Southern Scotland

Instead of heading to the Highlands of Scotland, veer away from the crowds and aim for the Borders and other areas of southern Scotland.

If it’s your first time in Scotland, you’ll most likely choose to land in Edinburgh and work your way north to the Highlands, maybe over to St Andrews, then perhaps up to otherworldly northern isles like Skye. Southern Scotland literally lives in the Scottish Highlands’ shadow.

The Borders Region of Scotland is typically seen by visitors through the window as they pass on by to more famous Scottish destinations further north: Edinburgh, the Isle of Skye, the Highlands. But the south of Scotland, which includes the Borders Region, is quickly becoming one of my favorite parts of the country.