Luxury self-catering accommodation in Melrose

Known for being the birthplace of Rugby Sevens (and for hosting an annual tournament that has thrived from the 1880’s until this day), this picturesque town on the Scottish Borders is sweet as sugared shortcake, but still packs a burly punch. Lying in the Valley of the Tweed, a landscape that’s been depicted in many a gallery-hanging oil paintings, Melrose has apple orchards, walled gardens, and many a bucolic National Trust hotspot. There are rivers, hills, and forests as far as the eye can see, all within an hour of Edinburgh.

Here, you'll find ancient ruined abbeys, a casket believed to contain the heart of King of Scots Robert the Bruce, and Roman remains that hark back to AD79. Would-be historians will want to frequent Trimontium, a major Roman fort whose name means 'Place of the Three Hills', and hike to the shrine to Roman life in Scotland that sits on the summit of the Eildon Hill North. Melrose’s rich cultural heritage doesn’t end at myth and folklore; there’s art hubs and Michelin-starred eateries to be found, too.