Normally, you would use the A68 to travel to Edinburgh and beyond but this can be heavy with traffic at times. Using this route, you will see more sheep than cars!
This route starts from the ferry terminal and uses the major roads to leave the city and within 30 mins you're into countryside and will have reached a section of Hadrian’s Wall clearly visible from the roadside. Hadrian's Wall is a Roman wall begun in AD 122 in the reign of the emperor Hadrian, it ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea, and was the northern limit of the Roman Empire. The largest Roman archaeological feature anywhere, it runs a total of 73 miles (117.5 kms). This route follows the path of the wall for 10 miles (16 kms).

You will pass Kielder Water, a large man-made reservoir, it is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity of water and it is surrounded by Kielder Forest, one of the biggest man-made woodlands in Europe, this is an area with BIG things in it! I have suggested a coffee stop here next to the water.
From here the roads become smaller and a small sign welcomes you to Scotland as you cross the border.
The roads are barely wide enough for a car which only adds to the remote feeling that this beautiful and almost undiscovered part of Scotland brings.

One of these narrow single track roads leads you to Hermitage Castle, in deepest Liddesdale, set in a lonely spot, the sight of the awesome castle ruin only heightens the sense of foreboding. Hermitage Castle has inspired local legends but its history of torture and treason is more than colourful enough. Hermitage Castle is a forbidding and oppressive place. It stands just five miles from the border with England and guards Liddesdale, so for centuries had considerable strategic importance. Seen from the east or west the architecture seems utterly brutal: sheer walls relieved only by blind arches that from some angles can be very reminiscent of Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream". Radio Scotland once broadcast a feature in which Hermitage Castle was described as the embodiment of the phrase "sod off" in stone. It's a difficult description to better. Known as ‘the strength of Liddesdale’, Hermitage was fought over time and again. Even the building of the castle in the 13th century brought Scotland and England to the brink of war. Today is a different story, the silence of the beautiful setting is only broken by birdsong.

The next place that you pass is a complete contrast, again, in the middle of nowhere, the Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre is a complete juxtaposition in the Scottish landscape! I will mention the scenery now and words almost fail me; it is breathtakingly beautiful and because of the very small roads, you have plenty of time to take it all in. Samye Ling grounds and main temple are open for day visitors all year round and entry is free of charge.

I have suggested a Lunch stop at Glen Cafe on the shore the Loch of the Lowes. From April to October the cafe serves a selection of drinks, hot and cold food, ice creams and freshly baked home-made cakes, including some gluten free options. The all day breakfast is a particular favourite with customers. It is set in a very beautiful spot to stretch your legs.

Megget and Talla reservoirs come next and there is a great photo stop towards Talla Reservoir as you cross over the fast flowing Talla Water that is almost a waterfall. This section of the route has stunningly beautiful, natural scenery that will stay in your mind forever.

This route uses the Edinburgh bypass and the M8 and M90 motorways to avoid Edinburgh City and airport and take you to the new Queensferry crossing to cross over the Firth of Forth. The Queensferry Crossing was completed in 2017 and is the longest triple tower cable-stayed bridge in the world, and the highest bridge in the United Kingdom. The completed towers stand at 207 metres, making it the UK's tallest bridge.
There are two other nearby bridges that cross over the Firth of Forth.
Opened in 1890, the Forth Bridge is a Scottish icon that is recognised the world over as the most famous of cantilever designs. The world's first major steel structure, the Forth Bridge represents a key milestone in the history of modern railway civil engineering and and for 28 years held the record as the world's longest span. A full-scale restoration project to return the bridge to its original construction condition was completed in 2012. In July 2015, UNESCO inscribed the Forth Bridge as the sixth World Heritage Site in Scotland.
The original road bridge was The Forth Road Bridge was opened in 1964 and is one of the world’s most significant long-span suspension bridges. With a main span of 1,006 metres between the two towers, it was the fourth longest in the world and the longest outside the United States when it opened. In total, the structure is over 2.5 km long. A staggering 39,000 tonnes of steel and 125,000 cubic metres of concrete was used in its construction.

After crossing the Firth of Forth you join the A92 that will take you all the way to your riverside hotel in Dundee, but a short stop just before crossing the river Tay to visit a statue of Jim Clark at his home village of Kilmany. Jim Clark was a highly successful Formula One racing driver who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965. Jim Clark was killed on 7 April 1968 while driving in a Formula Two race for Lotus at the Hockenheimring in Germany when his car left the track and hit a tree. During his career he had started in 72 Grand Prix, achieving 33 pole positions and 25 wins.

The hotel is positioned next to Discovery Point where the Royal Research Ship Discovery is on display in a dry-dock, the ship was made famous by Captain Scott on his voyages to the Antarctic. Dundee has lots of things to see, there are museums and exhibitions, a modern life-size sculpture of a Humpback Whale and Scotland's oldest ship HMS Unicorn all in a short walk from the hotel.

A link for the hotel can be found below.
Enjoy