available to day-trippers. Some of our hotel recommendations are close to the route, and will provide hearty fare and a good place to rest up. The Borders also has its fair share of dramatic peaks and thundering waterfalls. There are also plenty of mountain biking trails which will lead you through heathered moorlands. The River Tweed is well known for its fishing, and a couple of our picks have hotel ghillies who can help make sure your fishing trip is a success.

But the scale of the Borders landscape means that one of the best ways to experience it is on a road trip — possibly via the abbey towns of Melrose, Kelso and Jedburgh. Those with a literary bent might be interested in taking a pilgrimage to Galashiels, near Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, or visit Wigtown for its annual book festival. You may even want to drive as far as the coast, to Eyemouth Harbour, a fully working functional harbour where visitors can grab a bite to eat and watch the boats and seals go by.

This region is becoming increasingly well known to visitors, so we recommend getting organised and booking early to guarantee your room in the best places to stay in the Borders.

The Best Places to Stay in the Borders

For a Country House Retreat

• Fauhope Country House is a gorgeous Arts and Crafts style property, just north of Melrose, with glorious views across the Eildon Hills. The conversion from private home to B&B has been sympathetically done, and the three guest rooms feel like you’re a house guest as much as a paying one. Each of the rooms has been uniquely put together, and feature open fireplaces, antiques and cheerful details. Guests also have a drawing room with open fire, and can enjoy the sprawling gardens. There’s no restaurant, but the breakfast is excellent!

For Sports Enthusiasts

• Schloss Roxburghe is a beautiful country house hotel, surrounded by spectacular countryside. The hotel has its own ghillie, who’ll take you out on the nearby Tweed, its own championship golf course, and a falconry centre, plus you can try archery, shooting, mountain biking, or go hot air ballooning. Then come back in for an incredible meal in the hotel’s Modern British restaurant.

For a Rural Escape

• As you may guess from the name, The Ghillie is a perfect pick for fisher-folk: a striking Georgian house set on three acres of mature gardens, not too far from Selkirk and the salmon of the Tweed River. With just two beautifully styled rooms, it’s also a wonderful escape, or a place to work on your novel, or relax with friends, or just your significant other. Expect peace and quiet, Pimms on the lawn, hearty breakfasts of whisky porridge, beautiful surrounds and warm hosts.

For Foodies

• Burts Hotel in Melrose is a quintessential British pub, with a friendly bar and great restaurant downstairs, and 20 well-designed rooms and suites upstairs. The decor downstairs has a traditional flavour, while upstairs there’s more light and a classic contemporary hotel style — think feature wallpapers and chic tartan rugs. Eat in the cosy bistro for a friendly, laid-back experience, or in Burts Restaurant, which has has been awarded 2AA Rosettes every year since 1995!
• The Horseshoe Inn is a charming restaurant with rooms in a picturesque village in the Borders region just north of Peebles. The award-winning restaurant is known for its traditional Scottish fare, and for championing local produce. The inn’s eight guest rooms are simply dressed with traditional details.

For Families

• The Townhouse Hotel is perfectly positioned on Melrose’s Market Square, in the historic part of town, and offers eleven smart, individually styled rooms and suites — including a family room. The Townhouse has two restaurants, a laid-back brasserie, perfect for families, and a fine-dining restaurant — both champion locally sourced, and seasonal produce. Great for outdoors folk, as well as families.

For Great Value

• Caddon View is a lovingly renovated 19th century country mansion, in pretty Innerleithen (which is only 30 miles outside of Edinburgh). The eight guest rooms have been redecorated simply, but still feature plenty of period details, backdrop to a nice collection of antiques. Dinner starts with a glass of Prosecco or a cocktail, in the drawing room. The daily changing dinner menu is inspired by local produce. Loved by walkers, mountain bikers, golfers and fisher-folk.
• The Allanton Inn is a traditional pub in a pretty village close to the Tweed River, with an award-winning menu, and five guest rooms. Expect classic British fare carefully sourced locally, and country-style decor. Great for walkers, and some of the rooms would suit families too.

Best B&Bs

• Set right against the town walls of Berwick-upon-Tweed, The Walls B&B is an elegant and affordable option, with three lovely, light-filled rooms decorated with antiques and chintz fabrics.  Converted from a spacious, Georgian townhouse, The Walls has incredible views of the River Tweed estuary and the river’s magnificent bridge.  Breakfast is a highlight, served in the dining room, and the cosy lounge is a pleasure to return to after a day of exploring.  The owner have been doing this for a while and they do it well, and have tried and tested local recommendations for place to eat and drink, and for activities.  

Prefer a Holiday Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• The Borders region is convenient for Edinburgh International Airport, Glasgow Airport, and Newcastle International Airport, depending on where you’re travelling from, and which part of the Borders you’re exploring first. If you’re travelling from London you’re looking at around six hours by public transport, or car.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Summer is the busiest time to visit the Borders, but the scenery in autumn is fabulous too, and there is still plenty of daylight in September and early October to enjoy it in. If you’re hoping for sunshine try June and July, but even if you come during the warmest part of the year, August, when temperatures are in the low 20°Cs, there’s still a chance of rain. In fact the best thing to do when planning your visit to Scotland is to make sure you pack plenty of waterproof layers.

Still not sure?

• Refine your search to just the best places to stay in Melrose
• Or in nearby nearby Dumfries or Berwick-upon-Tweed
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.