17 Best Hotels in The Borders and the Southwest, Scotland

This rather grand building on the banks of the River Tweed is close to Kelso's great abbey and sprawling market square. The main hall is part of the original 1761 home and welcomes you with deep-seated armchairs, lovely paintings, and an open fire. Just beyond is the spacious and luxurious lounge. Bedrooms range from the smaller attic rooms with fine views to the very grand rooms on the ground floor. The restaurant's three windowed walls overlook the garden and river, and its Scottish fare includes Borders beef, Highlands venison, and traditional puddings. Despite the rather aristocratic air, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the staff are friendly and attentive.

The richly decorated Victorian-style rooms of this 18th-century stone manor house have nice touches such as four-poster beds and cozy fireplaces; 15 acres of gardens and woods surround the B&B. There are splendid views across to the English border at Carter Bar and to the Cheviot hills in the southeast. Breakfasts include tasty house-made jams and local honey.

Bursting with charm, this elegant 18th-century hotel has a lot going for it, including an excellent restaurant and spacious guest rooms that are individually decorated with cozy beds, contemporary wood furniture, and soft lighting. The first-class restaurant has giant windows overlooking the well-kept garden. Locals love that the ingredients are locally sourced and the food is full of imagination. Expect everything from haddock-and-chips to tandoori roast cauliflower.

West of Selkirk, this Alpine-style hotel enjoys a lovely setting among the woods and hills. The comfortable rooms are decorated in primary colors, and the common areas call attention to the hotel's surroundings with their emphasis on natural-wood furnishings. Families might like one of the lodges on the grounds. The restaurant has an extensive vegetarian and gluten-free menu and serves light lunches as well as dinner, but reservations are required. There's also a cozy lounge near the hotel's entrance.

Dating from the 18th century, this charming whitewashed building in the center of Melrose has individually decorated rooms filled with floral pastels. Public areas continue the floral theme, in the comfortable bar, for example, with its cheerful open fire and a wide selection of fine malt whiskies; it's ideal for a quiet dram before or after a meal. The vast restaurant has high-back upholstered chairs and white-linen tablecloths, and a limited but varied menu; the bar menu is a little cheaper. There is also an extensive and pretty garden, and fishing excursions can be arranged.

Centrally located, the Cairndale has a Victorian Gothic appearance and spacious and comfortable rooms. Inside it is rather old-fashioned, but it provides modern amenities such as a pool, sauna, gym, free Wi-Fi throughout, and well-appointed bathrooms. Attentive staff add to the pleasure of a sumptuous breakfast in the large dining room. The Reivers Restaurant serves good Scottish fare (the sticky toffee pudding is house-made), and parking is free.

Many of the public rooms in this Georgian hotel, built in 1763 as a private mansion, retain their original grandeur, with elaborate plaster ceilings and marble fireplaces. The newer Forest Wing is set in the grounds and is more modern; some balcony rooms have views across the golf course. The bedrooms are individually decorated and filled with nice touches like plush robes and complimentary bottles of sherry. Surrounding the house are 150 acres of parkland, with gardens, a loch, and a golf course. In the restaurant, local ingredients star in such dishes as seared medallions of venison. The staff are friendly and prepared to spoil you. Guests also have access to a fitness suite and swimming pool.

A modest hotel occupying a stone house, most of the comfortable rooms look out on a well-tended, pleasant garden. Breakfasts are of the hearty Scottish kind, and there is a lounge bar (with a bar menu) for relaxation after an active day on the Firth. The hotel also serves both lunch and dinner, with varied fare at reasonable prices. The views from around the hotel take in the length of the Firth.

Close to the River Cree and set among gardens and woodland, the Creebridge places the emphasis on comfort and quiet rural surroundings. Refurbished guest rooms are modern and unpretentious, and the public rooms invite you to sit and relax. The extensive restaurant menu offers a selection of local produce as well as dishes with an Asian touch. You can ask the hotel to arrange activities such as fishing, golfing, or hiking in nearby Galloway Forest Park.

With medieval-style turrets and crow-step gables, this small-scale, peaceful retreat has been restored to its luxurious Victorian past, though with modern facilities like flat-screen TVs. Its setting among manicured lawns and trees underlies the feeling of a grand country house, which is echoed especially in the public rooms. Some of the individually decorated bedrooms have fireplaces and four-poster beds, and all overlook the 28-acre grounds. From the drawing room, there are views over the valley. A walled garden grows produce used in the bright and elegant restaurant, whose menu reflects a commitment to local produce. There is also golf and fishing nearby.

From the terrace of this simple small hotel in a working fishing village, you can look out across the sea to Ireland while eating some delicious seafood. If the weather is unfriendly, relax in the large and airy conservatory restaurant. Rooms are basic but comfortable, and the area has all sorts of outdoor activities. Or you can simply take a walk along the cliff tops minutes from the hotel.

Mature woodlands and verdant lawns surround this imposing, 19th-century mansion-turned-hotel, which is adjacent to the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey on a sweeping bend of the River Tweed. Throughout the hotel you'll feel a sense of peace and quiet in keeping with the location. The public rooms are comfortable while bedrooms are elegant and for the most part quite large; some have canopy beds. The bistro looks out onto the sweeping lawns, and there is a separate breakfast room. Also, unusually for this area, the hotel has a swimming pool.

With the secluded feel of a country hotel, this modern and very comfortable Holiday Inn is less than 2 miles from the center of Dumfries. It is set in the Crichton Estate (owned by the University of the West of Scotland), with lush plantings, rock gardens, and elegant Victorian buildings. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, and all have views of the surrounding lawns and gardens. There are also large and comfortable lounges and bars where you can relax. The restaurant serves dinner, while the brasserie offers food throughout the day. The hotel can organize golfing excursions.

On a row of medieval buildings in the heart of town, Meadhon House is a charming 17th-century house with a history to match; rooms are bright and clean, with views onto the street or over the large and fragrant garden behind the house. The owners are welcoming, and the breakfasts are ample.

One of the great "hydro hotels" built in the 19th century for those anxious to "take the waters," the family-friendly Peebles Hydro has comfortable if rather old-fashioned rooms that are slowly but surely being renovated. Meals are served in a grand dining room reminiscent of the building's Edwardian past. It retains a restful air, and the hotel is especially good for families, with an excellent swimming pool and activities throughout the day for kids, some of which are included in the price. Archery and air rifle shooting under supervision are available, but are not included. A Gin School in the basement allows visitors to distill their own gin with herbs from the market garden. The restaurant serves hearty mainly traditional dishes in a huge dining room.

From its vantage point in splendid isolation on the top of a cliff, the Portpatrick Hotel has wonderful views across the Mull of Galloway. Its turreted buildings add to the panorama. While it's not right in the village of Portpatrick, it's still a good base to visit the attractions of the area, including its outstanding walks and beautiful gardens.

A small and charming facade hides a spacious, lovingly refurbished hotel that stretches back from Peebles High Street and has lovely views of the Tweed River in the back. The rooms are comfortable and nicely furnished, and many overlook the water. Enjoy afternoon tea in the large and pleasant lounge on the ground floor. The restaurant (the Adam Room) feels very grand, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and crystal chandeliers, but the food and the atmosphere are welcoming and unpretentious. There is also food available throughout the day in the ground floor lounge.