Tucked into the rolling countryside of the Scottish Borders, Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa is an all-encompassing golf resort that mixes a genuine parkland challenge with proper downtime. The parkland layout sits on rolling ground beside the River Tweed and it's far from a gentle knock, even if it looks that way from the clubhouse.
You're only 40 minutes from Edinburgh and about 90 from Glasgow, so it's ideal for a quick Scottish escape without the long haul north. Back at the hotel you've got everything you want post-round, including a restaurant, two bars, a pool and a spa, plus the Tweed on your doorstep if you fancy swapping wedges for a rod.
Who is this for?
Golfers or groups looking for a proper Scottish parkland test within easy reach of Edinburgh, with quality accommodation and leisure facilities all on site. Ideal for weekend breaks, society trips or couples combining golf with spa time.
Who is it best for?
Mid-to-low handicappers who want a genuine challenge on a tour-standard course, plus anyone seeking a peaceful countryside escape with excellent facilities and easy access from central Scotland's cities.
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From£109
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1 Night, 2 Rounds
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2 rounds at Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
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From£109
per person
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Free Places for Groups
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
2 rounds at Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
From£155
per person
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
Free Places for Groups
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
3 rounds at Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
From£161
per person
2 Nights, 3 Rounds
Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
2 rounds at Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club
4 rounds at Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club
FREE! 12 TP5 Golf Balls (RRP £50) when you Book Online. Must use code HISTORY. (Groups 4+)
Macdonald Cardrona Golf & Country Club
Using all the local features, Thomas, to his enormous credit, has managed to build the course to feel mature beyond its few years. Despite its position close to some pretty hilly terrain, the course itself is relatively flat, offering an enjoyable challenge to all those fortunate enough to visit Cardrona for a golfing break.
The testing par-72 championship course is now a regular stop on the PGA Europro Tour, owing not just to the golf course, but also the fantastic practice facilities on-site.
Signature Hole: Hole 7, Par 4, 402 yards
From the 7th& tee a straight drive is necessary in order to avoid trees and bunkers flanking the fairway on the left and right respectively. However, the approach shot is the real challenge and the golfer must find a raised, well-protected green making for a tough par.
Accommodation at Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa
Cardrona's 99 bedrooms are contemporary, spacious and built for comfort after a long day on the course. Soft fabrics, quality beds and modern ensuites are standard across the board, with views either out over the surrounding hills or directly onto the golf course itself. If you're the sort who can't quite switch off from golf, the Deluxe Rooms come with private patios that open straight onto the course, so you can step out with your morning coffee and watch the first groups tee off.
Check-in is straightforward and the staff know their golf, which always helps when you're asking about tee times or course conditions. There's plenty of parking on site, which matters when you're travelling with clubs and kit, and the hotel has a relaxed, welcoming feel rather than anything overly formal. Breakfast is included in most packages and it's a proper spread, the sort of fuel you'll want before heading out for 18 holes in the Borders air.
Room types range from standard doubles through to family rooms and suites, so whether you're here as a couple, a fourball or a larger group, there's something that'll work. The rooms facing the course are worth requesting if you can, especially in the evening when the light catches the hills and you can sit out with a drink and watch the last few groups finish up.
Food & Drink
Dining at Cardrona covers all bases. Renwicks Restaurant is the headline option, an award-winning spot serving refined dishes in a bright, airy space with panoramic views across the course and the Border hills beyond. It's the kind of place where you'll want to linger over dinner, especially if you've had a good round. The menu leans towards Scottish produce done well, nothing too fussy, just quality ingredients cooked properly.
For something more relaxed, Spikes Bar overlooks the 18th and does exactly what a golf club bar should: decent food, cold drinks and a terrace where you can sit out and dissect your round in the evening sun. It's the natural spot to end up after you've signed your card, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want, golfers swapping stories and settling bets.
The Lounge and Cocktail Bar offers a quieter alternative, ideal for sinking into a leather sofa with an afternoon tea or a well-earned drink while taking in the views. If you're here with a non-golfing partner, this is where they'll likely gravitate while you're out playing.
Leisure Facilities
The leisure side is genuinely first-class. The spa runs a full treatment menu, including facials and massages using ELEMIS products, ideal if you've overdone it on the course or simply want to unwind properly. There's an 18-metre pool, plus sauna and steam room, and a fully equipped gym for anyone who wants to keep their fitness routine ticking over.
I'll admit, it works well as a resort base. Non-golfers have plenty to do while you're out playing, which matters if you're trying to sell a golf trip to a partner who'd rather be anywhere but a driving range. The spa is a proper facility, not just a couple of treatment rooms tacked onto a hotel, and the pool area is spacious enough that it never feels crowded.
Macdonald Cardrona Hotel and Golf Club sits just east of Peebles, 25 miles south of Edinburgh and roughly 15 miles from Galashiels train station, making it straightforward to reach from either direction.
Address: Cardrona, Peebles, Scotland, EH45 9HX
Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa Reviews
Overall rating:8.2 / 10
Hotel reviews
8.28.2 / 10
Bar / Restaurant
8 / 10
Facilities
8.2 / 10
Location
8.8 / 10
Room comfort
8.6 / 10
Staff
8.6 / 10
Value for money
8.6 / 10
8 / 10
Very good value for the money the course was in excellent condition for the time of year the only downside is the hotel was very expensive if you’re buying drinks or sandwiches we paid £46 for a round of sandwiches and coffee (4 of us ) apart from that excellent value for money and highly recommendable the food in was really good and the staff more than helpful we will definitely be booking again
6 / 10
Hotel was dated and needs upgraded, the room was nice but when we opened our windows they would not close and jammed open, appear to be twisted? restaurant at night was lovely but breakfast was very poor, no appliances for making toast for breakfast and food was average, there was toast made and in the hot food buffet but was not good.
8 / 10
Accommodation very good and setting/location excellent. The hotel service was a little disjointed this time, probably because they were quite busy. Despite this we thoroughly enjoyed the stay.
10 / 10
Great time at the Cardrona. Everything was perfect and the professional couldn't have been more helpful. All staff and meals were fantastic.
We will definitely be going back next year.
Thanks again Your Golf Travel for a great golfing experience.
Brian Smith
10 / 10
a good few days.
Helpful and efficient staff
8 / 10
A gem of a find that was incredible value for money. The course was as you would expect for a Scottish golf course - long, well kept, punishing if you were off line but a very fair challenge. The staff were what made this trip exceptional however. Excellent customer service from desk, bar, wait and above all golf shop staff. David in the golf shop genuinely could not have done more for us and was an absolute credit to the place.
6 / 10
The service is awful. Students at the restaurant and the cleaning team stays less than 5 minutes in the room just to set up the bed. They don’t even change the glasses or empty properly the trash cans
6 / 10
Hotel needing a bit of upgrading ,particularly the public areas.
There were problems with the breakfast catering ,or lack of it(blamed on a large party who had eaten prior to the other guests)
Pretty area for walkers and golfers.
Drinks expensive,usually guests receive a voucher or 20% off but not at the present time
2 / 10
Lift was not working (we were on the 4th floor), carpets in room starting to get threadbare, very warm in the room, no electric fan and windows won’t open, toilet was blocked, shower nice and spacious, building needs a good spruce up specially outside...crying out for a fresh lick of paint, breakfast new setup is terrible and disappointing as a result of cutbacks here and there, service is very slow although staff shown dedication to work and were helpful and friendly. I’ve stayed at Cardrona Hotel numerous times but the noticeable cutback and quality of breakfast made me feel not to go back ever again. However, the course is still as good and challenging as I’ve always known throughout all the time I’ve played it. I guess hotel is fine for bus load of foreign tourist as stopover but not for guests looking for enjoyable break.
10 / 10
8 / 10
The hotel was easy to find and a 10 minute drive from Peebles. Plenty of parking at the hotel and reception staff were very helpful on check in. Rooms were well presented with all mod cons. The restaurant was excellent and quality of food even better.
The only grumble was that after golf we hit the spike bar, it was very small but prices were reasonable.
A lovely stay at a hotel with reviews that lived up to expectations.
8 / 10
Nice enough room, food and drinks quite expensive
10 / 10
Very comfortable and roomy
10 / 10
It’s our third time we have stayed here and can not fault it at all.we used the restaurant for dinner the breakfast food was very good.
6 / 10
A comfortable hotel and the food was good including fresh orange juice at breakfast. The price of drinks was very high including ordinary diner wine at £50 per bottle.
8 / 10
Very good value with the deal we had rooms were good and staff and restaurant were very good,
6 / 10
I have been to the hotel and this trip My brother-in-law and I both agreed that the hotel was looking tired and in need of a good facelift. There was also no coffee/tea making equipment in the rooms, which is allways an essential given. The food was excellent for each meal.
10 / 10
We stayed for 2 nights on a dinner bed and breakfast deal. Location is really nice next to River Tweed in a quiet Borders location but only 30-40 minutes to Edinburgh and The Bridge north. The hotel reception was welcoming on arrival and we had great 3rd floor rooms with a golf course view (highly recommended). The room was spacious and had a great view. Facilities were new and done to a high standard.The spa and pool were available to guests and also had sauna and steam rooms. All were excellent and staff were very helpful. The restaurant was comfortable and staff attentive. The food was excellent with a reasonable choice for all tastes.Wine list was extensive but bottle available for £22 was very good value. Played the excellent golf course during our stay.The staff in the golf shop could not have been more helpful and were friendly and welcoming. It is a long walk but lovely course surroundings and never far from river.This is an excellent hotel and covered all the bases. I would have no hesitation in going back and probably will next year.
10 / 10
See above
8 / 10
Really nice Hotel and staff very helpful in all matters. Some rooms experienced problems with the heating but staff sorted this promptly Unfortunately the Spikes bar was closed on both days we visited, which was a shame as its a great addition to golf deal. I will definitely return and so might others in group. Friendly hotel.
10 / 10
Beautiful hotel the evening meal was outstanding really very good staff extremely friendly and attentive highly commended
8 / 10
10 / 10
Excellent hotel, apart from the spike bar (the only place with the Ryder cup on) closing at 4pm each day.
10 / 10
I am already a member of the Macdonald hotel club
This is a lot better than most
Staff
Value for money
And food and drink
I liked it so much I joined the golf club
10 / 10
Fantastic course and accommodation and the views are to die for
8 / 10
Room was comfortable but felt that the bars were a bit limited in what they offered in terms of choice
10 / 10
Macdonald Cardrona is situated in a beautiful location
in the Tweed Valley. The golf course tracks up and down the valley with the
river providing OOB on many holes. We played the day after a PGA Tartan Tour
event and as such the course was in fine condition. The fairways were firm
and are quite tight on a few holes and the greens are large and heavily
contoured, rolling true.
Overall we really enjoyed playing there. My
highlight of the two rounds we played was making birdie on the par 5 12th,
with a good drive and two good hybrids to the green, finished off with a 20
foot putt.
The hotel was excellent. The staff were exceedingly friendly
and the food was superb, although service, in the restaurant was slow at times.
Our non-golfing wives rated the spa very highly too. We
split two days golf with a trip to Edinburgh which made it more of mini
holiday. It was our first trip into the Scottish Borders and we were all
stunned by how magnificent the scenery is.
We have used YGT previously and as before the arrangements
were well organised and trouble free.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Cardrona or YGT
to other golfers. We plan to repeat this trip in the future.
8 / 10
We thought that the golf course at Macdonald Cardrona was
an excellent design, set in the most glorious countryside, with houses only
overlooking one hole. The views from the course were spectacular and at times
we thought that we were playing in Canada!
The only grouse we had was that all the greens had been top
dressed which unfortunately made putting nearly impossible.
The rooms in the hotel were more than adequate too, and the
staff were excellent. I have to mention Bobby in the spike bar who was
exceptionally helpful.
We did have some issues with the dinner on the first night
which were addressed by the operations manager immediately.
I would not hesitate in visiting Macdonald Cardrona again,
but would do so preferably when the greens were in good condition.
10 / 10
We had a great time at the Macdonald Cadrona Hotel and it
was very easy to find indeed...no problems there at all.
Our room was excellent with plenty of space and the room
service was also very good. Breakfasts were delicious as was dinner but to
have to pay extra for potatoes and veg was not so good.
Prices of drinks were quite expensive but what you would
expect for a hotel of that standard and unfortunately there was not much choice
of beers.
The golf course was in very good condition, although they
were just starting to hollow tine greens, which will happen at every course
this time of year.
It’s a long course so I would say it would be quite
difficult for higher handicappers like me. There are lots of bunkers too and
the only fault I could bring up was the distance between tees...I would
need a buggy next time.
On the whole very good 9 out of 10.
6 / 10
After asking the other members of the party what they
thought of the trip to Macdonald Cardrona, the answers came back very positively.
On the plus side, the hotel was very comfortable and the
food was of an excellent standard. I was given a double room to start with but this
was immediately rectified by the attentive members of staff. My father and
I, who were meant to be sharing, were actually given a double room each in the
end.
The price of beer was very good at £3.30p per pint which
pleased most of the party of 44 thirsty men on the Sunday night!
The big letdown was that we had booked tee times from 12:12pm
on the Sunday and everyone got there at 11:30 ready to ease into things only to
be told we were off at 11:40. BIG, BIG panic as everyone tried to sort clubs
and trolleys out in a hurry!
I had phoned the hotel to put out nearest the pin markers on
four holes which was done ok on the Sunday but they forgot on the Monday. The
course was very long and a bit tatty in places but this was probably due to the
horrendous weather on the Sunday afternoon so this is not really a down.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable weekend. The general consensus
is that we would probably not visit Cardrona again, but simply because
we have been there and done that now.
I will definitely be using yourgolftravel.com again as the
service provided was excellent.
8 / 10
Just a quick note to thank you for the most fantastic 5
days.
The hotel at Macdonald Cardrona was superb, the food was excellent
and the staff service could not be faulted.
All 3 courses we played were in excellent condition and the
lads are even talking about going back to play Peebles and Roxbroughe. We were
made most welcome and nothing too much trouble for all we met.
I would like to comment on the service at Peebles. The lady
on the bar served food and refreshments with a smile even though there were 40
hungry and thirsty golfers. I will no doubt use YGT’s services again and
recommend you and your team to future captains of my club. The lads are still
raving about the venue so once again thank you for your excellent service.
6 / 10
The golf course at Macdonald Cardrona was rather hard for
the club golfer, being a long course with long walks between green and tees too.
The course was in good condition, however the design of course not so good. It’s
set in the banks of River Tweed, yet it’s never in play and you don’t see river
when playing course either.
The 19th hole has a nice spikebar and snacks and beers are
served at a reasonable price.
The hotel was excellent, with very good food and good
members of staff, even though the hotel was very busy. The resort boasts a lovely
location which is also excellent for walking and cycling, as well as golf.
8 / 10
Golf Course – Peebles and Cardrona are both really good
courses, both of different styles. Buggies are recommended for Cardrona as 2 of
our group struggled with the length as it was quite long and also there are
walks between some greens and tees.
Clubhouse/19th hole – The 19th hole at Peebles was 1st
class and very welcoming indeed. Cardrona’s was nice too but you could tell was
part of a hotel group – less personal but still good.
Hotel – The hotel at Macdonald Cardona is excellent, with good rooms and
an evening meal that exceeded expectations. This was 1st class and all
members of staff etc were very good.
Overall verdict – The feedback from my group was that they all really
enjoyed this outing. The golf courses, hotel location and price were all good and
they’d be more than happy to go again next year.
10 / 10
This is the first time we have used Your Golf Travel for a
golf holiday and it certainly won't be the last!
Our trip to Macdonald Cardrona rates as one of the
best golf breaks we’ve been on. We were lucky with the weather, the hotel was excellent and
the golf course is of a really high quality.
The staff at the hotel were very good too and nothing was a
problem. We booked on a dinner bed and breakfast deal, and have to say the menus
and food did not disappoint. We felt the beers were no dearer than most pubs,
contrary to some previous reviews.
The hotel is set in a very peaceful rural location with
plenty of outdoor pursuits if you are into that sort of thing. I used the gym
most mornings and the gym and equipment in it are excellent. We had a room
facing the golf course which was spacious, very clean and comfortable.
This was a first class golf holiday and it was also great
value for what it cost.
