Castle hotels · Scotland

Castle hotels in Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders lie between Edinburgh and the English border, along the Tweed and its valleys.

Eight castle stays in Scottish Borders. The Scottish Borders lie between Edinburgh and the English border, along the Tweed and its valleys. This was reiver country, which is why fortified houses are so common here.

On our Castle Authenticity Scale that breaks down as three castle-style mansions and five castle estate stays. The list runs from Hawick, Kelso, Melrose, Lauder.

The list: 8 stays

Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Branxholme Castle

Hawick, Scottish Borders

A category A listed 16th-century tower house heavily altered and incorporated into a later mansion remodelled in 1837. It is not confirmed which part the two guest suites are in.

Family rooms

4-star · Guests 9.8/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)View castle

Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

Schloss Roxburghe Golf Resort

Heiton, near Kelso, Scottish Borders

A Category B Scottish Jacobean mansion built in 1853, with no defensive history. Most bedrooms are in later wings, though 20 rooms are in the original house.

Some rooms inside the walls

Dogs allowed
Golf

5-star · Guests 8.9/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)View castle

Level 4 Castle-Style Mansion

The Waverley Castle Hotel

Melrose, Scottish Borders

Built from 1869 to 1871 as a castellated hydropathic establishment, not a real defensive castle. Guests sleep in this Victorian building.

Sleep inside the walls

Restaurant

3-star · Guests 7.0/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)View castle

Level 2 Castle Estate Stay

The Sculleries at Thirlestane Castle

Lauder, Scottish Borders

Listed as a stay on or beside a castle estate. Check whether your rooms are in the castle itself before you book.

Dogs allowed
Spa

Guests 9.9/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)About this stay

Level 2 Castle Estate Stay

Glenburnie at Thirlestane Castle

Lauder, Scottish Borders

Listed as a stay on or beside a castle estate. Check whether your rooms are in the castle itself before you book.

Dogs allowed

Guests 9.8/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)About this stay

Level 2 Castle Estate Stay

The Lauderdale at Thirlestane Castle

Lauder, Scottish Borders

Listed as a stay on or beside a castle estate. Check whether your rooms are in the castle itself before you book.

Dogs allowed
Spa

Guests 9.5/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)About this stay

Level 2 Castle Estate Stay

The Earl & Countess at Thirlestane Castle

Lauder, Scottish Borders

Listed as a stay on or beside a castle estate. Check whether your rooms are in the castle itself before you book.

Dogs allowed
Spa

Guests 9.4/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)About this stay

Level 2 Castle Estate Stay

The Maitland at Thirlestane Castle

Lauder, Scottish Borders

Listed as a stay on or beside a castle estate. Check whether your rooms are in the castle itself before you book.

Dogs allowed
Spa

Guests 9.2/10

Check prices (opens in a new tab)About this stay

8 stays on a map.

Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.

Compare at a glance

Filter any column, or click a heading to sort. Guest ratings are from Booking.com (September 2026).



Branxholme Castle	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Scottish Borders	-	4-star	9.8	No
Schloss Roxburghe Golf Resort	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Scottish Borders	Some rooms inside the walls	5-star	8.9	Yes
The Waverley Castle Hotel	4 Castle-Style Mansion	Scottish Borders	Sleep inside the walls	3-star	7.0	No
The Sculleries at Thirlestane Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Scottish Borders	-	-	9.9	Yes
Glenburnie at Thirlestane Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Scottish Borders	-	-	9.8	Yes
The Lauderdale at Thirlestane Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Scottish Borders	-	-	9.5	Yes
The Earl & Countess at Thirlestane Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Scottish Borders	-	-	9.4	Yes
The Maitland at Thirlestane Castle	2 Castle Estate Stay	Scottish Borders	-	-	9.2	Yes

Questions

How many castle hotels are there in Scottish Borders?

We list eight castle stays in Scottish Borders. On our Castle Authenticity Scale that breaks down as three castle-style mansions and five castle estate stays. Each card shows the level and, where we have confirmed it, if you sleep inside the historic walls.

Which is the oldest castle you can stay in around Scottish Borders?

Check the level first: level 5 castles were built for defence and are usually the oldest. In Scottish Borders the true castles on our list include none so far. Each castle's own page gives the building date from heritage records.