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Kelso is a small town tucked away in the Scottish Borders. Up until May last year I didn’t know this little gem even existed. Since Tom moved to the nearby valley as a popgame keeper I have spent a fair few days wondering around Kelso and surrounding areas, astonished by its hidden beauty. This is my first (almost?) review of a location on the blog and has been half written for months so I’m excited to finally be able to share it with you!
Kelso itself is quite small but is home to some gorgeous shops and cafés, the whole town perfect for country lovers and beams with character. The town houses lots of different non-high street shops my favourite, of course, being country shops. Orvis is ideal for Barbour lovers, also stocking lots of fishing and game gear and lots of doggy gifts too! In fact the dog bed selection is to die for! Finn and game as the name suggests is also the perfect place to pick up fishing gear and a new country jacket stocking the likes of Alan Paine, Musto, Sasta and a recently opened room bursting with Swazi and other high end brands you have a large selection of items from Fedoras to gun slips!
A Hume country clothing is the country shop of dreams. The staff are always welcoming and helpful and the country collections available are to die for! Personally, even walking by the shops ever changing beautifully designed window displays, I am never short of inspiration or new items to add my wish list! The first store is spread over two floors, stocking large collections of items from the likes of Fairfax and Favour, Dubarry and R M Williams. Other more unique brands add a unique twist to the normal country store with stunning scarf collections from Claire Shaw fine art and even hosting a room full of tweeds! If one store isn’t enough then the second smaller store offers equally gorgeous country pursuit and outdoor essentials such as Schoffel gilets and Le Chameu. This shop alone , is a reason to visit Kelso!
Kelso isn’t home to just country shops you will find various other little gift shops dotted around with unique keepsakes, hardwear/interior stores sometimes even selling gorgeous Emma Bridgewater sets and without forgetting my mums favourite shop, Fat Face which is perfect for a cosy knit or leather handbag! You will also find a few bakeries, butchers and essential/highstreet stores like Superdrug and WH Smith.
Coffee is my downfall and having very poor internet in the valley I am mainly found Mocha in hand, in one of Kelso’s gorgeous little cafes. There are lots to choose from each having their own specialties and all with excellent menu’s and cakes! My most visited and loved is The Cream Chimneys, situated near the centre, looking out onto the clock tower with fairy lights surrounding the windows its idyllic winter or summer! Not only do they offer scrumptious food but you will normally be welcomed by a wet nose and wagging tail by the lovely Piper. A pretty café, selling good food and coffee and allowing four legged friends is now a rarity so the cream chimneys ticks all the boxes and makes the perfect place for a light lunch after a dog walk or wander round the town.
The tipsy ghillie has recently been refurbished into a beautiful bar, wine café and bistro serving home made food from local produce and has a gorgeous rustic interior. At the front, although yet to visit through the day there is a café which always looks to serve yummy looking cakes and on an evening a homely lit wine bar! Round the back is a bar with a large selection of alcohol, including lots of gins and select nights offering live music! A lovely place for a few drinks or an evening meal!
Close to the centre is Kelso abbey which is a great little spot for a look around before beginning a lovely walk running alongside the river tweed, known for its salmon fishing. From the bridge is the beautiful view of Floors castle and the river tweed. It makes a stunning photography shot! The castle grounds itself are open through the summer and they have an onsite café again serving beautiful food. Floors Castle International horse trials are also run here in May and are a must see for any equine enthusiast!
Kelso is also home to a showground situated again in walking distance from the town centre, ram sales, agriculture shows etc are all run here throughout the summer and make excellent days out to plan your visits round! Housed close to the cheviots, there are lots of countryside walks and cycle tracks to explore too! The scenery is simply stunning no matter what the weather!
Kelso is an ideal place to visit for the day or to stay for a get-away, being only an hours drive from the famous Bamborough beach Kelso is ideal for an inland break with the coast still close by! I have to say I prefer to travel that little bit further north and visit a lovely little quiet harbour called Cove, letting the dogs have a run at Coldingham bay before visiting St Abbs nature reserve and Harbour on the way home stopping for a quick coffee and taking in the last of the sea breeze and capturing some stunning sea shots!
Now I am no travel blogger, but I cannot stress how much I love Kelso and its surrounding areas! A place I never heard of is now my most visited place, with hope to move here in the future it makes the ideal location for anyone ,not just us country lovers and is 100% a must visit as I am sure you will fall in love too!
Speak soon,
Megxx