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We're thinking about hols later in the year, probably last week of Sept, first week of October.
Scottish borders (well, anywhere between the border and the M8) is one of the ideas, with a week based in one place and a week based in another (after a great trip last year with a week in Tobermory and a week in Golspie, and similar the year before in Northumberland and Whitby). It'd be an AirBnB/rent a little place type job.
Type of stuff we like doing - walking (lowland rambley type stuff, with dog), visiting castles/old places, wandering around nice little towns, driving through nice scenery, boat trips, tea shops, pubs, all very rock and roll.
So, for those more in the know of the area, would that be a go-er there, and if so, where should we stay (I'm initially thinking a week each for the West/East coasts) and what should we do? We won't have bikes, just to get that out of the way.
Arran?
Brilliant island, with a mountain range in the north, big forests in the south, seals, otters, golden eagles, red squirrels etc, busyish main town of Brodick but drive for half an hour and you'll barely see a soul.
Arran is lovely.
Port Patrick on the West lovely as is kirkudbright.
Another Arran here, Some cracking spots (giants graves, kildonan beach - otters kings cave, glen rosa, goatfell ) To extend ferry from lochranza, walk the crinan canal (do it to w , coming into crinian is me and the mrs fave bike bimble ever), knapdale peninsula quiet, scenic, lots of walks etc, Isle of Gigha is just cracking (quiet road(*1 of them), pub, flowered verges, total quiet) , isle of Easdale ditto (*small, old slate quarries)
We walked the fife coastal path (*well some of it), lovely villages, flattish, handy coastal bus. Anstruther, pittenweem, crail, st monans, throw in the Falkirk wheel and the kelpies (*do day and night), and did Edinburgh for some history.
you'll get everything you want bar boat trips in peebles and most of the other borders towns but peebles and innerleithen are probably the best for walking.
arran is fantastic though can't knock it as an idea in any way.
Also Bute and Argyle peninsula even the kintyre peninsula would do you everything you want.
Peebles is getting close to the borders but all the other suggestions are nowhere near the borders
Border towns either play rugby, marry you ,knit jerseys and are reivers
Peebles is getting close to the borders
"close" as in "is in the borders"
Peebles is getting close to the borders
“close” as in “is in the borders”
Leadburn is close to the borders, Peebles most definitely is in the borders.
Going with not in the borders suggestions, there are some nice walks in the hills around Moffat.
Peebles is closer to Edinburgh than the Scotland England border albeit only half a mile
Peebles most definitely is in the borders
i know... my council tax bill tells me 😀
Peebles area for first week with trips to Melrose, Three Brethren, Fatlips Castle etc.second week I'd spend in Dumfries & Galloway. A hugely under appreciated area with loads of cycling, walking and "Dark Skies" areas.
Newton Stewart is worth considering. Smallish town in D&G. There is a log cabin holiday village on the outskirts and right by the Kirroughtree trail center.
Hermatige castle. Borders distillery. Grey mares tail. Plenty of walking. https://www.townof1000trails.co.uk/. (which overestimates by quite a lot)
Frankly, anywhere from Peebles across to Newton Stewart. Dumfries and Galloway gives more coastal options, just a lovely part of the world.
Cheers all, some good ideas here, keep'em coming.
And for the borders bores ( 😉 ), I did say anywhere south of the M8... Perhaps the subject line should have been "a week or two in southern Scotland".
I really like Dumfries area. It's a lovely little town to visit (previous threads on here may suggest less lovely to live in) with plenty to do in the surrounding areas. I also fanc a trip to arran one day. If you have bikes and fancy a challenge you can try the Five Ferries Challenge (or even the Seven Ferries - from Largs get the ferry to do a lap of Great Cumbrae and back to get the ferry back)
I'm pretty sure this qualifies as 'borders', thought it's stretching it to say between the M8 and the Border (thought I did look at google maps before writing and thought, as I tilted my head to the left 'yep, close enough') ... Anyhoo
We've been a few times in the last few years for short breaks, even a week, in the east - anywhere between North Berwick and St. Abbs. Most recently we stayed just outside Dunbar. Gorgeous coast, some amazing beaches (we did a fair bot of surfing/kayaking etc with the kids), lovely towns and harbours, hunners of walks and interesting things to see etc. etc. Seems to tick all your boxes.
Whitesands Bay Beach a particular highlight https://goo.gl/maps/kgyVnGx8nJyuS8BN6 , my FiL enjoyed pootling about on my fat bike, kids and cousins in the sea. It was glorious.
Cover Harbour also an amazing wee place https://goo.gl/maps/UnoACgehorqYNZwn6
Type of stuff we like doing – walking (lowland rambley type stuff, with dog), visiting castles/old places, wandering around nice little towns, driving through nice scenery, boat trips, tea shops, pubs, all very rock and roll.
You could do worse than visit the Isle of Bute, perhaps as a day-trip rather than try to eke out a full week's holiday.
Plenty of good walking, and some incredible beaches with all the wildlife you could ask for ..... seals at Scalpsie, seabirds and waders, Ospreys on or near Loch Fad, roe deer all over the island, Reds up in the North End (the Highland fault passes through the middle of the island)
Old castles? There's Mount Stuart House, well worth a visit to the house and Policies. One of the most incredible historic houses I've ever been in.
Rothesay is a bustling Victorian seaside town, make sure to visit Helmi's for lunch..... Syrian Deli-style wonders.
I know it's not quite "borders" but it's much more accessible as an island than some. Ferry from Wemyss Bay (south of Gasgow) or Rhubodaich/Colintraive if you're up around Dunoon.
anywhere between North Berwick and St. Abbs.
StAbbs Rib Rides is great if you want a spin round in a boat.
Dumfries and Galloway
Using Redmex bizarre qualifier... I'm goign with Northumberland. Drac insists its shit though.
Another Arran here, Some cracking spots (giants graves, kildonan beach – otters kings cave, glen rosa, goatfell ) To extend ferry from lochranza, walk the crinan canal (do it to w , coming into crinian is me and the mrs fave bike bimble ever), knapdale peninsula quiet, scenic, lots of walks etc, Isle of Gigha is just cracking (quiet road(*1 of them), pub, flowered verges, total quiet) , isle of Easdale ditto (*small, old slate quarries)
I didn't register this comment. but it is a lovely itineray.
Autumn colours / leaves at
Kailzie
https://www.kailziegardens.com/
Old places
Floors castle
https://www.floorscastle.com/whats-on/
https://www.bowhillhouse.co.uk/
https://www.scottsabbotsford.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186509-d8134813-Reviews-Haining_Loch-Selkirk_Scottish_Borders_Scotland.html
possible accommodation
at the Haining
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/haining-loch-united-kingdom/stays
Muckletoon
http://www.langholmwalks.co.uk/
https://www.muckletoonadventurefestival.co.uk/langholm/
https://welcometolangholm.co.uk/
https://www.visitscotland.com/holidays-breaks/south-scotland-itinerary/
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/caerlaverock-castle-p248631
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/caerlaverock-castle/
William Wallace Statue
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g551953-d1549640-Reviews-William_Wallace_Statue-St_Boswells_Scottish_Borders_Scotland.html
good walks from moffat included the devils beef tub, hart fell, grey mares tail/loch skeen/white coombe, southern upland way to st marys loch, or join them all up if youre mad enough.
from the S.U.Way I could see the power station in solway firth 60 miles away