Grieve's Cottage at Papple Steading
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Overview
A beautifully renovated rural retreat for families and groups set in extensive grounds.
The perfect base for exploring East Lothian’s outstanding countryside and renowned coastline
Grieve’s Cottage, once the home of the farm manager on this famously forward-thinking farm set in magnificent rolling countryside south of Edinburgh, has undergone top-to-toe renovation to create an incredibly comfortable rural retreat for families and groups.
The convivial open-plan kitchen / dining area is a wonderful light and lofty space with sliding doors opening onto an enclosed terrace. Here you will find sleek polished concrete floors, local Chippendale-school Windsor chairs, a hand-crafted Oak kitchen, quality appliances including an AGA oven and a fabulous welcome pack of local goodies awaiting guests on arrival.
The sitting room, complete with the original fireplace, delivers a joyful pop of colour with Charlotte James sofas, Morgan chairs, kilim rugs and bespoke artwork by the Steading’s artist in residence.
The four bedrooms are a masterclass in understated luxury with exquisite William Morris wallpaper, sumptuous Harrison Spinks’ beds dressed with hypoallergenic vegan down duvets and pillows from the Fine Bedding Company along with high-quality cotton bed linen and towels. The bath and shower rooms feature powerful showers, heated mirrors, underfloor heating and Heritage fittings. Guests are provided with vegan Moo & Yoo guest amenities.
Superfast broadband is delivered throughout the Steading via a direct dedicated fibre BT connection to ensure an excellent signal in every room.
For outside dining, the terrace has a dining table and chairs for eight guests in addition to a charcoal barbecue. Guests have shared use of the wider grounds with others staying at The Steading. There’s a large paddock for rounders, football, picnics or a sunrise Yoga session taking in views to nearby Traprain Law, a volcanic intrusion and the site of a Stone Age fort. A firepit and log seating area sits beneath the mystical ruins of the ancient Papple Convent – recorded in 1458 - ideal for marshmallow toasting and campfire singalongs.
A woodland area comes complete with wooden follies – hand-crafted shelters which can be used as wildlife watching hides, playhouses or picnic shelters, there’s also boardwalks, bridges and swings for children in addition to another log picnic area. There is plenty to spot in terms of wildlife, including hares, badgers, rabbits, owls, bats, shrews, newts, and myriad birdlife.
The wider estate includes a wildflower meadow dissected by Papana Water and a further eighteen acres of ancient woodland perfect for walking. It’s said that the land was gifted to the nuns of Haddington.
Papple, within the old Whittingehame Estate, is an excellent base for exploring the local area. The outstanding local countryside and renowned coastline have much to offer keen walkers, runners, riders, cyclists and water sports enthusiasts. There are world-class golf courses on the doorstep, an array of museums, pretty villages and ancient churches to explore. Central Edinburgh is a 45-minute drive or a 25-minute train journey from Drem station (10 miles from Papple Steading).
For larger groups, Papple Steading comprises four adjacent properties (sleeping up to 20) - Papple Farmhouse, Grieve’s Cottage, Shepherd’s Bothy and Ploughman's Bothy - making it ideal for large family get-togethers or groups of friends who want to holiday together without compromising on space.
Property details
Ground floor
Sitting room with two three-seater sofas and two armchairs, hemlock log side table, open fire, Smart TV, books and games.
Hand-crafted oak kitchen / dining area with modern three-oven electric Aga with quick heating hotplates and induction hob, fridge / freezer, dishwasher, microwave and double Belfast sink. Dining table for eight guests with additional Chippendale-school Windsor chairs and hemlock log side tables. Pocket sliding doors opening onto terrace.
Bedroom one with 5’ 2” king size bed, bespoke, handmade cupboard with hanging space, shelves, suitcase storage and full-length mirror, built-in desk / dressing table.
Bathroom with original roll-top bath, separate walk-in shower, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Bedroom two with 3’ zip and link beds, which can be set up as a super king or twin beds, as requested. Bespoke, handmade cupboard with hanging space, shelves, suitcase storage and full-length mirror, built-in desk / dressing table.
Shower room with walk-in shower, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Utility / boot room with double sinks, washer / dryer and space for storing and drying outdoor kit.
First floor
Bedroom three with 3’ zip and link beds, which can be set up as a super king or twin beds, as requested. Bespoke, handmade cupboard with hanging space, shelves, suitcase storage and full-length mirror, built-in desk / dressing table.
Shower room with walk-in shower, heated towel rail, basin and WC.
Bedroom four with 3’ zip and link beds, which can be set up as a super king or twin beds, as requested. Bespoke, handmade cupboard with hanging space, shelves, suitcase storage and full-length mirror, built-in desk / dressing table.
Outside
Accessed from the kitchen / dining area is a terrace with a dining table and chairs for eight guests along with a charcoal barbecue (guests need to supply their own charcoal).
Guests have shared use of the grounds and amenities with other guests at Papple Steading on a first-come, first-served basis.
To the rear of the Steading is a paddock which is ideal for outdoor activities such as football, rounders, picnics or yoga. There is a fire pit and log stool seating area to one side beneath the ruins of Papple Convent. The cart shed has a table tennis table and table football will be available from early October.
A woodland area features wooden follies which can be used as a playhouse, picnic shelter or as a hide for spotting wildlife, along with a picnic table, boardwalks, bridges and swings for children. Guests can also enjoy the fruit patch with strawberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, gooseberries and raspberries.
The wider grounds include an additional 18 acres of woodland and wildflower meadow which provide excellent walking.
Parking
There is parking for at least two cars opposite Grieve’s Cottage. Overflow parking is available in the Cart Shed or next to the Estate Office.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
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.
Babies & Children
A travel cot and highchair is available on request.
Dogs
Two dogs are welcome and another dog may be permitted with prior agreement from the owners depending upon size and breed. Dogs must be kept to ground-floor uncarpeted areas and are not allowed on the furniture or in the bedrooms. Guests must clear up after their dogs.
Guest amenities
Grieve's Cottage is furnished and equipped to a very high standard. Harrison Spinks’ beds and mattresses are dressed with hypoallergenic vegan down duvets and pillows from the Fine Bedding Company along with high-quality cotton bed linen and towels.
All the bath/shower rooms have powerful showers, heated mirrors, underfloor heating and Heritage fittings. Guests are provided with vegan Moo & Yoo hand wash, body wash and shampoo in each bathroom and a hairdryer is provided in each bedroom.
The owners of Papple Steading are eco-conscious and have equipped the kitchen with wooden utensils and eco-friendly equipment, where possible.
A fabulous welcome pack of local goodies awaits guests on arrival.
Wi-Fi & Mobile Coverage
Superfast broadband is delivered on a direct dedicated fibre BT connection with excellent signal strength at 1GB per second throughout allowing for streaming and Wi-Fi calls. The mobile coverage is adequate but patchy on most networks.
Heating
In line with Papple Steading's ethos, the buildings are heated by heat transfer pump systems with both shallow and deep bore exchangers. There is underfloor heating throughout the ground floor and radiators on the first floor of Grieve's Cottage. Each bathroom has a heated towel rail in addition to underfloor heating. There are log fires in the sitting room. A supply of logs is provided.
Guest Privacy
Grieve’s Cottage is within the same former farm building as two other cottages, Ploughman’s Bothy and Shepherd’s Bothy, separated by the cart shed.
Guests at all four properties at Papple Steading have shared use of the wider grounds and amenities. Guests are asked to be respectful of others and keep dogs under control at all times.
The estate office is adjacent to The Farmhouse and the Papple team are on hand to assist all guests with queries during weekdays from 9am to 5pm, but also fully respect guest privacy.
Additional Accommodation
For guests looking to holiday together, there are three other holiday homes at Papple Steading - Papple Farmhouse, sleeping 8, Ploughman's Bothy, sleeping 2, and Shepherd's Bothy, sleeping 2.
Guests can book Papple Steading exclusively, sleeping up to 20 guests across all four properties.
Important
The adjacent steading is currently undergoing redevelopment. This has been screened off and whilst no major works will take place when guests are in residence, there may be some minor noise from the site. Please contact us if you have any concerns.
Location
The nearest village of East Linton (5 miles) has a small Co-op supermarket, newsagents and Farm Shop at The Mart, which sells a wide range of locally sourced, high quality produce. Plus, there's a lovely cafe there too to refuel before browsing their gift shop or craft fair held on Saturdays and Sundays each week. Also worth visiting is Bostock Bakery for their wonderful bread, pastries, cakes and coffee - but get there early, as there's often a queue, but it's definitely worth waiting in line for.
Extensive shopping and amenities can be found in Haddington (5.5 miles) where you will find an excellent selection of grocers, wine shops, florists and butchers sitting alongside charming gift, clothes shops and craft galleries. Here, you can relax and watch the world go by in one of the many cafes, delicatessens or tea rooms in the town, including The Loft for fabulous artisan bread and oven-fresh produce. The Waterside Bistro is very good, as is the Cottage Garden Kitchen, which is very special (booking is essential). Alternatively, The Strawberry Barn in Dunbar (6 miles) has a great deli, café, Gin Bar as well as pick-your-own berries during the summer season.
For more elegant dining, head to Gullane (14 miles) for delicious seafood and award-winning cuisine at La Potinière, or the fabulous 5 star AA restaurant of Tom Kitchin, The Bonnie Badger, which uses locally sourced produce and serves artisan beers and wines from an impressive selection. The Glenkinchie Distillery (11 miles) offers some excellent whisky tasting and distillery tours.
The Restoration Yard and Wellbeing Lab sits within Dalkeith Country Park (20 miles) offering great shopping, homeware, food and drink, giftware and more. There is the Fort Douglas Adventure Park to keep children entertained with treehouses, zip wires, suspension bridges, slides and climbing walls. The Coffee Bar and The Kitchen restaurant offer tasty breakfasts, lunches or afternoon tea using fresh, local produce.
Hop on the train at Drem (10 miles from Papple) or Dunbar and a 25-minute journey will take you into the centre of Edinburgh where you can explore the fascinating architecture of the old town and soak up the culture and heritage of this beautiful, vibrant city.
Activities
Nearby is The John Muir Country Park (8 miles) covers some of the most spectacular East Lothian coastline, featuring expansive sandy beaches which are a haven for wildlife and birdlife. Favourite spots include the glorious family-friendly beach at Gullane; the dune-fringed sands at Belhaven; the dog-friendly cove at Yellowcraig; or the secluded sands at Seacliff - an enchanting gem with a tiny harbour and wonderful views north towards the Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle. Take time to visit The Scottish Seabird Centre where you can watch the rich marine life and birdlife of the area using powerful webcams and telescopes, including some curious seals and dolphins if you are particularly lucky.
Dalkeith Country Park (20 miles) has 1,000 acres of beautiful parkland with family-friendly routes for walkers and cyclists and a jam-packed events calendar featuring music festivals and shows, wellbeing retreats and trail runs. The Fort Douglas Adventure Park, with its sky maze, magical turreted treehouses, zip wires, suspension bridges, slides, climbing walls and secret tunnels, will keep children entertained for hours. Later, stop by the Restoration Yard and Wellbeing Lab for great shopping, homeware, food and drink, giftware and more, grab a coffee and cake from their café, or dine in The Kitchen restaurant.
For watersports, there is canoeing inland on the River Tyne and Esk; superb kayaking around the waterways off Dunbar; and thrilling wakeboarding and ringo rides at Foxlake. Surf buffs can enjoy some wonderful sport right along the coast and there is a surf school in Dunbar offering lessons in paddleboarding, surfing and coasteering. There are also dive charters and sightseeing trips from the harbours at Dunbar and North Berwick taking in nature reserve sites around the Forth, Bass Rock and Isle of May.
The area is world-famous for its stunning links courses with Muirfield, Luffness, Gullane and North Berwick all within easy reach offering some fantastic sport for the golfing members of your party.
For cycling, you can enjoy some leisurely cycling circuits along traffic-free paths and minor roads, taking time to explore the quaint rural or coastal villages of the area. Bikes can be hired from in Mikes Bikes in Haddington or Belhaven Bikes in Dunbar, while FatBike Tours in North Berwick run lessons and guided treks on specially designed ‘fatbikes’, which are a fantastic way to explore the remote sandy bays and ancient clifftop castles of the area on two wheels.
There are miles of scenic paths across the wider area offering leisurely low-level walks to more demanding treks across both coast and country. Set off on foot and wander through the Humbie Woods and Keith Water for a mini-adventure, or head to Haddington (5.5 miles) where there are four lovely walks around the town, taking in the picturesque River Tyne or up to the ridge of the Garleton Hills, which offers wonderful panoramic views across East Lothian and the Firth of Forth.
Take a visit to the magnificent city of Edinburgh (25 miles) where you can explore the fascinating architecture of the old town and soak up the culture and heritage of this beautiful, vibrant city. Wander the cobbled closes and narrow stairwells of the Royal Mile and Grassmarket; take a candle-lit tour of the underground vaults of the old city for some fascinating tales of Edinburgh’s darker past; or perhaps partake in a wee dram or a tasting session at the Scotch Whisky Centre where you can learn to nose, swirl and taste like an expert.
Finally, take a visit to the iconic Edinburgh Castle, which sits majestically over the city and houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, 15th Century gun Mons Meg, and the National War Museum of Scotland. And if you’re lucky enough to be in the city in August, don’t miss the vibrant Fringe Festival, exceptional Jazz and Blues Festival or the Edinburgh Military Tattoo ending with a poignant lone piper lament high on the castle ramparts. Truly spectacular!
Children and families
Here at Crabtree & Crabtree, we like to think we’ve pulled together some rather nifty ideas to keep tots to teens happy and entertained during your stay.
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Fishing
Welcome to the realm of the king of fish, the mighty River Tweed. Every year thousands of Atlantic Salmon make their way up river, an annual odyssey that is one of nature's miracles.
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Historic houses and castles
With more stately homes, castles and historic sites here than you can shake a proverbial stick at, visitors are quite simply spoilt for choice.
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Wildlife
Our region is home to outstanding scenery which boasts emerald forests, pristine lochs and rivers, heathery hillsides, sweeping moorlands as well as a picture perfect coastline.
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Walking
From the lush green uplands to shimmering sea, the area boasts a hugely diverse and enticing landscape that is perfect for exploring on foot. From gentle rambles to long-distance hikes, there are a vast array of trails and waymarked routes for newbie walkers or experienced alike.
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Golf
There are 40 golf courses in Northumberland, and another 21 in the Scottish Borders offering visitors an incredibly wide and varied range of golfing options.
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Adventure Sports
If you love a challenge or just crave a little excitement away from the day-to-day bustle of working life, we have lots to offer - whether it be watery pursuits, muddy blasts or thrill seeking, adrenaline-charged adventures.
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Cycling & mountain biking
Whether you ride fast or slow, on-road or off-road, there is something uniquely special about enjoying some outdoor time on two wheels. Here in the region we have something for everyone from high-energy mountain biking blasts to gentle forest paths the whole family can enjoy.
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Shooting
For sheer variety alone Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are irresistible to any gun.
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Ancestral history research
Crabtree & Crabtree know that tracing the history of your family can be a wonderful journey of discovery. Here are our top tips for starting your family tree.
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Dog sitting
Our experienced dog sitters will look after your furry friends whilst you are out exploring.
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Additional housekeeping
Award yourself a real break and let us provide a pair (or more) of helping hands.
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Nannies and babysitters
Relax, explore the local area, enjoy a long lunch or a romantic evening out by hiring a fully qualified registered and experienced nanny or babysitter to come to your house.
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Wine delivery
Crabtree & Crabtree have teamed up with Corney & Barrow one of the longest established independent Wine Merchants in the UK to offer a bespoke service.
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Holiday photography
Family holidays, reunions and honeymoons kindle priceless moments that deserve preserving.
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"We had a wonderful stay at Grieves Cottage and will return at some point. Probably one of the best cottages we have stayed in!"
Testimonial - Hunter"We did indeed enjoy our break at Grieve’s Cottage. It is a lovely area and the cottage itself was ideal. We also appreciated the manager’s attention. She was very friendly, helpful and made us feel most welcome."
Ms Beaty"Grieves Cottage is brilliant. The manager is an excellent, caring host. Thoroughly enjoyed Papple Steading and the surrounding area. Planning a big family stay based upon our positive experience."
Mr HealdAvailability
- Two dogs are welcome and an additional dog may be considered on request.
- Typical arrival day: Friday with the additional option of Monday out of high season.
- Arrival time: 4pm
- Departure time: 10am
"The fabulous welcome pack of local produce awaiting guests on arrival."Olivia, Crabtree & Crabtree
