Details
Day One – Break for the Border
Make a start on your southern sojourn by arriving at your first hotel, by the attractive Border town of Peebles.
Your hotel in Peebles
Enjoy superb service and hospitality at this family owned 19th-century former baronial castle. With just 12 rooms you’ll feel a touch of exclusivity, while the acclaimed restaurant’s ever-changing menu of locally sourced produce served in impressive surroundings pulls off the trick of feeling simultaneously ‘fine-dining’ and wonderfully relaxed.
Day Two – Out and about in The Borders
There’s so much to see in this part of Scotland, we think you’ll plan a return visit even before you leave. The Tweed Valley features, for example, a wealth of historic houses, their pasts rich in often turbulent stories – Traquair House with its ancient royal connections, and Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford to name but two. The pretty Border towns of Melrose, Kelso, Jedburgh, Hawick and Selkirk are each awash with gardens, ruined abbeys, quirky shopping, fine lunch- and dinner-spots and atmospheres all their own. You might even like to venture a little further to the East Coast, where beautiful beaches and coastal towns and villages offer endless sources of activity and interest.
Day Three – Wend your way to Galloway
Take the long way round, along one of the most picturesque routes in Scotland, perhaps stopping for lunch at Moffat or Thornhill – we’ll provide recommendations for some of our favourites – or maybe for a look around Drumlanrig Castle, eventually arriving at your second stop, in one of southern Scotland’s most charming country house hotels.
Your hotel in Closeburn
The simple elegance on offer at this family owned property, where the quality of the accommodation is perfectly matched with an expertly prepared, locally sourced menu, is sure to leave a lasting impression. The husband-and-wife team have created a superbly comfortable residence, traditional yet relaxed; the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing stroll through the extensive gardens after a fabulous traditional breakfast, or savour a dram in the wood-panelled bar before dinner.
Day Four – Getting to know Galloway
With its glorious green countryside, rolling hills, lush inland forests and inviting towns, we think you’ll love Dumfries and Galloway. Head out today and discover for yourself any number of fabulous sights and attractions; perhaps park the car for a while and stroll a stretch of the Southern Upland Way, not far from your hotel; discover the 13th-century secrets of Sweetheart Abbey, or get your binoculars out at the Galloway RSPB Reserve.
Day Five – Kirkcudbright calling!
Make your way to the archetypal Galloway town of Kirkcudbright (pron: Kir-COO-bree). Like moths to a flame, artists have for generations flocked to Kirkcudbright – hence its nickname ‘the Artists’ Town’ – attracted by its sheltered situation in the estuary of the River Dee on the north Solway shore and its year-round mild (well, milder) climate.
Your hotel in Kirkcudbright
Situated in the heart of the town itself, this family owned B&B offers a superb location, comfortable surroundings and award-winning breakfast. Your hosts are long-time residents of Kirkcudbright, so there’s little going on here that they don’t know about and they’ll be delighted to point you in the direction of their own pick of the best attractions and eateries.
Day Six – Kirkcudbright, your new favourite town
There’s something of the past about Kirkcudbright, its streets filled with independent shops while featuring a pleasing lack of ‘chains’. Enjoy an easy stroll around its smart and beautifully kept streets and marina, stop for coffee or lunch at one of any number of great spots, take in the fascinating Stewartry museum, Broughton House and Maclellan’s Castle and wonder why more UK towns have not managed to retain their character the way Kirkcudbright proudly has.
Day Seven – Wigtown, the Isle of Whithorn and one of Scotland’s most acclaimed hotels
After breakfast, you’ll be making your way along the coast towards Wigtown, ‘Scotland’s National Book Town,’ with its charming market square and host of quirky shops, cafes and inns, as well as the UK’s largest local nature reserve at Wigtown Bay. Later, take the drive amidst unique landscape through Whithorn to the Isle of Whithorn – actually a tiny peninsula – where a superb harbourside inn awaits to serve you catch-of-the-day seafood and a glass of its own micro-brewed beer. After lunch, you’ll drive along the superb coastal route – one of southern Scotland’s best – and onto the hammerhead peninsula of the Rhins of Galloway.
Your hotel on the Rhins of Galloway
Ready for indulgent luxury? It’s right here at one of the country’s most acclaimed hotels. With just 10 rooms, a celebrated restaurant, extensive grounds including a private forest and its own secluded beach, it’s all too-easy to slip in to an entirely different pace of life. So comfortable is this place that none other than Winston Churchill stayed here on several occasions, and here was the scene of a secret meeting between he and President Eisenhower during WW2.
You’ll enjoy dinner here in the evening, then you might want to relax on the lawn or take a stroll on the private beach as the sea crashes on the nearby rocks, savouring every moment.
Day Eight – Return home
After a sumptuous breakfast, say a fond farewell to Galloway and make your way home.
Pricing
£665 per person for March & November, and £760 per person for April, September & October, and £795 per person for May, June, July & August.
Prices based on two people sharing a room for seven nights on a bed & breakfast basis (dinner is also included on your final night).
A wee touch of luxury
Why not upgrade to a nights’ stay in the luxurious Glenapp Castle for your final night? One of southern Scotland’s best-kept secrets, hidden away along a winding private approach, nestled in its own secluded forest, Glenapp Castle exudes chocolate box-charm and Scottish baronial grandeur. With just 17 inviting rooms and service of outstanding quality, you’re made to feel special from the moment you arrive, and dining here is a rare treat, too, with the gourmet menu of locally sourced produce served in the castle’s elegant dining room, affording breath-taking views of Ailsa Craig and the Kintyre peninsula. Please ask us for more details.
Various hotel and room upgrades are available on this holiday as well as various excursions including a foraging and cookery demo, and Dark Skies walk – ask us for a quotation. This combination can easily be tailor-made to suit.
Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information including full directions, recommended routes, and suggestions on places to visit depending on your interests and our local knowledge to help you get the most from your holiday.
All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.
