Travelling to Scotland this summer is set to be easier and more affordable than ever, with new rail initiatives including Lumo’s new low-cost London-Stirling service, launching in July, helping to open up the country to more visitors.
With 46% of UK travellers opting for a staycation over a trip abroad this year, the Scottish Borders is emerging as a top spot for those looking to explore closer to home. Rolling countryside, historic towns and a packed calendar of seasonal events make Scotland an ideal base for a slower, more outdoors-focused summer break – and where better to base yourself than SCHLOSS Roxburghe?
A SCHLOSS staycation
Set within 300 acres of parkland in the heart of the region, just over an hour from Edinburgh, historic manor house hotel SCHLOSS Roxburghe combines heritage with access to the very best of the Borders.
On the estate, guests can spend long summer days exploring riverside walks, fishing on the River Teviot or playing on the championship golf course. Activities such as archery and clay pigeon shooting offer a more traditional country pursuits experience, whilst the award-winning SCHLOSS Spa, with its heated outdoor pool, provides a place to unwind after a day outdoors.
Enjoy your own space in 51 self-catering cottages
Over 2024, SCHLOSS Roxburghe opened 51 one- and two-bed self-catering cottages – ideal for guests looking for their own space. These elegantly-appointed cottages feature sleek, modern kitchens, sumptuous furnishings, Molton Brown toiletries and freestanding baths or rainfall showers, with some offering in-built saunas. The proximity of the new cottages to the award-winning golf course (and space for equipment) makes it ideal for golfers, and those wanting a self-catering base to explore Scotland and the Borders from.
A summer in the Scottish Borders
Beyond the estate, the Scottish Borders come into their own during the summer months. Visitors to Scotland can explore a vast network of walking and cycling routes, from sections of the Southern Upland Way to the scenic Tweed Valley trails or enjoy water-based activities including wild swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding along the River Tweed.
The quaint nearby town of Hawick is home to a number of independent shops, heritage knitwear mills and a strong sense of Borders identity. The Borders Distillery can also be found here, where visitors can tour the production process and sample locally crafted Scotch whisky.
The area’s historic connections are equally compelling. Floors Castle, the 17th-century home of the Duke of Roxburghe, is located just outside Kelso and is fully open for the 2026 season. Once the family seat before SCHLOSS Roxburghe, the castle now offers visitors the chance to explore its romantic interiors and artwork, landscaped gardens and riverside grounds, providing a direct link to the estate’s heritage and the wider Roxburghe story.
About SCHLOSS Roxburghe:
Set in the elegant countryside of the Scottish Borders, 5-star manor house hotel SCHLOSS Roxburghe was once owned by the Duke of Roxburghe, and is now part of the exclusive Destination by Hyatt collection. A little more than an hour’s drive from both Edinburgh and Newcastle, SCHLOSS Roxburghe welcomed an extensive expansion in November 2022 with the opening of the new Estate House, hosting an additional 58 rooms to the Manor House’s 20, as well as a purpose-built banqueting suite, extensive spa facilities and several self-catering cottages across the grounds.
With over 300 acres of land including 2.5 miles of the River Teviot, Trout Loch, beautiful parkland and Estate gardens, this is the perfect hotel to enjoy nature and the great outdoors. Activities lie at the heart of the SCHLOSS Roxburghe, and guests can enjoy a round of golf on the Championship Course, fly fishing on the river or Trout Loch, archery, country sports, or Clay Pigeon Shooting at the newly refurbished Shooting Centre.
Images supplied
