Riverside camping near Kelso

The border town of Kelso has historic appeal and adventure on its doorstep.

98% (43 reviews)

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Stories from the community

Pridie

1 week ago

With pets

1 night at King Garth

This is a very special place. A chance to step back in time and live simply - supper by candlelight, games played beside a roaring fire, dips in the river. We visited when the elder was full in blossom and the willows whispered full-leafed in the wind. Walking along the river edge was like exploring the mangroves in tropical rainforest - a magical experience for kids, dogs and adults alike! We feel like we've just slipped back into history, sat in the window watching the river, we half expected to see boats carrying cargo past to Carlisle... Go prepared to step back in time and live simply. Everything you need is provided - candles, wood, crockery - there is a woodfired tub that you can heat yourselves, a beautifully simple kitchen set up with a water system that is carefully thought out, and a compost loo.

3 weeks ago

Tent

4 nights at Walkmill Campsite

Definitely a 10/10 site. I wholehearted recommend staying at Walkmill Campsite Positives Extremely pretty area Peace and quiet Big pitches Proper toilets Proper shower Very friendly hosts Camp fires allowed Very tidy Reasonable pitch prices Negatives None

Weekend Trip to Walkmill Campsite

Excellent honesty shop, great facilities - felt like a home away from home! Lovely little villages by the sea nearby. As seen on the bbc television series "villages by the sea" hosted by Ben Robinson.

1 night at West Highland Way Hotel & Campsite

It was amazing! The view of the surrounding fells and farms was so tranquil and peaceful. Andrew was a friendly and helpful host. The property was beautiful and there was a good community of campers there that socialized over breakfast. There were also trails on the property that we didn't get to. I would definitely recommend this campsite to anyone that is going to Scotland

Mandi

April 2025

1 night at West Highland Way Hotel & Campsite

Very friendly staff. Easy to find. Great facilities. Lovely walks right at back of premises. Only downside for me was the noise off other campers. People turning up and setting stuff up after 10 pm. Also loud group of lads. But I’m use to wild camping so maybe noise would be acceptable for most.

Weekend Trip to Camping at Cardewlees

Really friendly greeting from the owner and the pitch was excellent.

1 night at Walkmill Campsite

Nothing but good things to say about Walkmill! Clean, well looked after, incredibly peaceful, and Claire was very helpful before and during our stay. Perfect for the first night of our trip in our van. Will definitely be back & would recommend to anyone. Thanks again!

Weekend Trip to Walkmill Campsite

Lovely campsite with excellent facilities. All very clean and in good condition. The hosts were very helpful and the little shop is stocked with some great stuff. Considering how remote the site is, it was very easy to find. The area it's in is great for peaceful walks.

6 top river, stream, or creek campsites near Kelso

98%

(108)

Walkmill Campsite

10 units · Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Northumberland, North East England

Refreshingly understated private camping in the unspoiled Northumberland countryside

80%

(33)

West Highland Way Hotel & Campsite

46 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Glasgow, Lanarkshire, South Scotland

A welcoming campsite on the West Highland Way

99%

(39)

Camping at Cardewlees

37 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Carlisle, England

A welcoming, family-run farm campsite between the Lake District and Hadrian's Wall

88%

(25)

Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

5 units · Glamping, Motorhomes17 acres · Perthshire , Scotland

Luxury woodland cabins, each with a private hot tub, in the grounds of a Scottish castle

100%

(24)

The Black Swan

3 units · Glamping1 acre · Kirkby Stephen, England

Our three, brand new wood and canvas yurts are nestled in our private, woodland hotel garden beside the beautiful conservation (SSSI) river of Scandal Beck. Just a short drive from The Lake District, The Yorkshire and Durham Dales as well as The Scottish Border, we are perfectly located for you to explore. The yurts themselves are individually decorated with full size furniture, electricity and double beds. The yurts are all located in the garden of The Black Swan Hotel, Ravenstonedale, a multi award-winning hotel, restaurant and bar; recipient of 2 AA Rosettes as well as AA pub of the year for England 2018/19. As part of your stay in our yurts you will receive a full cooked breakfast and buffet option included in the price for 2 people in our hotel restaurant. We like to think of ourselves as a cosy home from home with a relaxed dining atmosphere throughout. We are very dog friendly in the hotel, restaurant, bar and yurts so please bring your furry family members. Our beautiful woodland is also home to red squirrels (which are seen daily), protected, freshwater crayfish in the river, an otter (seen very infrequently but the nemesis of our ducks), 6 Indian runner ducks, free range chickens and our two cockerels! (Dogs are very welcome but are to be kept on a lead whilst in the woodland itself). We are very dog friendly and charge an additional fee of £15 for 1 dog/ £20 for 2 dogs for an additional cleaning fee and for some dog friendly goodies such as poop bags and treats. The price of this yurt is based on an occupancy of 2 people. Any other people who will be staying on the sofa bed will add a charge of £40 per person per night for breakfast and their stay. All yurts come with electrical battery pack, chargeable lanterns, tea/coffee, homemade biscuits, log burning stoves, towels, full breakfast included from the hotel, an outdoor seating area and access to our outdoor toasty warm woodland shower as well as our very cute, wooden toilet cabin. Hairdryers are available in the hotel for your use.

100%

(2)

King Garth

1 unit · Glamping2 acres · Carlisle, England

Built in 1733, King Garth is also known as The Old Customs House, reflecting its role in these fraught times of smuggling. Its strategic position on the banks of The Eden served as the perfect lookout for a bailiff employed by Carlisle Corporation to protect the very important salmon fishery. The plaques on the building which commemorate the visits by Mayors date back to the 1700s. These visits no doubt involved indulgent banquets centring around freshly caught salmon I grew up on the opposite side of the river. On family walks along the Eden I was always fascinated by the house on the other side sited in such an amazing position. In 2010, when I returned to Cumbria I was amazed to hear that this house was for sale. It was a ruin and everyone told me I was mad..... I probably was a little! But I soon realised that I wasn’t alone in my love of this house, everyone I met from the surrounding villages had a tale to tell about this iconic place. King Garth is for sharing - with locals, (we have an annual barbecue), with wildlife and with people like you. The aim when renovating King Garth was to celebrate and embrace its history. King Garth is off grid and has no running water. It is furnished in a style to reflect its history. It isn’t everyone’s ‘cup of tea’: you have to drive a mile down a muddy lane, there is no hot shower, no electric lighting, and a compost toilet. BUT we offer beautiful evenings of candle light, log burner, hot tub under the stars and bathing in the river. My priority with King Garth and the land attached was to manage in a way to protect the abundant wildlife. There are also alpacas who you can look after during your stay. You will be astounded by the din the birds make at dawn and dusk! Inside the house there is an owl box where one summer a pair of barn owls successfully raised chicks. Since then a kestrel frequents the box and has twice laid there. This part of the Eden is tidal so both estuarine and river species co exist. Kingfishers and otters are often spotted And even the occasional seal! Kinggarth comes with fishing rights and if you want to fish this can be arranged with the host. The bird feeders are frequented by tree sparrows, yellow hammers, wood peckers, nut hatches and in winter red poll.

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Riverside camping near Kelso guide

Overview

Nestled in the heart of the Scottish Borders, just a stone’s throw from the Scotland-England border, Kelso is a vibrant town set picturesquely at the meeting of the Tweed and Teviot Rivers. As is typical of border towns, Kelso is steeped in dramatic history, much of it centred around the now-ruined, though once powerful, Roxburgh Castle where James II met his fate. Today, the grand, and still inhabited, Floors Castle is the main attraction and is worth a visit to explore the fine art collection and wander the grounds’ woodland, riverside trail and Victorian walled garden or let the children play in the enclosed adventure playground.

Where to go

Jedburgh

A 20-minute drive southwest of Kelso, Jebdurgh is another historic border town that’s worth a visit for its picturesque town centre and association with Mary Queen of Scots. Just outside of the town, the small Jedburgh Camping and Caravanning Club Site has pitches for tents, caravans and campervans.

Hawick

West of Jedburgh, Hawick is famed for its textile heritage, particularly its knitwear and cashmere. It’s equally famed for the Common Ridings, a spectacle of horsemanship held annually in early summer. Between Hawick and Jedburgh, Wild Woods Camping Ruberslaw offers a variety of pitches for tent campers, including semi-wild pitches and pitches inside the site’s walled garden.

Lauder

A 30-minute drive north of Kelso, the small village of Lauder sits on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills, providing walkers and cyclists opportunities to explore the network of paths around the hills. The Southern Upland Way long distance walking route also passes by the town. The Lauder Camping and Caravanning Club Site has pitches for tents and tourers, as well as a selection of timber chalets.

When to go

The Scottish Borders is a great region to visit all year-round: unlike better-known destinations, such as Edinburgh and the Isle of Skye, it rarely suffers from crowds in the summer months. It also doesn’t experience as harsh climates as more northerly parts of the country. July and August are ideal for enjoying long days and (hopefully) sunny weather. This is also the time of the Common Ridings, which take place in several border towns.

Know before you go

If you choose to wild camp, be sure to adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Note that while wild camping is permitted in Scotland, it is illegal just over the border in England.
While you can get around by using public buses, having your own transport offers more flexibility. The closest train station is Tweedbank, which is a 45-minute bus journey away.
There are a few small supermarkets in Kelso where you will find the essentials. For bigger purchases, head for Tweedbank.