Fairnilee House
The house is approached by three magical drives, a long, tree-lined avenue from East Lodge, an historic route from the south shaded by ancient beech trees and a drive from Bogle Lodge through the densely wooded Crow Plantation, leading to a grand gateway, with a dramatic S-bend bringing you face to face with Fairnilee House.
The Scottish Baronial mansion, with its corner towers, crow-stepped gables and red sandstone dressings encrusted with gargoyles, was designed by the Glasgow architect John James Burnett and is perhaps his best work in this style. A high screen wall punctuated by elaborate cast-iron gates links the 1904-5 mansion to the romantic ruins of Old Fairnilee, dating from 1600 – a notable feature of the wonderful Edwardian walled gardens. Beyond the gardens, there are many acres of stunning woodland and parkland. The Southern Upland Way runs through the middle of the estate.
The house is rich in original period features and decorated with floral fabrics, vibrant wallpapers and bright paint colours, reflecting its Edwardian heritage. In a house of this quality and scale, it is hard to select standout features, but the main hall and galleried first-floor landing are truly resplendent with original wood panelling and intricate carvings. Also notable is the double-aspect drawing room, with its towering 24-pane sash bay windows.
Comprising a country-style kitchen with dining table, formal dining room, drawing room, morning room, library and cloakroom, the ground floor delivers more than enough space for large groups both to enjoy company and seek out blissful isolation. Further to this, however, the lower ground floor offers a large cinema room with an open fire, three-quarter size snooker table and French doors leading to the spacious terrace and gardens, as well as a study, children’s playroom, table tennis room, gym, professional catering kitchen and laundry room.
Moving upstairs, four principal bedrooms lead off from the galleried first-floor landing. Each of these large, en-suite rooms offers its own charms: the grand Inchcape boasts a splendid bathroom with a free-standing rolltop bath and walk-in shower; Craigmyle affords sweeping views over the gardens from its large, triple-aspect windows and features an adjacent dressing room/children’s room; Donald features a romantic four-poster bed, and pretty Alexander has a cleverly concealed dressing table.
A further staircase with carved handrail leads to a mezzanine level with a family bathroom and then up to the second floor, which is home to the spacious twin bedroom, Thalia, with an adjacent bathroom and the dormitory-style bedroom, The Ark. This is the ideal spot for children, with four single beds, two of which can be configured as a super-king bed on request.
It is not just indoor space that Fairnilee has in spades - adjacent to the house is an enclosed walled garden extending to approximately two acres, bursting with formal and wildflower gardens, a fruit cage and extensive lawns. A large terrace, accessed from the cinema room, leads out to these magnificent gardens and makes the perfect sheltered place for al fresco dining with outside dining furniture and a gas barbeque. Guests are welcome to enjoy a game of badminton (you’ll find the net set up on the site of the original Edwardian tennis court) and to explore the parkland and woodland surrounding the house during their stay.
Property Layout
LOWER GROUND FLOOR
Please note that due to the topography of the land on which the house is built, this floor is at ground level.
Small lobby with space for outdoor boots and coats.
Playroom with a good selection of toys for younger guests.
Cinema room with huge corner sofa, 86” cinema TV screen with surround sound, 3/4-size snooker table, log fire, seating area and French doors leading to terrace.
DVD library cupboard.
Large study with desk and storage.
Cloakroom with basin and WC.
Gym with rowing machine, weights and yoga mats.
Table tennis room.
Small bar with sink and shelving / storage.
Large, fully-equipped catering kitchen with Salamander, Buffalo griddle, two large Baumatic catering gas ovens each with 5-ring gas hobs, heated service counter with warming drawers, prep units, four sinks, dishwasher, catering-size fridge and freezer, and extensive catering equipment. Please contact us if you would like to arrange a cook for all or part of your stay.
Three walk-in larders, one with a catering freezer.
Laundry room with two sinks and commercial-size washer and dryer.
GROUND FLOOR
Outer entrance hall.
Downstairs cloakroom with two basins, two WCs and hanging space.
Inner entrance hall.
Stairs leading to lower ground floor.
Impressive main hall with original panelling and parquet flooring.
Drawing room with two 3-seater sofas and five armchairs, log fire and grand piano.
Dining room seating 16 guests with log fire, extensive dinner service and glassware and Alexa Smart Speaker.
Butler’s pantry leading directly to adjacent dining room with dumb waiter to catering kitchen below. Sink, dishwasher, freezer and tableware.
Second set of stairs to lower ground floor.
Breakfast kitchen with a four-oven Redfyre with two hot plates, large corner fridge, combination microwave oven, warming drawer, dishwasher, two-ring induction hob, boiling tap and larder. Dining area for eight with Digital Smart TV.
Library with log fire, two 2-seater sofas, card table, and an excellent selection of books, games and jigsaws.
Morning room with two 3-seater sofas, log fire, Digital Smart TV and seating.
Cloakroom with basin and WC.
Access to garage for storage of bicycles, golf clubs, fishing rods and other outdoor kit.
FIRST FLOOR
The principal bedrooms on the first floor are set around a superb galleried landing.
Inchcape – bedroom one: Outer dressing area with hanging space and storage, leading into a large bedroom with super king bed, dressing table, sofa and electric fire.
En suite bathroom with free-standing roll top bath with handheld shower, walk-in shower, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Donald – bedroom two: Super king four-poster bed, fitted wardrobe, chest of drawers, dressing table and electric fire.
En suite bathroom with bath with shower over, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Craigmyle – bedroom three: Super king bed, chest drawers of drawers, seating area, dressing table and decorative fireplace.
Adjoining children's bedroom / dressing room with truckle bed, which can be set up as a sofa or used as either a single children's bed or twin beds, dressing table, fitted cupboards with hanging space and shelving.
En suite shower room with large walk-in shower, basin and WC.
Alexandra - bedroom four: King size bed, fitted cupboards with hanging space and shelving (one of which opens to reveal a concealed dressing table with mirror), sofa and electric fire.
En suite shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC.
MEZZANINE LEVEL
Family bathroom with bath with handheld shower, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
SECOND FLOOR
A second Alexa Smart Speaker positioned on the landing allows music to be heard through the main part of the house.
Thalia - bedroom five: One metre wide (continental size) twin beds, fitted wardrobe with hanging space and shelving, sofa and electric fire.
Adjacent shower room with walk-in shower with rainforest showerhead, basin and WC.
The Ark – bedroom six: Dormitory-style bedroom with four single 3’ beds, two of which are zip and link and can form a super king bed on request, dressing table, chest of drawers and privacy screen for dressing.
OUTSIDE
Adjacent to the house is a magnificent, fully-enclosed walled garden extending to approximately two acres with both formal and wildflower gardens, extensive lawns and the romantic ruins of the old house. Leading out from the cinema room is a large terrace with outside dining furniture and a gas barbecue. A badminton net on the site of an Edwardian tennis court is available for guest use. There is extensive parkland and woodland surrounding the house. Guests are welcome to walk on the wider estate, avoiding fields where there is stock grazing.
There is ample parking in the forecourt opposite the front door.
Location
The nearest shops and post office are in Galashiels (6 miles), including a number of large supermarkets and a Marks and Spencer Foodhall. Selkirk is also close by (6 miles) with more independent shops including Three Hills Coffee Roastery and monthly Farmers’ Market held on the first Saturday of each month.
For lovely shopping amidst picturesque surroundings, head a little further afield to Melrose (9 miles), one of the most picturesque towns in the Borders with an excellent range of independent shops selling fine quality food and drink including a quality butcher and fishmongers, a fresh fruit and veg shop as well as two small convenience stores. For coffee and cake, pop into Apples for Jam for a frothy cappuccino and a delicious buttercream sponge, or for evening dining, the Town House, Provender, Burts or Marmions all come highly recommended.
Alternatively, head to Peebles (16.5 miles) where a happy afternoon can be spent browsing the range of interiors, giftware, craft and boutique-style shops before a must-visit to master chocolatier Ruth Hinks at Cocoa Black, which will leave you in cake and pastry heaven!
A wide range of restaurants and bistros can be found in many of the surrounding towns to cater for every taste of dining. Abbotsford (5.5 miles) also has a visitor centre that offers a café and extensive gardens and tarmacked walks by the Tweed and into woodland. Or why not visit the taproom at Tempest Brewing Co. in Galashiels to enjoy some freshly brewed craft beer during their Tap Sessions on Fridays and Saturdays.
Fishing on the Fairnilee beat can be booked through FishPal.
Finally, hop on the train in Galashiels for a short 50-minute journey up to the magnificent city of Edinburgh for a day trip to the historic Capital.
Amenities
- AGA or Everhot stove
- Allows babies in armsUp to 12 months. Changing table available on request.
- Allows children1 - 16 years.
- Barbecue
- Bath
- Cinema room
- CotA travel cot with a mattress is available on request. Travel cot bedding is not supplied.
- Dog friendlyThree dogs are welcome (£25 fee per dog). Dogs must be kept to the lower ground and ground floors, and are not allowed on the furniture or on carpeted areas. Dogs must be clean and dry before entering the principal rooms on the ground floor.
- Enclosed garden
- Fishing on siteRefer to Location tab for further information.
- Games room
- Gym
- HairdryerA hairdryer is provided in each bedroom.
- HeatingThe house has oil central heating throughout in addition to underfloor heating in all the bath and shower rooms.
- Highchair
- Linen & towels provided
- Open fire/ Woodburning stoveLog fires can be lit on request in the drawing room, morning room, dining room, library and cinema room.
- Outside space
- Snooker/Pool table
- Tennis court
- Wi-FiFibre broadband is provided. Mobile coverage is poor on most networks but generally improves outside. A landline is provided for guest use.
All Amenities
Important Information
Two flats in the far wing of the property are retained by the family for very occasional use. They have independent access and the owners fully respect guest privacy. There is a full-time House Manager / Gardener who lives on the estate and is on hand to assist with any queries, light fires and refill log baskets.
For safety reasons, we do not permit electric vehicle or hybrid car charging at this property. If you’re travelling by EV, discover your nearest electric vehicle charging point here.
Scottish short-term lets licence number: Pending. The current EPC rating for this property is band F, a copy of the certificate can be found here.
Arrival time: 4pm
Departure time: 10am
Accessibility
Getting availability
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