Scotland’s coast to coast adventures
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Dive into Scottish heritage along the Kirkpatrick Coast to Coast route this spring. The 250-mile (402 km) adventure across southern Scotland stretches from Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway on the west coast to Eyemouth in Berwickshire on the east coast. Named after 19th-century cycling pioneer Kirkpatrick Macmillan, the route winds through forests and historic villages and past grand manor houses, and is easily broken up into bite-sized sections. Longer daylight hours and green spring landscapes set the scene for exploring by car or bike, with plenty of pit-stops for tasting fresh regional produce and local treats.
The Scottish Borders
What to do
The Borders Distillery Tour, Hawick
Set beside the River Teviot, The Borders Distillery in Hawick occupies an award-winning conversion of a former Edwardian electrical works, returning whisky-making to the region for the first time since 1837. Bookable tours for up to 12 visitors (at 11am, 1pm and 3pm every day) follow the creation process, as locally sourced barley becomes various craft spirits, including Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Kerr’s Gin and Puffing Billy Steam Vodka. Look up for Victorian glass ceilings, spot salvaged workshop details, and hear how the building’s design earned major conservation and architecture awards.
Getting there: Hawick is around one hour 30 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport. Alternatively, take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Galashiels or Tweedbank (around one hour), before continuing by taxi to Hawick (approximately 30 minutes).
Abbotsford, Melrose
Step straight into a fairytale at Abbotsford, the former home of author Sir Walter Scott and one of Scotland’s most evocative historic houses. With turrets, towers and Gothic detail, it reflects Scott’s lifelong fascination with Scottish history and folklore. Inside, explore his collections of furniture, objects and curiosities, as well as his extensive library. Outside, clients can enjoy the first signs of spring on a stroll through formal gardens and woodland, before ending with a walk along the River Tweed.
Getting there: Abbotsford is around one hour 20 minutes by car from from Edinburgh Airport. By train, travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank (around one hour), before continuing by taxi to Abbotsford near Melrose (approximately 15 minutes).
Paxton House, Berwick upon Tweed
Fans of British period drama can find full 18th-century fantasy at Paxton House by the River Tweed. Designed by architect John Adam, its Palladian elegance is matched by its distinguished collections of Chippendale furniture and Georgian costume. In the picture gallery built by Robert Reid in 1814, clients can marvel at more than 70 paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland, including works by Scottish artists Sir Henry Raeburn and Sir David Wilkie. Outside, explore 80 acres of outdoor fun, including woodland walks and a sculpture trail that turns the grounds into an open-air gallery. Guided tours lasting one hour 30 minutes provide a deep dive into the house’s history (pre-booking necessary).
Getting there: Paxton House is around one hour and 15 minutes by car from from Edinburgh Airport. By train, travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Berwick-upon-Tweed (around 45 minutes), before continuing by taxi to Paxton House (approximately 15 minutes).
Eyemouth Harbour, Berwickshire
Eyemouth Harbour on the Berwickshire coast is a seaside highlight of the Kirkpatrick Coast to Coast route. The village is built around the working harbour and revolves around the daily catch, with fish shops, smokehouses and cafés along the waterfront. Clients can wander the town, follow clifftop paths towards St Abbs Head, or dial up the adrenaline with a one-hour Eyemouth RIB trip – gliding across the waves to explore hidden coves, lighthouses and wildlife along the way.
Getting there: Eyemouth is around one hour and 20 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport. By train, travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Berwick-upon-Tweed (around 45 minutes), before continuing by taxi to Eyemouth Harbour (approximately 25 minutes).
Where to eat
The Gordon Arms, Selkirk
Situated in the Yarrow Valley, The Gordon Arms is a pub, restaurant and five-room inn that has become a celebrated destination for Borders cooking. Recognised by the Good Food Guide in 2024 and 2025, and SquareMeal in 2025, it crafts its menus around ingredients sourced from nearby farms, rivers and estates. Expect lamb, game, local fish and vegetables that reflect the season. Upstairs, five AA four-star en-suite rooms make it easy to stay on and explore the surrounding hills and valleys.
Getting there: Selkirk is around one hour 30 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport. By train, travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Galashiels (around one hour), before continuing by taxi to The Gordon Arms (approximately 25 minutes).
Wilson’s Farm & Kitchen, Kelso
Go back to the roots, literally, at Wilson’s Farm & Kitchen, where dining is embedded in the surrounding fields outside the restaurant. This working farm-turned-destination restaurant is known for menus built around its own livestock and seasonal crops. Clients can get a hands-on-look at modern farming with Wilson’s Field to Fork Farm Tour, during which they can walk the land, meet the livestock and finish with a meal showcasing the farm’s own produce. In spring, the experience highlights lambing and early crops, giving an insight into sustainability and rural Scottish food culture.
Getting there: Kelso is around one hour 15 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport. By train, travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank (around one hour), before continuing by taxi to Wilson’s Farm & Kitchen (approximately 30 minutes).
Where to stay
SCHLOSS Roxburghe, Scottish Borders
SCHLOSS Roxburghe is a Scottish castle transformed it into a wellness haven. Set amid the lush Borders countryside, the estate features an outdoor heated infinity pool, bio and Finnish saunas, an aroma steam room, and a fully equipped gym. The spa’s thermal suite and relaxation areas invite clients to unwind after a round on the estate’s championship golf course or a bracing countryside walk. Accommodation is spread across the historic manor, with 20 rooms and suites, the Estate House with a further 58 rooms and suites, and 51 self-catering cottages dotted across the woodlands of the estate.
Getting there: The nearest major international airport is Edinburgh Airport, around one hour 30 minutes from the estate by car. Alternatively, guests can take a train to Berwick-upon-Tweed or Tweedbank, both approximately 30 minutes from the hotel by taxi.
The Wheatsheaf, Swinton
Stay at the The Wheatsheaf - a traditional village inn with stone exterior in Swinton, close to the River Tweed and within easy reach of Kelso. It offers a small number of guest rooms alongside a public bar and restaurant. The kitchen works with local suppliers, with menus showcasing seasonal Borders produce, including meat and vegetables from nearby farms. Inside, the look is classic and unfussy, with wooden floors, simple tables and a bar. The rooms upstairs are decorated in a similarly light and airy style.
Getting there: Swinton is around one hour 10 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport. By train, travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Berwick-upon-Tweed (around 45 minutes), then take a taxi to The Wheatsheaf in Swinton (approximately 20 minutes).
More information for the travel trade
Dumfries and Galloway
What to do
Kitchen Coos and Ewes, High Airyolland Farm, near Newton Stewart
High Airyolland Farm, a working farm near the market town of Newton Stewart, turns Scotland’s rural life into an interactive experience with Kitchen Coos and Ewes. Clients can meet Highland cattle up close on a range of themed safari tours, from Walking Tours to Cream Tea Coo Tours, and sample farmhouse baking afterwards. Situated within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, there are plenty of opportunities for wildlife spotting beyond the shaggy-haired cows, as well as numerous hiking trails across the Galloway Hills.
Getting there: The farm is around two hours 30 minutes by car from Glasgow Airport. By train, travel from Glasgow Central to Newton Stewart (around two hours 30 minutes), then continue by taxi to High Airyolland Farm (approximately 10 minutes).
Galloway Distillery, Newton Stewart
Clients can explore a modern chapter of Scotland’s whisky story at Galloway Distillery, where distilling has returned to Galloway for the first time in decades. Opened in 2025 and backed by Sam Heughan (Outlander’s Jamie Fraser), the distillery offers a ninety-minute tour covering mashing, fermentation, copper stills and cask maturation. Tastings highlight the award-winning Sassenach whisky, while spring 2026 will see the distillery adopting net-zero processes, and mark the opening of a new panoramic Galloway Hills tasting room.
Getting there: Newton Stewart is around two hours 45 minutes by car from Glasgow Airport. By train, travel from Glasgow Central to Newton Stewart (approximately two hours 30 minutes), then continue by taxi to the distillery (around 10 minutes).
Moffat Distillery Tour and Tasting, Moffat
Moffat Distillery specialises in small-batch spirits, offering tours and tastings that give clients the opportunity to learn about gin botanicals and whisky production. The distillery is opening its doors to visitors between March and November, and all experiences include a guided tasting featuring some of the most popular creations. Located in the historic spa town of Moffat on the River Annan, clients can combine a tour with browsing independent shops, then stay at the Famous Star Hotel and Restaurant, named the narrowest hotel in the world at 20ft wide and 162ft long by the Guinness Book of Records.
Getting there: Moffat is around one hour 40 minutes by car from Edinburgh Airport. By train, travel from Edinburgh Waverley to Lockerbie (approximately one hour 20 minutes), before continuing by taxi to Moffat Distillery (around 15 minutes).
Robert Burns House, Dumfries
Relive 18th-century Scotland at Robert Burns House, where the national poet spent the final years of his life from 1791 until his death in 1796. Step through the rooms he once called home, explore original manuscripts, letters and personal items, and discover stories that bring Burns’ world vividly to life. Just a short stroll from the River Nith, clients can also visit Burns’ Mausoleum in St Michael’s Kirkyard.
Getting there: Dumfries is around two hours by car from Glasgow Airport. By train, travel from Glasgow Central to Dumfries (approximately one hour 40 minutes), with the house a short five-minute walk from the station. From Edinburgh Airport, it’s around two hours 15 minutes by car.
Where to eat
Henrys Bay House Restaurant, Stranraer
Situated near Stranraer, Henrys Bay House offers clients front-row seats to Loch Ryan. The kitchen, led by local chef John Henry, crafts menus around fresh Galloway produce and seafood sourced nearby, with dishes changing to reflect the season and catch, from grilled lobster to steamed mussels. Outside, the sun terrace provides a scenic spot for alfresco dining and taking in the coastal views.
Getting there: Stranraer is around two hours 30 minutes by car from Glasgow Airport. By train, travel from Glasgow Central to Stranraer (approximately two hours 45 minutes), with Henry’s Bay House a short five-minute drive from the station.
Globe Inn Tour, Dumfries
Raise a glass to Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, at the Globe Inn in Dumfries. Established in 1610, it was likely Burns’s favourite tavern and is alleged to be one of Scotland’s oldest hostelries. Weeks before his death on 21 July 1796, Burns wrote of The Globe being ‘…my Howff, where our friend Clarke and I have had many a merry squeeze’. Guided tours reveal the poet’s chair and the rooms where he composed verses and entertained friends. Historic artefacts mix with a lively bar boasting 150 single cask single malt whiskies, as well as craft ales. The Michelin Guide-listed 1610 Restaurant serves contemporary takes on Scottish fare.
Getting there: Dumfries is around two hours by car from Glasgow Airport. By train, travel from Glasgow Central to Dumfries (approximately one hour 40 minutes), with the Globe Inn just a five-minute walk from the station.
Where to stay
The Ship Inn, Galloway
The 18th-century Ship Inn sits beside the Fleet Estuary, in Gatehouse of Fleet, with a riverside beer garden and an award-winning restaurant serving fresh seafood and Galloway meats. Cosy rooms offer a comfortable base for exploring nearby beaches such as Sandgreen Beach, or the ruins of Cardoness and Threave Castles. Just a short stroll away, the inn’s 18th-century mill cottage provides a self-contained stay with two bedrooms for five adults and two children, plus an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area full of period character.
Getting there: Stranraer is around two hours 30 minutes by car from Glasgow Airport. By train, take the service from Glasgow Central to Stranraer (approximately two hours 45 minutes), then a short five-minute drive or taxi to The Ship Inn.
The Cairndale Hotel and Spa, Dumfries
The Cairndale Hotel and Spa offers a luxury base in the heart of Dumfries, where clients can pick from 86 rooms, ranging from cosy Classic Rooms to spacious Deluxe Suites. The spa features a thermal pool, sauna, steam room, and six treatment suites, while the restaurant showcases Scottish and British-inspired dishes crafted from the region’s produce. Golfers can take advantage of curated retreats at nearby courses, including Dumfries and County, Southerness and Powfoot.
Getting there: The hotel is around a 90-minute drive from Edinburgh Airport, or one hour 50 minutes by car from Glasgow Airport. By train, it’s just over two hours from Glasgow Central to Dumfries Station, followed by a short taxi journey to the hotel.
Travel information
Scottish Borders
Hawick to Melrose: Around 30 to 35 minutes by car (19 miles / 30 km); around three hours by bike.
Melrose to Berwick upon Tweed: Around one hour 15 minutes by car (47 miles / 76 km); around four to five hours by bike.
Berwick upon Tweed to Eyemouth: Around 30 minutes by car (17 miles / 27 km); around two hours by bike.
Eyemouth to Selkirk: Around one hour by car (38 miles / 61 km); around four to five hours by bike.
Selkirk to Kelso: Around 35 to 40 minutes by car (20 miles / 32 km); around three hours by bike.
Dumfries and Galloway
Newton Stewart to Moffat: Around one hour 30 minutes by car (62 miles / 100 km).
Moffat to Dumfries: Around 45 to 50 minutes by car (34 miles / 55 km); around three to four hours by bike.
Dumfries to Galloway: Around 45 to 50 minutes by car (34 miles / 55 km); around three to four hours by bike.
Galloway to Stranraer: Around one hour 30 minutes by car (72 miles / 116 km)
