Newcastleton sits in a beautiful bit of nowhere. That honesty is part of the appeal, frankly. The village is tucked into the Liddesdale valley with hills and forest on every side, and the nearest traffic lights are a solid drive away. If you're after peace, dark skies and proper countryside, it's hard to beat. But eventually you'll need a supermarket, a dentist, or just a change of scenery. So where do you actually go?
Here's a rundown of the closest towns, roughly in order of distance, and what you can expect when you get there.
Langholm — 13 Miles
Langholm is the closest proper town, about twenty minutes' drive south over the moorland road. The locals call it the "Muckle Toon" and it punches above its weight for a place its size. You'll find a couple of small shops, a chemist, a good butcher and some genuinely decent pub food. The Crown Hotel does a solid lunch. It's also home to the annual Common Riding festival, which is worth seeing if your timing lines up. Langholm won't cover a big weekly shop, but for a quick top-up and a pint it does the job nicely.
Hawick — 21 Miles
Hawick is the nearest thing to a "real" town with full services. It's about thirty-five minutes north through some cracking scenery. This is where most Newcastleton residents head for the supermarket — there's a Morrisons and a Lidl — along with a secondary school, banks, a leisure centre and a proper high street with independent shops. There's also a good selection of takeaways and cafes. If you're staying in Newcastleton for a week or more, you'll probably make at least one Hawick run.
Carlisle — 25 Miles
Cross the English border and you're in Carlisle within about forty minutes. This is the big one. Carlisle has a mainline train station with direct services to London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester. There's a hospital, a cinema, large retail parks and a city centre with all the usual chains. It's also the nearest spot to catch a train if you're getting to Newcastleton by public transport. Plenty of visitors arrive at Carlisle station and drive the last stretch up through the Borders.
Jedburgh — 27 Miles
Head north-east and you'll reach Jedburgh in around forty minutes. It's a handsome old town with a ruined abbey right in the centre and the quirky Mary Queen of Scots House turned museum. The Castle Jail museum is worth a look too, especially with children. Shopping-wise, Jedburgh has a decent range of independents and gift shops, plus a good Co-op for groceries. It's a natural stop if you're exploring the wider Scottish Borders and want to combine errands with a bit of sightseeing.
Kelso — 35 Miles
A bit further afield, Kelso is about fifty minutes' drive but worth the trip. It's often described as one of the most attractive towns in the Borders, built around a broad cobbled square with a fine market cross. Floors Castle sits just outside town and the grounds are lovely for a wander. Kelso also has some genuinely good restaurants and independent shops. It makes a grand day out when you want something a little special — not your weekly errand run, but a proper treat.
The Bigger Picture
There's no getting around it: Newcastleton is remote. The nearest motorway is over an hour away and mobile signal can be patchy on the roads in between. But most people who come here — and especially those who come back year after year — consider that a feature, not a bug. You learn to plan your shopping, keep a well-stocked freezer and appreciate the village shop for the lifeline it is.
If you're thinking of visiting, have a look at our accommodation page for places to stay, and the getting here guide for practical travel advice. Once you arrive and settle in, you might find you don't actually want to leave all that often.