A spacious and charming four-bedroom cottage in the heart of the rural Borders, sitting within its own quiet, enclosed garden. Well set up for families with table football and access to the owner's tennis court.
Exceptionally picturesque, this dog-friendly base is as ideal for sightseeing fans as history buffs or activity lovers.
Behind its white walls and duck egg blue door, Pirnie Cottage is a picture of comfort. Your eyes are likely to first be drawn to what wraps it: a large, private, secluded and fully-enclosed – by hedges and fencing – lawned garden in which kids can run and four-legged friends can play.
Inside, the detached home occupies two floors, with most rooms found downstairs. The biggest is a combined, open-plan kitchen/dining space. On one side is a dining table seating eight; opposite is the large, well-appointed kitchen and its island, where stools enable coffee stops or chats with the chef.
Off here is the sitting room, where three sofas frame an open fire and large footstool. You will find a comfortable, generous space here, framed in gentle tones and giving a peaceful atmosphere. Restful, that is, until your kids (or you!) catch a glimpse of the window-side football table…
Three of the bedrooms are on the ground floor: a king-sized double, a second twin or super-king double room and a children's bunk room sleeping two. This trio share the adjacent bathroom and its large walk-in shower. Upstairs, past the chill-out beanbags, the top floor is mostly given over to a loft-style master bedroom with coomb ceiling whose super-king bed faces a chaise longue sofa. The en-suite bathroom provides charming garden views.
Beyond the kitchen, there is a useful and practical utility room where dogs can sleep in two built in dog boxes and coats and boots can dry. There is also a downstairs WC. Behind, the garden includes a barbecue, double-length picnic table and is an ideal place to enjoy your grilled fare.
There's a good butcher's five miles away in the attractive village of St Boswells, alongside the excellent Hunters' Stables bistro for eating out, a small supermarket and the award-winning Mainstreet Trading bookshop, café, deli and homewares shop combined.
Eco-friendly heating comes courtesy of a woodchip boiler provided by the owners, fuelled by locally sourced, sustainable wood from nearby estates. Guests are additionally welcome to use of the owners' tennis court upon request; this benefits from lovely, far-reaching views across the Borders over to the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland.
It's not just because of the glorious Cheviots that walkers are especially well-placed: the long-distance St Cuthbert's Way and Borders Abbeys Way pass nearby, too, as the circular Presidents Route memorably includes an avenue of giant wellingtonias on the neighbouring Monteviot estate. Quiet local roads from the door offer miles of stunning countryside to be explored for experienced as well as more novice cyclists.
Anglers, meanwhile, might cast into the Tweed or Teviot Rivers for salmon. Kelso's ruined abbey – and splendid market square – is seven miles away, with the Waterloo Monument, commemorating the Battle of Waterloo, closer still. Easily in day-trip range are Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle and Edinburgh.
Lorna and Christopher, owners of Pirnie Cottage, live 100 yards away and will do everything they can to make your stay enjoyable and memorable. They can help arrange secure storage for bicycles or grazing and stabling for horses, and are happy to provide some local knowledge to make the most of your stay.
GROUND FLOOR
Access from the front door directly into:
Large open plan kitchen dining area with island unit and stools, large double oven with grill, 5 burner induction hob, fridge (no ice-box), dishwasher. DAB radio. Extendable dining table which seats up to eight guests.
Utility/boot room with bench seat and hanging rail, fridge/freezer, sink, washing machine (no dryer), bread-maker, microwave, hanging rail.
WC with basin.
Sitting room with generous sofas, 32” Smart TV, open fire (initial basket of logs). Table football table.
Bedroom one with zip and link which can be configured to a 6’ super king or 3’ twin, side tables, in-built wardrobe with hanging rail.
Bedroom two with 3’ bunk beds, side table, small chest of drawers.
Bathroom with large walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Bedroom three with king size bed, side tables, chest of drawers and chair.
FIRST FLOOR
Bedroom four with fixed super king bed, side tables, chest of drawers, hanging hooks.
Separate bathroom with bath, basin and WC.
OUTSIDE
Large, fully enclosed lawned garden with picnic bench and charcoal barbecue.
Outside storage can be made available for bikes, fishing rods and outdoor kit on request.
PARKING
There is ample private parking to the front of the cottage.
BABIES & CHILDREN
Babies and children are welcome. A travel cot and high chair are available on request.
DOGS
Two dogs permitted at a charge of £25 per dog. Dogs should be kept to the utility/boot room until clean and dry and thereafter kept to the ground floor of the property only and strictly out of the bedrooms and off the furniture. There is an outside tap with hose for cleaning.
GUEST AMENITIES
Bed linen and towels are provided, along with hand soaps and shower/bath wash. Duvets on the single beds are are microfibre and feather and down on the double beds. Pillows are feather. Please specify if you have specific requirements and the owners would be pleased to assist. A hairdryer is provided in the three double bedrooms.
WI-FI & MOBILE COVERAGE
Wi-Fi speed is very limited. Generally this is suitable for emails and internet browsing, however streaming is generally possible on the Smart TV (but not on multiple devices). The owners have been informed that fibre broadband will become available during 2023. Mobile reception is variable indoors but generally has a good signal in the garden and directly outside the property.
HEATING
Heating is by wood-chip bio-mass. Heating is thermostatically controlled throughout the property. Open fire – with initial basket of logs. Further logs can be supplied directly by the owners at additional cost.
GUEST PRIVACY
The cottage is detached and not overlooked. The owner’s property sits a hundred yards from Pirnie Cottage and while they are on hand to help guests with any aspect of their stay, they are very respectful of guest privacy.
TENNIS COURT
Guests are welcome to use the owner’s tennis court on request and at specified times to be agreed in advance.
HORSES
For guests who wish to bring their horses, this can readily be accommodated at Pirnie Cottage at additional cost. Subject to separate agreement, grazing and/or stabling is available at an additional charge with fees paid directly to owner, please get in touch for further details.
EV CHARGING
Guests with electric vehicles are welcome to charge their cars at Pirnie Cottage at an additional charge per car from a 13A socket with fees paid directly to the owner. This simply covers the cost of electricity. Please get in touch for details. Otherwise public car charging units are available in the nearby town of Kelso (7 miles) or Jedburgh (5 miles).
Scottish short-term lets licence number: SB00422F. The current EPC rating for this property is band D
