Southern Scotland

Southern Scotland (including Dumfries & Galloway, and the Scottish Borders) has something for everyone with historic castles and abbeys, distilleries, botanic gardens, walking trails, outdoor activities, fabulous scenery and miles of picturesque coastline. It's easy to reach from Edinburgh and from England. South Scotland is included in the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel guide for 2023.

Staying with Scotland’s Best B&Bs means you can be sure of high standards and enjoy a rural retreat with a very personal, warm welcome from your hosts. Living locally means that your host will know the special places to visit, the best places to eat and everything to make your stay memorable.

Top 3 reasons to visit:

1. HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS including dozens of castles, the romantic Border Abbeys, and Abbotsford - the home of Sir Walter Scott.
2. STUNNING SCENERY with rolling hills, magnificent forests, lochs and miles of unspoilt coastline.
3. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES here include scenic walks, mountain biking, cycling, fishing, horse riding, surfing and more.

TOP 12 PLACES TO VISIT IN SOUTHERN SCOTLAND

Hermitage Castle - one of the most sinister and atmospheric castles in Scotland 5 Star Logan Botanic Garden - Scotland’s Most Exotic Garden The Crawick Multiverse - a vast open air artspace designed by Charles Jencks and inspired by the cosmos Abbotsford - home of Sir Walter Scott - now accessible via the Borders Railway Caerlaverock Castle - unique 13th century moated triangular castle Galloway Forest Park (the UK's first Dark Sky Park) and Red Deer Range Traquair House - Scotland's oldest inhabited house The Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall - one of the UK's top 5 highest waterfalls Border Abbeys - Jedburgh, Melrose, Kelso, Dryburgh Threave Castle - only reached by taking a boat Floors Castle - family home of the Duke of Roxburghe The Mull of Galloway - Scotland's southernmost point

Grey Mare's Tail waterfall - photo copyright VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

You can explore the rolling countryside with walking trails such as the Southern Upland Way, the Annandale Way and Mull of Galloway Trail, or be more adventurous at the 7stanes mountain biking centres in the forests of Southern Scotland. Fishing on the River Tweed, golf, horse riding and surfing are also popular pursuits.

 
Mountain biking in the Glentress forest. Photo copyright David N. Anderson / Visit Scotland

Stay with Scotland's Best B&Bs in the Scottish Borders

Mill House B&B

This 4 Star GOLD B&B is in a converted 18th century mill near Kelso. It is less than 2 miles from the English border and ideal for visiting the Berwickshire/Northumberland coastline, as well as the historic Border towns of Kelso, Melrose and Jedburgh with their famous Abbey ruins. Mill House is perfect for walkers as it is at the end of The Pennine Way and also close to St Cuthbert’s Way Trail from Melrose to Lindisfarne. Choice of 5 spacious rooms/suites (double, twin, family). A full Scottish breakfast is served in the panelled Dining Room. Guests can also relax on the patio or in the drawing room with open fire. BOOK NOW

Stay with Scotland's Best B&Bs in Dumfries and Galloway

Southpark House

This 4 Star GOLD B&B sits on the edge of the market town of Dumfries. Relax in spacious grounds with spectacular panoramic views over the Nithsdale valley. Choice of stylish ensuite double, twin and single rooms. Hearty Scottish breakfasts with local produce. This scenic area offers mountain biking, walking, pony trekking, wildlife watching, fishing and golf. Close to the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, as well as the Solway coast and beaches. Historic sites nearly include Robert Burns House, Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, Caerlaverock Castle and Drumlanrig Castle. BOOK NOW

Nithbank Country Estate

5 Star GOLD luxury accommodation at Nithbank Country Estate in this secluded Scottish Country House just 14 miles from Dumfries. Choice of 3 suites (super-kingsize double). Set in ancient woodland with river frontage and breath taking views, this is a peaceful retreat where you can also enjoy wildlife watching, field sports, fishing, golf, walking, cycling, mountain biking, Galloway Forest Park, distilleries and castles such as Drumlanrig. Green Tourism Gold award and Biosphere Certification Mark from the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere for commitment to sustainability. Taste our Best award. BOOK NOW

Torbeckhill B&B

This 4 Star B&B (10 miles from Lockerbie) is set in 16 acres of grounds with spectacular views of the hills of South West Scotland and the Solway Firth, with the Lake District in the background. It is an ideal stopping off point if you are traveling North or South between England and Scotland with the M74 being just a few minutes away. Explore nearby castles such as Caerlaverock, Drumlanrig, Threave and Hermitage. Torbeckhill offers 2 bedrooms (double / twin) on the ground floor, and extensive home cooked breakfasts. BOOK NOW

The Waterside Rooms

This 4 Star B&B on the coast directly overlooks the pictureque Solway Estuary in Dumfriesshire. Enjoy wildlife spotting and coastal walks or explore historic sites and castles including Caerlaverock. Gretna Green 7 miles. Dumfries 20 miles. Accommodation is in one self-contained suite of rooms with king sized bedroom, private lounge with sofa-bed, designer shower room and spectacular sea views. Sleeps up to 4 people. Breakfast is served in the upper dining room with panoramic views out over the Solway Firth. BOOK NOW

BEST TIMES TO VISIT SOUTHERN SCOTLAND

Highland Games, farmers' markets, annual agricultural shows and food festivals are a great way to enjoy local produce and entertainment.  
Also worth seeing are the Common Ridings which are colourful festivals that take place every year from June to August. Eleven towns in the Scottish Borders celebrate with magnificent rideouts involving hundreds of horses in events which stems from the 13th/14th century history of the Borders Reivers.

 
One of the spectactular Common Ridings events

Discover our pages on:

Attractions in Dumfries & Galloway - Castles in Dumfries & Galloway

Attractions in the Scottish Borders - Castles in the Scottish Borders