Falling in Love with The Scottish Borders: Romantic Getaways to Warm your Heart
From rolling hills and open moorland to rugged coastlines and star-studded skies, Scotland’s Border country has long been capturing the hearts of those who visit. Add to this some of the world’s best salmon fishing, golf courses, hiking and cycle trails and it’s clear to see why so many succumb to the charms of the Scottish Borders.
Kelso, Scotland’s ‘most beautiful’ town is no exception. With picturesque landscapes that belie a colourful past, pretty cobbled streets with traditional markets and oodles of architectural and historical interest, it’s a great base to explore the region.
So, what to do on a romantic trip to the Borders?
To the Moon and Back
The Scottish Borders offer some of the very best dark skies for star gazing – either in Scotland, or a short drive south in Northumberland’s Kielder Observatory. With little light pollution to distract from the star-studded skies and meteor showers above, why not take a short drive to the Eildon Hills, take in the views and watch the sunset followed by front-row seats to a show of magnificent constellations.
Romantic Roams
The Scottish Borders are a walker’s paradise, famed for their abundant wildlife, heather-clad rolling hills, lochs and forests – and jaw dropping views to boot. Pick up long-distance walking route The Border Abbeys Way which criss-crosses Kelso, or head out to Scott’s View, a lookout that was known to be one of Sir Walter Scott’s favourite places and earn yourself some panoramic views of the Tweed and the Eildon Hills. For a super local walk, we recommend a jaunt to Smailholm Tower over woodland and farmland or try the flat riverside loop to Roxburgh following the Tweed and a disused railway track. If a sedate stroll is more your thing, there are plenty of shorter, circular routes to pick from including the charming Kelso Town Trail.
Plenty of Fish
Keep the pace leisurely and get away from it all with a day on the riverbank. Reconnect with each other, with nature and enjoy the time together just ‘being’. If you want to try your hand at fishing, we can put you in touch with local experts to ensure you have the best advice on choosing a beat, hiring your tackle and obtaining the necessary permits. We’ll even send you off with a luxury picnic to enjoy as you while away a few hours on the Tweed.
Set Your Hearts Racing
With an abundance of dedicated waymarked cycle routes stretching from Biggar to Berwick-upon-Tweed there’s plenty to draw two-wheel enthusiasts to the Borders. After all, it’s a great way to see the countryside in all its glory – oh, did we mention the views? For the long-distance riders there’s the scenic Four Abbeys Cycle Route and the Borderloop which pass through some of the Border’s best-known towns including Kelso and for the thrill seekers there are two world-class 7stanes mounting biking centres. At the end of a day’s cycling, your bike can be stored securely at Ednam House. Your legs, on the other hand, might not be feeling quite so secure after all those hills!
Nature Lovers
The varying landscapes of the Borders play host to a wide variety of native wildlife. Take a trip to any of the seven forests that make up Tweed Valley Forest Park and you’ve got a good chance of seeing otters, red squirrels, badgers, roe deer and foxes as well as ospreys which have bred along the Tweed every summer since the late 1990s. Enjoy a stroll, there are trails for all abilities, and keep your eyes peeled…
Fairytale Romance
While the region’s iconic castles may represent a colourful past, they are certainly in keeping with our childhood notions of fairy tale romance. And there’s no shortage of mighty fortresses and stately houses to be viewed. Take time to explore Floors Castle, just a stone’s throw from Ednam House and the largest inhabited castle in Scotland. Or visit Hermitage Castle, where Mary of Queen of Scots once visited her secret lover, the 4th Earl of Bothwell. Let yourself be enchanted by nearly one thousand years of history at Traquair House, trace the footsteps of the kings of Scotland and wander through the extensive woodlands and grounds.
The Food of Love
Scotland is the perfect spot to enjoy a foodie love affair. Think of traditional Scottish dishes and haggis, whisky, ales, scones and shortbread are likely to spring to mind – all must-try foods, deeply rooted in Scottish history. Visit the Borders, and you’ll eat like a king or queen, enjoying local specialities including premium grass-fed beef and lamb, award-winning cheeses, the many diverse species of native pears, apples and plums and of course the freshest salmon and trout from the Tweed and the Atlantic. Naturally the menu at Ednam House, awarded an AA rosette for culinary excellence, brims with the flavours from our fields, rivers and shorelines. Combine soft candlelight with exceptional cuisine and friendly service and you have a recipe for romance.
Get ahead for Valentine’s Day and browse our gift vouchers online and find an experience you can share together at a later date. Our vouchers are valid for 18 months.