This ‘gorgeous’ UK market town is perfect for a scenic winter escape

When reasoning of the cleanable scenic wintertime escape, your caput whitethorn flash to the likes of the 2006 classical The Holiday, wherever the quaint Rosehill Cottage perches neatly connected a state lane, surrounded by stunning woodland.

But if the Surrey village is simply a small over-done for your tastes, we suggest looking to the Scottish Borders instead, wherever you’ll find the bustling small marketplace municipality of Kelso.

Dubbed by the House of Bruar arsenic the astir picturesque Scottish town to sojourn this winter, Kelso has appeared successful humanities records from arsenic acold backmost arsenic 1128, and has a affluent practice for specified a tiny area.

It boasted 182,000 Instagram hashtags successful the research, making it a fashionable prime for visitors looking to rotation charming streets lined with snowfall and prime up immoderate section marketplace goods.

Just a abbreviated thrust distant from the likes of Edinburgh and Newcastle, Kelso would marque the cleanable time travel oregon staycation spot for those looking for a festive getaway.

What to bash successful Kelso

There’s nary shortage of things to research successful Kelso, the archetypal being the section farmer’s market which takes spot connected the past Saturday of each period (with the adjacent being December 21).

Held successful the municipality square, which is the largest cobbled municipality quadrate successful Scotland, there’s plentifulness of caller nutrient and locally made covering for you to indulge in.

Just a stone’s propulsion from the square, you’ll find Kelso Abbey, founded by monks invited by King David I successful 1128. While portion of it is successful ruins today, it inactive remains a gorgeous tract to behold.

The Abbey was besides 1 of the richest successful Scotland —  and the champion portion is, it’s escaped to visit.

Sitting conscionable extracurricular of the municipality of Kelso is Floors Castle – the largest inhabited castle successful Scotland – location to the 11th Duke of Roxburgh.

You won’t beryllium capable to circuit the castle if you’re visiting aft October 1, but the walled garden, the surrounding woodland and riverside paths and the Apple Shed acquisition store are unfastened year-round.

If you’re 1 for cycling, determination are plentifulness of scenic routes to take from, oregon you tin meander circular the grounds with a cupful of steaming blistery cocoa successful hand.

We can’t hide the precocious thoroughfare either. In the historical municipality centre among stunning Georgian and Victorian buildings, determination are much than 50 autarkic shops — from an crystal pick parlour to state covering and a accepted butchers.

Visit Threads of Kelso for handmade rugs and cushions, oregon the reported ‘best acquisition store successful the Scottish Borders’ – The Mole House – for a Christmas acquisition with a difference.

Where to enactment successful Kelso

If fund isn’t an contented for you, determination are immoderate gorgeous stays disposable successful Kelso, but besides plentifulness of affordable options we’ll get to too.

First up is Linen House & The Scott Apartment, which starts astatine £1,525 for 3 nights. It’s a blase Grade II listed townhouse flat connected the borderline of the municipality square, boasting 5 bedrooms and a stunning room diner.

You could besides opt for a enactment astatine Head Gardener’s House astatine Floors Castle, which was lovingly restored by The Duchess of Roxburgh, acceptable successful the walled garden. This starts astatine £811 for 3 nights.

On the much affordable extremity of the spectrum are properties similar Fairnington East Wing, which sleeps 4 for £133 per nighttime — though it’s a small thrust extracurricular of Kelso.

If you similar hotels, the Schloss is a large option, with the Historic Manor, wherever rooms commencement from £201 per night, the Estate House, starting astatine £215 oregon self-catering cottages which commencement from £290.

The edifice has a well-equipped spa for the days erstwhile you conscionable privation to unbend — including a heated outdoor swimming pool, a title golf course and activities specified arsenic fishing, shooting, archery and croquet.

How to get to Kelso

If you’re travelling from London, bid volition beryllium the champion stake (unless you fancy the seven-hour drive), with the nearest mainline stations being Berwick-Upon-Tweed and Edinburgh.

From London to Berwick-Upon-Tweed it’ll instrumentality you astir 4 hours, and tickets commencement astatine £52.

If you opt for Edinburgh it’ll instrumentality conscionable implicit 4 hours with immoderate tickets (via the fund Lumo operator) priced arsenic debased arsenic £24.

You tin past get Borders Buses to Kelso — and erstwhile you arrive, determination are plentifulness of taxis to ferry you round.

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