Scottish Borders town with 'charming' inns and gardens named best in Scotland
The best town in Scotland has been revealed in a new survey. It was singled out for its idyllic backdrop and fascinating history.
Which? recently shared a list of "the UK's best towns and villages". More than 9,000 of the consumer watchdog's readers rated settlements across the nation based on factors such as peace and quiet and food and drink, before each one was assigned an overall 'destination score'.
Coming in at number one for Scotland is Melrose, which earned a destination score of 78 per cent. The town and civil parish is located in the Scottish Borders, just over an hour from Edinburgh by car.
According to Which?, Melrose earned perfect five-star ratings for its scenery, attractiveness, and peace and quiet. The town is situated next to the Eildon Hills, which feature three picturesque summits and are a popular hiking destination, while the town is also the starting point of the 62-mile St Cuthbert's Way.
Other scenic spots around town include Harmony Garden and Priorwood Garden. The former is the garden of the 19th-century Harmony House and features trimmed lawns and fruit and vegetable beds, while Priorwood Garden is a rustic walled garden with various areas to explore.
Meanwhile, Melrose received four stars out of five for its tourist attractions. The most notable attraction around the town is Melrose Abbey, which is a partly ruined monastery that dates all the way back to the 12th century.
Elsewhere, the Trimontium Museum in Melrose is dedicated to one of the biggest Roman forts north of Hadrian's Wall. The award-winning attraction includes a selection of artefacts that have been excavated over the past century.
The town also earned a four-star rating for its food and drink, and is home to a wide selection of tea rooms, pubs, and restaurants. Top eateries include the traditional Ship Inn pub, neighbourhood bistro Marmions Brasserie, and Italian eatery Monte Cassino.
On the other hand, the town received a score of just three out of five for its shopping opportunities. Despite this, Melrose is home to a variety of independent shops.
Among the most popular stores around town are women's clothing specialist Sarah Thomson and wine shop Abbey Fine Wines. Elsewhere, Simply Delicious sells handmade chocolate, ice cream, sweets in jars, and more.
Which? wrote: "The three peaks of the Eildon Hills provide the backdrop to this most Scottish of towns. Small, ancient, and built of red sandstone, it grew up around the abbey, now ruined, which was established in 1136 and still houses the heart of national hero Robert the Bruce, buried in a casket in the grounds.
"The St Cuthbert's Way, a 62-mile walk to Holy Island, also starts at the abbey, but there are more leisurely options. These include two National Trust for Scotland gardens: Priorwood, with beautiful views across the abbey, and Harmony Garden, with its flowering bulbs and Georgian manor house.
"Otherwise, Melrose is a place to potter, stopping for refreshment at one of countless tea rooms or enjoying a wee dram at one of the charming old inns."
Elsewhere, the best-rated town or village in the UK was named as Wells in Somerset. The cathedral city and civil parish earned a destination score of 83 per cent, with Which? singling out its "awe-inspiring" cathedral and markets.
The full list of the UK's best towns and villages can be found on the Which? website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Clan Graham Society donates £5,000 to Mugdock Castle
Travellers with the Clan Graham Society (CGS) visited Mugdock Castle, home of their Graham ancestors, on August 5 during the organisation's Scotland trip to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its founding in North America. The visitors, who came from Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, and the United States, were given a warm welcome by East Dunbartonshire councillor Jim Gibbons, chair of Mugdock Country Park Joint Management Committee, and the Mugdock Country Park team. (Image: Supplied) Councillor Gibbons presented the Saltire from Mugdock Castle to Richard Graham, chieftain of Clan Graham in North America, as a souvenir of the visit. The visitors were entertained by an actor dressed as William Wallace, who shared life-sized sword replicas with the guests. Read more: Manhunt after girl, 5, attacked by 'unknown man' at Glasgow Central Several volunteer tour guides, including Ian Mitchell, Karine Davison, and Wilson Blakey, assisted the visitors and explained each level of the 14th-century castle. Councillor Gibbons said: "It was a great honour to welcome the Clan Graham Society back to Mugdock Castle as part of their trip to sites associated with their clan history. "Ancestral tourism is so important to Scotland, as it forges deep and lasting connections with people from all corners of the globe. (Image: Supplied) "Staff at Mugdock pulled out all the stops to ensure that society members enjoyed a memorable visit. "We remain extremely grateful to the Clan Graham Society for the enduring work they do to fundraise for Mugdock Castle. "Once again, they have donated a significant sum of money which will help to support developments of this historic site that can be enjoyed by local residents and tourists alike for many years to come." Following their visit, the Clan Graham Society enjoyed an evening of entertainment, which included pipe music and Scottish dancing. Ian Boardley, chair of Mugdock Trust Board, said, 'We are always delighted to welcome members of Clan Graham to Mugdock Country Park. "It is a great opportunity for us to showcase the best of Scottish hospitality to them and for clan members to see the good use being made of their generous funds.'
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
The hidden gem garden on the outskirts of Glasgow that is 'peaceful urban oasis'
You don't have to journey deep into the countryside to enjoy a peaceful garden. To prove this point, the Daily Record has chosen an idyllic beauty spot just outside of Glasgow as our latest Walk of the Week. Greenbank Garden is a 2.5-acre walled garden in East Renfrewshire that dates back to the 18th century. Situated on the edge of the suburban town of Clarkston, it is around just 10 miles from the centre of Scotland's biggest city. Greenbank Garden surrounds Greenbank House, which is a Category A listed building. Open to the public, the garden is owned and operated by the National Trust for Scotland. The walled garden was constructed at the same time as Greenbank House, with both bordered by tall beeches. Following the American Wars of Independence, its owner Robert Allason went bankrupt and lost the estate. Today, according to the National Trust for Scotland, the aim of Greenbank Garden is to inspire visitors to grow a wide selection of plants and flowers in their own gardens. In total, there are said to be around 3,600 plants that call Greenbank home. The National Trust for Scotland website states: "For gardening inspiration, Greenbank Garden is unbeatable. This surprising oasis of tranquillity and beauty is set less than a mile from Glasgow's bustling Southside suburbs. "It's also an impressive celebration of West Coast domestic gardening, featuring more than 3,600 named species of plants." The NTS also describes Greenbank Garden as "a peaceful urban oasis that delights the senses". The garden even features a café, where you can enjoy a light lunch or a sweet treat after admiring the plants. See below for some photos of some of Greenbank Garden's standout features. More information can be found on the National Trust for Scotland website. Meanwhile, anybody still after some travel inspiration can find a selection of some of the Daily Record's recent Walks of the Week: The stunning Scottish coastal walk near 'best fish and chips in the UK' The Edinburgh hidden gem garden perfect to escape the chaos of the Fringe Festival The Scottish beach just outside of Edinburgh named 'best in the country' The Scottish island walk that was named country's 'best hike' by experts The Scottish beach walk that ends at award winning fish and chips The 'virtually uninhabited' Scottish beach perfect for family summer day out
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I love this alternative seaside town away from the UK tourist traps – it has clean golden beaches and floating cafes
Plus, find out about Haven's biggest holiday park, which is close to the town COASTAL RETREAT I love this alternative seaside town away from the UK tourist traps – it has clean golden beaches and floating cafes Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORGET the usual tourist hotspots - one Devon seaside town is the ultimate hidden gem with a lengthy golden beach and a dramatic cliff face. Where the River Exe meets the English Channel, you'll find Exmouth - a quaint town usually overshadowed by its busier neighbours such as Dawlish and Teignmouth. 5 Exmouth in Devon can be found where the English Channel and the River Exe meet Credit: Getty Win one of 8 incredible holidays to the Caribbean, Mexico and Greece by voting in The Sun's Travel Awards - enter to win here But as Devon's oldest seaside resort, Exmouth is home to a charming town with Victorian and Georgian buildings, multiple mouthwatering fish and chips spots and fun for all the family. As a child growing up close to the town, nothing beat a day trip to Exmouth Beach, with two miles of golden, soft sands wrapping around the coastline. Exmouth Beach sits at the entrance to the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. It is also a key part of the South West Coastal Path, making it the ideal spot for a long stroll to soak up the sea breeze and local marine life, such as seals. Children will love the beach as well - as a child, I was never bored when I visited as the beach boasts sand ideal for sandcastle making and thriving rockpools. And it has been awarded a Blue Flag seven years in a row. If you head further along the beach, you will reach The Engine Room, where you can grab a 'posh' fish finger sandwich for £11.50 and decadent ice cream sundaes from £6.50. Next to the restaurant is The Thirsty Turtle playground that only opened a few months ago and has wooden climbing frames and sandpits for kids. Parents can grab a drink or food from The Thirsty Turtle Tavern or head to one of the other shacks onsite, serving fish and chips and pizza. The English holiday resort that families say is a 'fancy Center Parcs' Further to the east of the town is Exmouth Beach East and Rodney Point, a dramatic red and orange cliff face which is a scenic picnic spot. The main beach is only a 10-minute walk from the train station and a short distance from the town centre too. In the town, there is everything you'd expect to find on a usual British highstreet, but make sure to head to Wetherspoons' Powder Monkey. The boozer was named after Nancy Perriam, a local woman who served as a 'powder monkey' - someone who carries the gunpowder from a ship's hold to the guns - in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary Wars, so serves as a great historical spot as well as a pit stop. 5 The town is home to some great historic spots including the Powder Monkey Wetherspoons pub Credit: Wayne Perry - The Sun One of the best places to eat in the town though, isn't actually on dry land. The River Exe Cafe, which won a TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Award in 2024, sits on a floating barge on the river. Only open between April and September, visitors have to hop on a water taxi from Exmouth Marina to get to the cafe, where they can enjoy a range of seafood dishes including the catch of the day. Tickets on the water taxi cost £8 per person, or £4 for children under 13 years old. 5 The marina is also pretty with many multi-coloured building Credit: Alamy The marina itself is also worth exploring with colourful houses and small boats bobbing in the water - I always feel lucky if I spot some fish swimming about too. On August 31, tourists can hop on a free vintage bus in the town as well. The Devon General Remembered event will celebrate the history of Devon buses and feature rides on a number of heritage buses from between the 1950s and 1970s throughout the day. If you want to continue exploring the local area, then head to A La Ronde, just outside of the town. This National Trust property is a quirky 16-sided house, dating back to the 18th century. It was built by two cousins who had returned from a tour of Europe, and at the time, was home to many objects they had collected from their travels. 5 And just outside the town is A La Ronde - a 18th century house with thousands of shells inside Credit: BBC Inside, visitors can explore the cousins' collection of souvenirs and even a shell grotto - a gallery and staircase decorated with thousands of shells. Visitors can explore the house and gardens from £11 per adult and £5.50 per child. A popular family attraction called the World of Country Life is a 10-minute drive from the town and it has lots of different things to explore including a 'vintage' soft play, replica Victorian street with shops and farm animal feeding sessions. Tickets cost £19.75 per adult and £16.20 per child. There are plenty of places to stay in and around Exmouth as well, including Haven Devon Cliffs Holiday Park a 12-minute drive away, with three-night stays costing from £109. Haven's biggest holiday park can be found near Exmouth HAVEN'S Devon Cliffs is the biggest of its holiday resorts in the UK, with 1,641 caravans and lodges. The park has a huge indoor water complex with slides, flumes, and tube slides. There's also an indoor soft play for younger kids. For those who don't mind the outdoors, activities include NERF camps, 4x4 off-roaders, and nature trails. The park has many on-site food choices, including Burger King and Papa Johns. You can find the cheapest caravan stays for just £49 for four nights, or go fancier with their lodges. It's also one of the highest-rated holiday parks in the UK, with more than 4,000 reviews on TripAdvisor. Devon is also home to a fairytale-esque beach town that isn't on the sea. Plus, there is a pretty seafront campsite on the English Riviera with heated swimming pools that still has summer pitches from £12.
