Scotland is a wonderful place for a family holiday and the Scottish Borders are often overlooked for people travelling further North to the Highlands. I highly recommend you stop and explore. With beautiful landscapes, historic abbeys and excellent restaurants, there is a lot to do and see! Schloss Roxburghe is in the heart of the Scottish Borders and the perfect destination for families exploring this area.
While a way the time at the spa with views out over the stunning gardens, safe in the knowledge that your children are busy at Kio Kids Club. Or take the older kids on a fly fishing or archery experience and enjoy a delicious meal made from locally sourced ingredients at Charlies afterward.
Use the self catering cottages as an excellent base to explore further afield. Enjoy the gothic charm of the local abbeys or haunting reminders of reivers crossing the hills at the atmospheric Smailholm Tower. It really is a fantastic destination for all the family.
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Where is Schloss Roxburghe?
You can find Schloss Roxburghe near the market town of Kelso, just an hour South of Edinburgh or an 1 hour and a half from Carlisle or Newcastle. It’s easily accessed by road, although it’s also possible to access by public transport with a combination of train and buses.
Schloss Roxburghe Cottages
There are variety of options to stay at Schloss Roxburghe, from hotel rooms to cottages. We stayed in one of the 2 bedroom cottages on the estate. Most of the cottages are relatively new, only a few years old (there are a couple of renovated stone cottages too), and are perfect for families.
Our two bedroom cottage was very homely and cosy, with wooden floors, comfy sofas and big luxurious beds. As you enter the cottage there is a good size entryway with space to hang jackets and put away shoes and walking boots.
A large tiled family bathroom is off to one side of the hallway and then two bedrooms. We had one twin bedroom and one double en-suite bedroom. The double bed was huge and had a brilliant view out onto the golf course.
Further along the hallway is a dining and living area, with double patio doors that open out onto an outdoor seating area and grass. The grassy garden area is lined with hedges on either side, but meets the golf course at the far end. You can happily sit and watch golfers, or just admire the view across to the trees.
There is also a fully equipped kitchen beside the dining area. We were there for two nights and ate in our cottage one evening. There was everything we needed to cook a good meal. You can also buy your breakfast from the Estate market each morning (included with stays in the cottages). Then eat it back at the cottage, storing any extra food in the spacious fridge and cupboards.
Facilities at Schloss Roxburghe
Schloss Roxburghe has plenty of family-friendly facilities, from the spa pool to Kio Kids Club. Everything you need for a great family holiday is right here at Schloss Roxburghe!
Roxburghe Spa
The Roxburghe Spa is for adults aged 16+. However, children are allowed access into the spa area between the hours of 8-10am each morning. If you would like to use the spa facilities as adults then simply sign your kids up to the Kio Kids Club. Then you can enjoy some child-free time at the spa.
You can book a variety of treatments from salt and oil scrubs to hot stone massages and facials. You can also enjoy the outdoor pools and jacuzzi during your time at the spa.
Charlies Restaurant and Terrace
Schloss Roxburghe has a range of dining options, from the fine dining at Sunnylaws to drinks at bar 1745. However, for a family-friendly setting I recommend Charlie’s restaurant for dinner or the Terrace for lunch. Both offer dishes created from local ingredients and are definitely delicious!
Charlie’s Restaurant offers Scottish bistronomy. Here you can relax in beautiful surroundings with excellent views out to the gardens. Eating quality gourmet food made from the finest ingredients from the Scottish Borders. I concur that the food here really is top quality, the scallops I ate at Charlie’s were the most delicious I’ve ever had! Even the children were delighted with the pork loin steaks.
Charlies Terrace is alfresco dining in a more relaxed manner, with views to the gardens. No reservations are required. Here you can order similarly delicious locally sourced ingredients in the forms of pizzas, burgers, seafood and more. You can even watch the chefs cooking whilst you wait.
Kio Kids Club
The Kio Kids Club is beside the little play park near the self-catering cottages. It’s available to guests free of charge, for ages 4-12 years old. Younger kids are also welcome, but require a parent to stay with them. It’s open from morning until dinner time, shutting over lunch so the staff can have a break.
Kio is a kids club with a difference, where the children can expect to have fun with a sustainable and eco conscious theme. It’s actually inspired by an original book ‘Kio The Little big Seahorse’
The staff organise a range of activities for the children, including nature walks, arts and crafts and kids yoga. They encourage children to play outdoors and also make use of the forest beside the building. Older children may also enjoy the use of one of the rooms in the kids club with a PS5 and table football. Although the older kids tend to also help out with the little ones activities too.
Estate Market
Opposite the kids club building is the estate market. Here you can buy all sorts of goodies, including local produce and gifts. They also sell ice cream, which is perfect for a hot day, whilst the kids play at the park opposite.
The estate market is open from 8am to 6pm every day. Each of the self catering cottages also has a £25 spend on breakfast items each day. So you can pop in at 8am and pick up some fresh pastries, sausages and bacon, bread and local honey, cereal, milk, juice or whatever else you need for a delicious breakfast. This is a fantastic way to cook things in the morning, fresh and with plenty of choice. It’s surprising quite how far the £25 can stretch too.
Activities at Schloss Roxburghe
Schloss Roxburghe has plenty of activities for all the family. These include golf, of course, as it is set in a large golf course! However, you will also find clay pigeon shooting, archery, fly fishing and croquet.
Children aged 12 and over can try out clay pigeon shooting and archery. It’s 10+ for the fly fishing instruction. Croquet is available to all guests, just enquire at the front desk and it can be set up on the lawn.
Even if your children are too young for these activities there are plenty of places to walk and explore both on the estate and off.
Family-friendly Activities
So what can you do with the younger children on a visit to Schloss Roxburghe? Although they may not be old enough for archery, shooting or fly fishing, there’s still plenty to keep them occupied!
- Kio Kids Club
- Play park (beside the kids club)
- Swimming pool between 8-10am
- Play croquet on the front lawn
- Try out the Toptracer Driving Range (for 5+)
- Walks around the estate, or along the River tweed nearby
- Take their bike and explore by cycling around the local paths
- Visit local attractions
- Ice cream at Charlies Terrace cafe
Local Attractions
As I mentioned earlier in this article, the Scottish Borders are overlooked. However, there are so many interesting places to visit, so it’s well worth stopping at a few when you visit Schloss Roxburghe.
Floors castle
Just a few minutes drive away in Kelso is Floors Castle. This mansion house was built in 1721 for the 1st Duke of Roxburghe and has been in the Innes-Ker family for over 300 years. You can buy tickets to explore the castle and gardens or stop by in the cafe for a delicious lunch or cake. There are often family orientated events in the Scottish school holidays, check the website in advance for these.
Jedburgh Abbey
Although now ruined, this Augustinian abbey has been standing since the 1100’s and is one of 4 great abbeys in the area. King David 1st wanted Jedburgh Abbey to show dominance and power over the border area, a debatable land. Unfortunately it’s demise was due to various attacks on the abbey, border raids and then the Protestant reformation.
Mary Queen of Scot’s House
Also in Jedburgh is Mary Queen of Scot’s House. This 16th century tower house tells the tale of Mary Queen of Scot’s life, including a month stay in this house when she was ill in 1566.
It’s a donation only museum and worth a visit to learn more about Mary Queen of Scots life.
Smailholm Tower
A short distance from Kelso is the rather atmospheric Smailholm Tower. Set in rolling hills you can just imagine Northumberland Reivers nipping in and stealing cattle and horses! On a good day you can see all the way to Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland from the top!
The Great Tapestry of Scotland
In Galashiels you can find the Great Tapestry of Scotland. This is a work of art stitched by a 1000 stitchers from all over Scotland. the tapestry telling the complicated history of Scotland and its people.
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