Where to stay and eat
100 Princes Street, Edinburgh
Enjoy front-row views of Edinburgh Castle, the Grand Départ starting point, and soak up the atmosphere of a prestigious members’ club (no membership required) at 100 Princes Street. Located in the former Royal Over-Seas League building, the boutique hotel offers 30 bedrooms, featuring handcrafted furnishings and curated artwork. Visitors can book rooms facing the castle to watch pre-race festivities from their window, then settle into Ghillie’s Pantry for whisky tasting experiences. Headed by chef Willhelm Maree, in-house restaurant The Wallace serves hearty dishes crafted from local Scottish produce, including traditional fish and chips, and Scottish salmon.
Penicuik Estate, near Gorebridge
Slow down and experience the Scottish countryside at Penicuik Estate, just ten miles (16 km) from Edinburgh and eight miles ((13 km) from Gorebridge on the race route. Set within 7,400 acres (3,000 hectares) of fields, ancient woodland and lakes, the 17th-century estate features luxury, self-catering guest houses and cottages sleeping between two and eight guests, including a Palladian-style villa within a walled garden. Experiences reflect the estate’s focus on rewilding and ecological restoration, from guided e-bike rides and wild swimming to yoga, foraging walks and creative workshops.
Traquair House, near Galashiels
Sleep where Mary, Queen of Scots once stayed. Traquair House is Scotland’s oldest continuously inhabited house, a royal hunting lodge that has hosted 27 monarchs including the former Queen of Scotland. Traquair offers both bed and breakfast and self-catering options. There are four spacious guest rooms in the main house with antique furniture, canopied beds and private bathrooms. Families and groups can book Howford House on the estate, a self-catering, Georgian-style farmhouse with nine bedrooms (sleeping up to 18 people). The estate also operates its own brewery beneath the chapel, and visitors can tour the facility and taste ales produced using traditional methods. A curated events programme throughout the year includes medieval fayres, foraging walks, wild swimming sessions, and outdoor theatre.
SCHLOSS Roxburghe, near Melrose, Scottish Borders
Relax like a royal at SCHLOSS Roxburghe, a 12th-century manor house hotel set amid the rolling Borders countryside, just a 30-minute drive from Melrose. Shaped by centuries of history, from medieval battles and Jacobite Risings to royal visits, the building boasts original heritage features, including open fireplaces and decorative stucco ceilings, alongside 58 luxury guest rooms, self-catering cottages and restaurants celebrating Scottish cuisine. Dining ranges from a tasting menu celebrating Scottish cuisine at Sunlaws Restaurant to relaxed French-inspired cooking at Charlie’s bistro, with menus focused on local Borders produce. Guests also have access to wellness facilities including an outdoor heated infinity pool, Finnish and bio saunas, an aroma steam room, a gym and an 18-hole championship golf course.
Tiny Home Borders, near Hawick
For a digital detox with Border hills views, visitors can book an off-grid escape on a working farm near Hawick, another town along the race route. Tiny Home Borders offers two eco-friendly luxury cabins set on a hillside (without WiFi or TV), each featuring a private lake for wild swimming and paddleboarding. Solar power and composting systems ensure minimal environmental impact, while outdoor decks, wood-fired hot tubs, log burners, a pizza oven and a telescope for stargazing turn this into an immersive retreat.
What to do
Cycle the Borders
To experience the Tour de France route firsthand, Hike & Bike Hub Galashiels provides bike and e-bike hire, allowing cycling enthusiasts to tackle sections of the stage at their own pace. They can stop where professional cyclists race past in split seconds, including cosy cafés in Galashiels, riverside picnic spots, and gallery spaces such as The Great Tapestry of Scotland. For more challenging off-road adventures, Tweed Valley Bikes offers guided mountain bike experiences (for up to six or 12 riders), navigating trails with steep descents and climbs that are rewarded by scenic valley views, coupled with regular coffee stops en route to refuel.
Whisky tours and luxury cashmere in Hawick
Hawick, the Scottish Borders’ largest town, has a rich whisky and textile heritage (tweed was invented here) giving visitors plenty of opportunities for distillery tours and mill visits. The Borders Distillery, which opened in 2018, produces whisky using ingredients sourced within a 20-mile (32 km) radius, and is the first distillery operating in the Scottish Borders since 1837. Tours reveal production processes while tastings showcase the distinct Borders’ flavour of the amber spirits. Johnstons of Elgin, Royal Warrant holders as manufacturers of tweed to King Charles III, manufactures luxury cashmere, tweed, and merino knitwear coveted by high-end fashion houses like Dior. The Discovery Experience takes visitors behind the scenes, with craftspeople demonstrating how raw fibre becomes a finished garment. Visitors can purchase pieces straight from the source at the mill showroom.
The Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels
More than 1,000 people across Scotland helped hand-stitch the 160 panels of The Great Tapestry of Scotland, charting the nation’s 420-million-year history, an ambitious project initiated by renowned Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith. Now permanently displayed in a purpose-built gallery space in Galashiels, it showcases major historic events, innovations and cultural highlights, including contributions from Outlander star Sam Heughan. Allow plenty of time to explore 140 metres of embroidered storytelling.
Adventures on the River Tweed
The 100-mile (160 km) River Tweed flows past Melrose through the Scottish Borders toward Northumberland. Biggar Adventure offers full-day and half-day canoe trips for all ages and abilities starting from Peebles, as well as multi-day overnight camping trips where visitors wild-camp on riverbanks (all safety equipment provided). The company also operates abseiling, archery and rock climbing for those wanting more than just paddling. More experienced paddlers can join three-hour trips from Driftwood Adventure’s navigating more challenging sections between Stobo and Peebles.
Explore historic castles and abbeys in the Scottish Borders
Discover Borders’ history and architecture, from literary legacy to aristocratic abodes, all within easy reach of one another. Abbotsford House, the former home of Scottish poet, novelist and historian, Sir Walter Scott, is a striking example of Scottish Baronial architecture, with fairytale turrets and gables. Visitors can explore the rooms where the influential novelist lived and wrote, or immerse themselves fully in his world through overnight stays in one of eight luxury rooms within the Hope Scott Wing. A ten-minute drive away, Melrose Abbey’s Gothic ruins are an example of medieval monastic architecture, and full of character and history. The roofless remains are the alleged burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart – the sacred relic of the 14th-century Scottish King. A further 35 minutes’ drive from Melrose, Floors Castle (open seasonally, check website for details) offers grand interiors and art collections, including Thomas Gainsborough portraits and French tapestries. Beyond traditional castle tours, guests can book immersive stays in the Head Gardener’s House within the walled garden or enjoy a year-round programme of events which bring the site’s heritage to life, from guided garden tours and foraging walks to silent disco yoga on the lawn.
