A beautiful town has been named one of the highest-rated places to visit in the UK. Melrose, on the Scottish borders, was named Scotland’s best town by Which?.

The consumer champion asked 9,000 Which? members to rate the inland towns and villages they’d visited for their peace and quiet, scenery, food and drink and more. Melrose got a destination score of 78%, with Which? calling it “a place to potter, stop for refreshment at one of countless tea rooms, or enjoy a wee dram at one of the charming old inns.” The town scored perfect marks on its scenery, attractiveness, and peace and quiet. For tourist attractions and food and drink, it got four out of five stars. Its lowest score, three out of five stars, came from its shopping. According to the Telegraph, most of the treasures of the area remain appreciated by the locals, with guide Stewart Wilson saying: “This is the town that Scots seem to keep for ourselves.”

The town offers Celtic charm with grand solid stone Victorian buildings and lots of independent shops selling everything from clothing to handmade chocolate. 

It grew around nearby Melrose Abbey, now ruined, which was established in 1136. Scottish icon King Robert the Bruce is believed to have his heart buried in the spectacular ruins. 

Melrose is situated next to the Eildon Hills, which feature three picturesque summits and are a popular hiking destination, while the town is also the starting point of St Cuthbert’s Way, a 62-mile walk to Holy Island.

The Drygrange Viaduct, or Leaderfoot Viaduct, also sits close to the town. And although it is no longer in use it provides a stunning walking location and was even the backdrop for some scenes in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

There are two National Trust for Scotland gardens in the area. Priorwood has an apple orchard which cultivates many historic varieties and Scotland’s only dedicated dried flower garden and Harmony Gardens is a beautiful walled garden with magnificent views over the abbey and Eildon Hills.

Which?’s top spots went to Wells in Somerset and Avebury in Wiltshire. They were followed by other highly rated towns, including Corfe Castle, Port Sunlight, Grasmere, and Lavenham.