Innerleithen – taking its name from the River Leithen – is a characterful community in the rolling landscape of the Scottish Borders. It has a fresh rural setting, attractive architecture and a real country feel. The shops are, happily, largely independents and not chain outlets – an advantage that the county town of Peebles has also managed to retain. The first settlements in the area go back two thousand or more years; there’s an old Roman fort on top of the hill; the houses are mainly Victorian and dating from the burgh’s expansion as a mill town. This is an area known – and indeed signposted – as 'Cashmere country' and if on holiday here you’ll want to take some home with you, won’t you? Active types will revel in the world-class Glentress / 7stanes mountain biking facilities; in summer watch the ospreys nearby; and don’t miss out Traquair House or its rather moreish real ales. Caddon View is situated at the edge of Innerleithen with views right down the Tweed Valley.

Classified by VisitScotland as a 4-star guest house, safely regard Caddon View as a small country hotel... it doesn’t have any inhibiting, ‘in someone’s house’ B&B feel. Owners Steve and Lisa are naturally kind and hospitable; he's front of house, very chatty and helpful; elegant Lisa uses her design and cooking skills to best advantage. A Victorian building of presence, with views to the surrounding hills, it was originally built for the local doctor. Today you can anticipate first-class hospitality and plenty of light, contemporary touches; the décor is cool and yet cosy. Easy parking to the side, enter via a Vestibule with rack of local information leaflets, a weather chart for the week and tonight’s menu on the wall. Step into the Hallway; the Drawing Room is to the right – finished in light shades with a stripped pine floor, beautiful plasterwork features, cheerful real log country stove, comfy pale linen sofas and local pictures. It's a room that just works. The Restaurant is opposite and is equally light and contemporary, set with white linen tablecloths, fresh flowers, candles at night, smart white crockery and fine glassware. The two main public rooms display good modern taste and are rightly popular with guests.

The 7 bedrooms include 3 Superiors Rooms; all are named after local places. Each has a notably well-stocked tea / coffee tray including locally-made biscuits, sweeties, hot chocolate, mineral water and fine china mugs. There are TVs and (hallelujah!) decent bedside clock radios. Some rooms get the free wi-fi but, if not, there’s a desk at a landing area where you can use your laptop in comfort. Bathrooms are spotless and have appealing 'feel good' Arran Aromatics toiletries. Two rooms are on the ground – one Single and one Standard Double – 'Ettrick', which is compact, homely with a country appeal, blowsy floral curtains and neat loo with shower, all neatly tiled in a mosaic style. Upstairs are other rooms including plush 'Moorfoot', finished in shades of gold with a kingsize cast iron bed, sofa, loads of space and grand views down the valley. 'Tweed' is a Standard Double decorated in shades of blue with a bright, jolly loo with shower. 'Glentress' is a Standard Twin with separate private bathroom – ideal for friends. 'Leithen' is a Superior finished in bronze and beige tones with nice, chunky furnishings, kingsize bed and view to front of house. Finally there’s 'Traquair', a Superior, in which we last stayed: views on two sides, warmly decorated in creams and reds, with a deeply comfortable kingsize bed, sofa, good lighting, and a bright, well-tiled bathroom with large shower. Rooms have ample local information and booklets. Each of the 3 top rooms are equally good, and remember 'Glentress' if you’d like a bit more privacy.

Both owners have food and drink industry experience and Lisa has a degree in that department. Both have passion for the subject. We found the food very good morning and evening and can recommend it with an easy confidence. Dinner is informal but done properly: relax with a drink in the Drawing Room by the log stove, peruse the menu – 3 choices at each course – and nibble an olive or canapé. A glass of very quaffable house red wine, served in an elegant thin glass, is just £3. Light jazz or similar plays. Oh, the banter! – Steve is a very cheery host. The Restaurant has space for 20 or so, without any sense of squeeze. The old pine floor is topped with Aubusson-style rugs and there’s a female statue-type affair in the middle of the room. £25 for dinner, all-in and that includes canapés and coffee with home-made sweets. Soups are home-made and quality breads are baked in the village. Locally-sourced ingredients are used, such as the Border lamb in a packed-with-flavour Grilled Lamb Chops with Potato and Celeriac Mash, Glazed Baby Carrots and Rosemary Gravy. Every taste lived to tell the tale. Plum Oatmeal Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream was made with plums from the garden. At this Guide we very much like this style of cooking and think it’s not only very Scottish but healthy, natural and very delicious.

Breakfast is served daily between 8 and 10 am – an admirably flexible range of times for a guest house – some of which want to see the back of you by ten! The menu itself is a model of a breakfast menu: a white, mock-croc leather sleeve holds a crisp printout on handmade paper. Lovely. A central table offers a buffet of cold items such as organic Scottish yoghurt, fresh fruits, orange segments, delicious speciality jams, cereals, muesli. Porridge is on offer and can come with a variety of toppings. Tea, juice and locally-baked crusty bread / toast is brought to the table. Sourcing food as locally as possible, hot dishes are served freshly-made and include free range eggs, tasty butcher's sausages and other traditional Scottish items. There are fish options and the whole break-of-day meal is done very well indeed. The room lends itself to the morning and the soft cool jazz playing made us very relaxed. Champagne or Buck's Fizz is on the go, too, for a small supplement... and the atmosphere is so chilled it might be an offer you can't refuse!

Gary McLean says…
“I believe that good guest houses can offer just about the best hospitality in Scotland. Caddon View's owners Steve and Lisa are truly welcoming and just made you feel relaxed. They're not ever-present or in your face but just make sure you're happy. The house is absolutely comfortable and is getting better all the time. Bedrooms are full of nice touches and I can safely say that the owners wouldn't be happy if something wasn't right. The food's great - I really enjoyed my dinner, it was full-of-flavour and fresh, homely with a dash of style. The Borders is a terrific area to explore. Plan ahead and you'll not have a dull moment. To come back here as your base will be something to look forward to."

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REVIEW STATUS & MERIT AWARDS This establishment has now been fully reviewed by the Guide and any HotelReviewScotland.com™ Merit Awards will show above, beneath the address details. We also list the latest ratings and gradings for this business from other guides and organisations. One or more of our experienced reviewer team has stayed at this establishment, spent time with the management, and the Guide is receiving reader and industry input from one or all of: online Reader’s Reviews; Comment Postcards; and Voting in The Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards. All entries are carefully monitored. The lead star grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board / VisitScotland. As the hotel is a Full Member of HotelReview™ Scotland the Look & Book Box™ links are LIVE.

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