Borders Explorer

BORDERS EXPLORER

 

29 September – 3 October 2025

Monday - Friday

5 Days

From £659

 

With its gently rolling hillsides and tranquil valleys, the Borders is a place of captivating natural beauty, positioned as perhaps the easiest destination in Scotland to reach, with Dumfries & Galloway to the west and Cumbria to the south. Dumfries and Galloway is a lesser explored gem, with its undulating coastline of rocky shoreline and sandy beaches, whilst inland, there are acres of forest and green spaces. We include a guided tour of the region to bring the locality to life, from beautiful gardens and historic harbours to connections with Robert Burns, the famous Scottish poet.

 

 

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Guided tour of the Scottish Solway Firth   |   Hutton-In-The-Forest   |   Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate   |   Gretna Green   |   Carlisle   |   Moffat

 

DAY ONE – Arrival

We depart from your home and travel to Southern Scotland arriving late afternoon you will have time to relax before dinner this evening.

 

DAY TWO – Scottish Solway Firth Guided Tour

The vast Solway plains have their own identity and create a feeling that you have stepped back in time. This is a lesser explored yet beautiful corner of the UK that has a rich history full of fascination and intrigue. Our guide today will take us on a tour of the stunning coastal landscapes. Hear about the Solway migration from tiny forgotten harbours, Titanic links, trans-Atlantic trade routes, ties to a US President, WWII fighter plane production, famous movie stars and more.

The Solway Firth is located off the southwest coast of Scotland, between Dumfries & Galloway and England. It’s the third largest estuary in the UK and is a Special Area of Conservation, comprised of coastal dunes, salt marshes, raised mires and agricultural land.

There are beautiful beaches and bays on both the Scottish and English sides of the firth, including Rockcliffe, Southerness, Sandyhills and Balcary Bay. The stunning coastline also includes Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve and RSPB Merseheard reserve, where thousands of barnacles and pink-footed geese arrive in autumn and stay until spring.

Along the firth you’ll find scenic coastal towns and villages, including Kippford, Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet, Wigtown and Whithorn.

 

DAY THREE – Hutton-In-The-Forest and Carlisle

Hutton-in-the-Forest is an historic house and garden located on the northern edge of the Lake District in Cumbria is a spectacular place to visit. The unusual and beautiful architecture, gardens and woodland that you can see today are the result of forebears making their mark over centuries of living here.

The house is surrounded by spectacular gardens and grounds which were laid out in the 17th Century. They have evolved since then, but the basic elements as shown in the Kip Engraving of 1705 can still be seen

We also visit Carlisle, where you can explore before we return to our hotel for dinner this evening.

 

DAY FOUR – Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate and Moffat

Today we head for Drumlanrig Castle – a magnificent ‘Pink Palace’ containing a world class art collection and surrounded by stunning Victorian gardens. Don’t miss the 183m Long Terrace Walk and the restored Victorian glasshouses and Rock Garden.

We’ll also visit Moffat, nestling in the heart of Southern Scotland, it’s a bustling town offering you’re the warmest of Scottish welcomes.

 

DAY FIVE – Departure

After breakfast this morning we leave our hotel and make our journey home with comfort stops en route.

 

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES

• Luxury coach travel

• Home pick-up

• 4 nights accommodation, dinner & breakfast

• Porterage on arrival and departure

• Tea/coffee after dinner each evening

• Guided tour of the Scottish Solway Frith area

• Admission to Hutton-In-The-Forrest

• Admission to Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate.

 

GRETNA HALL HOTEL, GRETNA GREEN

Nestling in ten acres of landscaped grounds and situated midway between the Borders Region and Scotland’s southwest, the hotel is located in the centre of Gretna Green.  All bedrooms have TV, telephone, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities, the hotel also has a lift.

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES

Luxury coach travel

Home pick-up

4 nights accommodation, dinner & breakfast

Porterage on arrival and departure

Tea/coffee after dinner each evening

Guided tour of the Scottish Solway Frith area

Admission to Hutton-In-The-Forrest

Admission to Drumlanrig Castle and Country Estate.

 

GRETNA HALL HOTEL, GRETNA GREEN

Nestling in ten acres of landscaped grounds and situated midway between the Borders Region and Scotland’s southwest, the hotel is located in the centre of Gretna Green.  All bedrooms have TV, telephone, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities, the hotel also has a lift.

 

 HOTEL FACILITIES INCLUDE

General	Rooms	Accessibility
4 star	Tea/coffee making facilities	Lift
Bar	Television	Wheelchair accessible
Restaurant	Hairdryer
Lounge	Wi-Fi

 

DAYS	TOUR DATE	DEPARTS	TERMS		SUPPLEMENT
5	29 SEP – 3 OCT 2025	MONDAY	£659		£136 SINGLE
JONES HOLIDAYS INSURANCE				£27.28

 

Rooms are allocated on a first come first served basis and are limited. If no single supplement applies this is limited to the tour single room allocation and therefore additional cost may apply.  Prices displayed are per person unless otherwise stated. If door-to-door pick-up is included there may be additional charges for out of area. Itineraries and hotel inclusions may be subject to change. Seat numbers on the coach may be subject to change. Issues whilst on tour must be raised in the first instance with the driver. Covid-19 restrictions may apply. When making bookings you accept on behalf of yourself and your party the terms in our Trading Charter which can be found in our brochure, on our website at http://www.jonesholidays.co.uk/Jones-holidays-trading-charter, or a copy can be requested from our Sales office.  If your holiday is more than 56 days from departure, we offer a 7-day cooling off period where a full refund will be offered from the date of the initial confirmation invoice (with the exception of flight holidays).

Hutton-in-the-Forest Drumlanrig Castle GRETNA HALL HOTEL