Scottish Borders

There are parts of Scotland that shout about themselves; the Scottish Borders is happier keeping quiet. Here, wooded river valleys give way to great sweeps of moorland, empty trails thread across the hills and lochs appear between the folds. It’s wonderfully peaceful country for walking, cycling, wild swimming and generally dropping off the radar for a few days – particularly with a dog padding along beside you.

Our little collection of Scottish Borders hideaways is made for romance or solo stays. Over in the Yarrow Valley, The Scullery is an art-filled former farmhouse scullery beside the Ladhope Burn, surrounded by wild moors and walks straight from the door. And near West Linton, Wilderkin Cabin is a beautifully pared-back eco cabin with its own swimming pond and hot tub – astonishingly, just 30 minutes from Edinburgh.

You can happily stay put, but there’s plenty worth emerging for. Walk around St Mary’s Loch or pick up a stretch of the Southern Upland Way; climb Ruberslaw; mountain bike around Innerleithen; or spend an afternoon pottering around Melrose and its ruined abbey. Then retreat back into the quiet. Around here, you’re often more likely to cross paths with a deer than another person.