Newcastleton vs Scottish Borders Villages: Which Should You Visit?

According to VisitScotland's regional research, the Scottish Borders attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year — yet most of them funnel through just three or four well-known towns. If you're planning a Borders trip and wondering whether to go classic (Melrose, Jedburgh) or off-track (Newcastleton, St Abbs), this honest comparison should make the decision a lot easier.

Newcastleton (Copshaw Holm): The Underdog

With a population of around 750 people, Newcastleton sits at the far end of Liddesdale, about 4 miles from the English border. Locally known as Copshaw Holm, it was a planned village — built in 1793 by the Duke of Buccleuch on a grid plan — which gives it a slightly different feel from the organic sprawl of older Borders towns.

Honestly? It's not particularly pretty on a grey November afternoon. But that's not really the point. What Newcastleton offers is something harder to find elsewhere in the Borders: world-class outdoor activities, almost zero tourist crowds, and a community that genuinely wants visitors to have a good time.

What draws people to Newcastleton

• 7Stanes mountain biking — One of seven legendary trail centres in southern Scotland. The Newcastleton trails are consistently rated among the best in the country, with routes for all abilities and far fewer cyclists than busier spots like Glentress.
• Hermitage Castle — A genuinely atmospheric medieval fortress about 5 miles from the village. Hermitage Castle has been described as "the most evil castle in Scotland," connected to Mary Queen of Scots, Lord Soulis, and the brutal world of the Border Reivers.
• Kielder Forest access — The village is a gateway to one of Europe's largest planted forests, with walking and cycling routes stretching into Northumberland.
• Copshaw Common Riding — Unique in the Borders for being done on bicycle rather than horseback, this annual event celebrates the community's distinctive identity.
• Community-owned assets — The village has bought back 750 acres of Holm Hill, runs its own fuel pumps, and maintains a community hub. It's a rare example of a small rural community genuinely thriving.

Melrose: The Heritage Classic

If Newcastleton is the underdog, Melrose is the favourite — and for good reason. Sitting pretty in the Tweed Valley with the triple peaks of the Eildon Hills as a backdrop, Melrose is genuinely beautiful. It has the kind of market square, abbey ruins, and artisan coffee shop combination that draws visitors back year after year.

Melrose Abbey, where the heart of Robert the Bruce is said to be buried, is one of Scotland's most visited historic sites. Sir Walter Scott lived nearby at Abbotsford House and was so fond of Melrose that he helped fund restoration of the abbey. That legacy of literary and royal history gives Melrose a cultural weight that few Scottish towns can match.

The hiking here is excellent too — the Eildon Hills walk starts right from the town centre and offers three distinct summits with panoramic views. St Cuthbert's Way, a 62-mile long-distance route to Lindisfarne, also begins in Melrose.

Where Melrose falls short

Peak season weekends in Melrose can feel genuinely crowded. Car parking is limited, accommodation books up fast, and the abbey gets busy enough that you're sharing the atmosphere with tour groups. For visitors who want solitude or a sense of discovery, Melrose can disappoint — it feels a bit "done."

Jedburgh: History Without the Gloss

Jedburgh is the largest of these four villages, with a population of around 3,800, and it functions more as a small town than a village. Jedburgh Abbey, founded around 1138, is in remarkable condition compared to many ruined Scottish abbeys — the nave stands to nearly full height. The Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre adds another layer of history, marking the queen's month-long stay here in 1566.

For walking, Jedburgh sits on the Borders Abbeys Way — a 68-mile circular route connecting all four major Borders abbeys at Kelso, Jedburgh, Melrose, and Dryburgh. That's a proper adventure for anyone with a week to spare.

Jedburgh is honest in a way that Melrose sometimes isn't. It's a working town that happens to have extraordinary medieval ruins in the middle of it. Less polished, maybe — but there's something appealing about that.

St Abbs: Coastal Drama

St Abbs is in a completely different category from the other three — it's a coastal village, and the comparison almost isn't fair. The rugged cliffs of the St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve are genuinely spectacular, and the village became globally famous as New Asgard in Avengers: Endgame, which has brought in a wave of film tourism.

For divers, St Abbs is unmissable — the marine reserve offshore is considered one of the best cold-water diving sites in the UK. For everyone else, it's a place to walk cliff paths, watch seabirds, and eat fish and chips by the harbour.

The downside? It's small, it gets very busy in summer (the MCU connection has had a real impact), and there's not much there beyond the scenery and the dive centre. A half-day or full-day visit, rather than a base.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Accommodation: Self-Catering vs B&B vs Bunkhouse

One area where Newcastleton genuinely stands out is accommodation variety relative to its size. The village has options that suit very different types of visitors — here's how the main categories stack up across the Borders.

Self-Catering Cottages

Self-catering is the most flexible option and suits families, groups, and anyone with dogs. The Scottish Borders has a solid selection of holiday cottages — from traditional stone farmhouses in Liddesdale to grander historic properties near Melrose (like Abbotsford's Hope Scott Wing, which sleeps up to 16 and was once home to Sir Walter Scott's granddaughter).

For Newcastleton specifically, self-catering works well if you're staying multiple nights for mountain biking — you can sort your own meals, dry out gear, and not worry about fitting in with a B&B's schedule. The accommodation options in Newcastleton include several self-catering properties within easy reach of the 7Stanes trailhead.

B&B and Guest Houses

There's a reason B&Bs remain popular across the Borders: a good host makes the difference between a fine trip and a memorable one. According to VisitScotland's accommodation guide, B&B owners are often the best source of local knowledge — they know the walks, the cafes, the events, and the weather patterns. A Scottish cooked breakfast before a day on the trails is hard to argue with.

Melrose has the highest density of quality B&Bs and guest houses in this comparison, with options filling up fast in July and August. Jedburgh and Newcastleton have fewer options but also fewer competing visitors, so availability tends to be better.

Bunkhouses and Budget Options

For walkers, cyclists, and budget travellers, bunkhouses are a practical choice. The Newcastleton Bunkhouse caters specifically to the mountain biking crowd — secure bike storage, drying rooms, and the right attitude toward muddy gear. It regularly features in lists of the best cycling-specific accommodation in southern Scotland.

Melrose Youth Hostel is a well-established option for hikers on the Eildon Hills trails or St Cuthbert's Way. Kirk Yetholm Hostel, further east, is famous as the end point of the Pennine Way.

Who Should Go Where

Choose Newcastleton if...

• You're a mountain biker or serious trail runner
• You want to hike in a forest without passing 40 other people on the same path
• You're interested in the darker side of Scottish history — Hermitage Castle and the Border Reivers are genuinely fascinating
• You're travelling with a family and want space, not crowds
• You'd rather be one of the few visitors who found a place than one of thousands who went to the obvious spot

Choose Melrose if...

• Abbey ruins and royal history are your priority
• You want the "classic Scottish Borders" experience with tea shops and beautiful scenery
• You're doing St Cuthbert's Way or the Eildon Hills walk
• A wider choice of restaurants and accommodation matters to you

Choose Jedburgh if...

• You want history without the premium prices of Melrose
• You're walking the Borders Abbeys Way
• Mary Queen of Scots history draws you
• You prefer a real working town to a tourist village

Choose St Abbs if...

• Coastal scenery is non-negotiable
• You're a diver (seriously, the marine reserve is exceptional)
• You want to say you've been to New Asgard
• A half-day side trip fits your itinerary

The Bottom Line

There's no single "best" village in the Scottish Borders — it depends entirely on what you're after. But a few honest conclusions stand out from this comparison:

Melrose is the most beautiful and the most visited. If you want the Scottish Borders greatest hits, start there. Jedburgh is underrated and deserves more attention than it gets. St Abbs is spectacular but tiny — go for the cliffs and the coastal path, not as a base.

Newcastleton is the one that surprises people. Most visitors who end up there didn't plan to — they followed a cycling route, or someone recommended Hermitage Castle, or they were looking for somewhere genuinely quiet. They tend to come back. The University of Stirling's research on rural tourism trends consistently finds that authenticity and community engagement drive repeat visits — and by those measures, Newcastleton is doing something right.

The Borders is big enough to visit multiple villages in one trip. But if you only have time for one and you're tired of places that feel designed for visitors — Newcastleton is worth the drive down Liddesdale.