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Overview
Stay just inside the Scottish border, amid an idyllic village close to the River Tweed.
Suiting singles or a couple, this ground-floor cottage includes fishing facilities, smart interiors, a big bedroom and a sweet enclosed garden
Perfectly pretty, Pentland Cottage is a small, one-level home with everything you’ll need for a Borders break. Found in the teeny-tiny village of Horndean – a sleepy, leafy place ringed by countryside – it’s less than a kilometre from the River Tweed, and thus the English border.
Solo travellers or a couple, plus anyone who struggles with stairs, can expect to feel very content. The cottage’s rooms branch off a central hallway (look out for its bench seat). To one side is a spacious, modern kitchen containing vanilla-hued cabinetry and tiled walls, with all mod cons, including a natty espresso machine.
An open archway connects to the bright yet cosy lounge, whose comfy armchairs and sofa frame an old red-brick fireplace, its log burner and a Smart TV. The pretty cottage garden is visible through large windows as bookcases and a woven rug ramp up the homeliness.
With super-fast fibre broadband (up to 70MB) available, it’s easy to stream films each evening during lazy nights in. Along one wall here, below pheasant-themed print wallpaper, beckons a dining table for two.
The cottage’s other half contains a rear-facing bedroom and a generous bathroom. The latter pairs a deep bathtub – plus a stand to support candles or iPads as you soak – with a walk-in shower. In the sleeping quarter, tartan throws and curtains accompany a dressing table. The design remains stylish yet snug.
As well as a small front garden, Pentland Cottage boasts a larger lawn flanked by colourful, extremely attractive herbaceous borders. There is a bird feeder and nesting boxes to entice birds and other wildlife, and guests are encouraged to top up the feeder during their stay. A dining table allows for guests to dine outside too. Anglers will also find rod racks (the owner is a keen angler), and a secure outside shed can shelter bikes or golf clubs.
Horndean has no shops but Norham, three miles south-west and just across that border, has a pub, a post office and an excellent butcher’s, while supermarkets accompany many independent stores in Berwick-upon-Tweed, nine miles east.
Norham also has a ruined 12th-century castle and a church devoted to St Cuthbert, while another local sight is Paxton House: a Palladian-style stately home promising Chippendale furniture and a good tearoom. Within a short drive are Kelso’s magnificent market square, Cheswick Sands’ beach, Holy Island, waterside Bamburgh Castle or hikes and wild-goat safaris in the often-empty Cheviot Hills. Then again, you may just fancy a stroll along the Tweed.
Property details
Ground floor
From the front of the property:
Access hall with large cupboard and hanging rail for outdoor gear.
Sitting room with double sofa, armchair, 50” Smart TV, wood burning stove (logs supplied). Dining space with seating for three. Selection of books and games, DAB radio.
Open archway into the kitchen with glass ceramic hob and electric oven, microwave, full size dishwasher, washing machine (no dryer), fridge with ice box, Grind coffee machine (pod type – Nespresso compatible).
Bedroom with zip and link bed which can be configured to a 6’ super king or 3’ twin beds, side tables, hanging rail, desk/console, cupboard with shelving and storage space.
Large bathroom with large bath, corner shower, heated towel rail, basin and WC. Underfloor heating.
Boot room with boot and coat storage, and a fixed dog bed to the rear of the property with stable door to the garden. This offers a handy heated space where wet dogs can dry out before entering the house.
Outside
Very pretty cottage garden to the rear which is enclosed. This comprises patio area with garden furniture, bird feeders, four steps up to the lawned garden with herbaceous borders. A barbecue is not provided. To the side of the cottage are rod racks for fishing rods. Secure shed with space for outdoor gear and bikes.
To the front of the cottage is a lawned garden with gravelled driveway. Café table with two chairs. There are three steps up to the front door.
Parking
Private parking for two cars in the front driveway.
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 high chair can be made available on request. Double sofa bed available at additional charge of £50. The sofa bed is strictly for use of up to two children only.
Dogs
One dog is welcome at Pentland Cottage.
Dogs are not permitted on the furniture or in the bedrooms.
Dog-friendly boot room with a fixed dog bed and access to the enclosed rear garden. This offers a handy heated space where wet dogs can dry out before entering the house.
Guest amenities
Bed linen and towels are provided for each guest. Hand soaps and bath/shower wash are provided.
Wi-Fi & Mobile Coverage
Superfast fibre broadband – up to 72MB. Mobile reception generally good.
Heating
Oil-fired heating which is thermostatically controlled. Wood burning stove (logs supplied). Underfloor heating in the bathroom.
Guest Privacy
The cottage is detached and sits in the peaceful village of Horndean.
SHORT-TERM LETS LICENSING
Scottish short-term lets licence number: Pending
The current EPC rating for this property will be available soon.
Location
Pentland Cottage sits three miles from Norham village. This historic border village has plenty to offer alongside its own castle with a village shop, bakery, gunsmith and the popular Foreman’s Butcher where you will find a fantastic selection of quality produce including locally-sourced meats, pies, bread, and fine wines.
The Mason’s Arms is the hub of the community in Norham, serving real ales and tasty food as well as hosting social events. The fish and chip van visits the village each Thursday evening for those who wish to enjoy a traditional British take-away. Alternatively, if it is fine dining you are looking for, The Collingwood Arms at Cornhill-on-Tweed is just 9.5 miles away, or cross the border to The Cross Inn at Paxton (4.1 miles).
The Elizabethan walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed is eight miles away offering more extensive amenities. The town has a mix of high street and independent shopping, as well as three large supermarkets, a Marks & Spencers food outlet and a good selection of cafes, pubs and restaurants. You will also find a theatre and art galleries within the town.
Pentland Cottage is an ideal base for exploring Northumberland's Heritage coastline and countryside with easy access to the Scottish Borders. The charming, ancient towns of Duns and Kelso are also nearby, and Edinburgh is an easy day trip either about an hour by car or 45 minutes on the train from Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Activities
Guests can enjoy some wonderful peaceful riverside walks from Norham village along the Anglo-Scottish border, taking in the ruins of Norham Castle famously depicted in the iconic paintings of J M W Turner as early as 1797. Upstream the Norham Bridge and Milne Graden Walk is a scenic loop of 6.5 miles, or a leisurely walk downstream will take you to the superb Union Chain Bridge which spans the Tweed, once the longest wrought-iron suspension bridge in the world and now the oldest of its type still in use today.
From here you can explore the beautiful house and gardens of Paxton House with its child-friendly activity programme, or visit the attractions of the nearby Chain Bridge Honey Farm. You can take a fun boat trip from the jetty at Paxton House to Berwick with stunning views across the estuary, or walk and wander the perfectly preserved fortifications of the historic old town before exploring the rich architecture and seascapes which inspired the paintings of the great artist L S Lowry on his many visits to the area.
For sightseeing, the property is an ideal base for exploring the wider area with its magnificent countryside steeped in a turbulent and romantic history, punctuated by imposing castles, including Floors, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, and Thirlestane; the evocative ruins of abbeys at Kelso, Melrose and Dryburgh; and the grand stately homes and gardens of nearby Paxton, Manderston and Mellerstain.
The stunning heritage coastline is just a short fifteen minute drive with miles of pristine sandy beaches, jolly pubs serving the freshest fish and chips, and picture postcard coastal villages with charming galleries and gift shops. Birdwatchers, walkers and photographers will delight in the stunning cliffs and coves of the Berwickshire coastline where you will spot thousands of seabirds and seals around the St. Abbs Nature Reserve or cross the causeway at low tide to the very beautiful Holy Island of Lindisfarne where you will experience nature at its very best. Further down the coast, the stunning beach at Bamburgh is a perfect place to take a picnic where you can walk for mile upon mile on white sandy beaches or watch soaring wind surfers and kite surfers across the bay.
The property is an ideal base for exploring with an abundance of family-friendly activities to keep all ages entertained. Pack a picnic and head to the outstanding heritage coastline which offers mile upon mile of golden sands where you can relax and dabble in the rock pools or try your hand at surfing, bodyboarding, kitesurfing, coasteering or kayaking on the many gentle bays and coves with qualified accredited instructors.
Bike or hike on the coastal paths or through the pretty fishing villages, watch soaring windsurfers on the stunning beach at Bamburgh, voted Britain’s top picnic spot in 2013, before heading further down the coast for a little broomstick training at Alnwick Castle! Further inland, Ford & Etal Estates offers a great day out with over 20 family attractions including riding, canoeing, cycling, climbing, and a charming 15” gauge steam railway.
Serious walkers and cyclists can link into a number of long distance routes including St. Cuthbert’s Way, the Berwickshire Coastal Path or the Sandstone Way where you will experience breathtaking scenery, exceptional nature reserves, spectacular castles and grand stately homes as you pass on through. Alternatively the vast open spaces and heather-clad hillsides of the Northumberland National Park provides endless trails, iconic landmarks and big sky views, giving way to forests and rolling Parklands with plenty of cosy pubs and picturesque villages for a much deserved rest stop at the end of a busy day.
C&C experiences
We invite you to enjoy the most coveted and exclusive local experiences available in the North of England and the South of Scotland on your next Crabtree & Crabtree adventure.
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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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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 has a very enjoyable and comfortable stay at Pentland Cottage. It was very well presented and immaculately clean on our arrival. We were delighted with our welcome pack of good quality essentials and some local luxuries. The wi-fi was excellent, we had good mobile signals and the TV functioned well. Space was very adequate for a couple on vacation, rooms were furnished to a high standard, the kitchen generally well equipt and the bathroom provided with an excellent shower with plenty of hot water and a very generous bath. High quality toiletries were provided. While the weather did not allow eating outside the enclosed and private garden was a nice feature; we enjoyed the opportunity to feed the birds making us feel at home. The bed was very comfortable and the cottage very quiet and tranquil so we slept very well. While we decided not bring her we are sure our dog would have been very happy and safe. We found the whole area very quiet and the roads not busy even though we live in a rural area of England. We were able to explore northern Northumberland and the south-eastern Scottish Borders. We particularly enjoyed walking on the beach at Coldingham Bay and the cliffs on St Abbs Head while Melrose and Berwick were interesting towns. The local Norham Castle was well worth a visit. Giacopazzi’s in Eyemouth do excellent fish and chips as well as interesting ice creams, well worth the journey. We had a very good holiday and we would not hesitate to recommend this cottage to any couple who want a peaceful week away from it all in very comfortable surroundings."
The Stevenson's"We've had a very relaxing time at Pentland Cottage, just what we wanted. It's a delightful cottage, well appointed and very comfortable with a beautiful, peaceful garden. All the fixtures and fittings were high quality and the kitchen was extremely well equipped, particularly for a small cottage. You could see lots of thought had gone into it, to ensure guests enjoyed their stay. We even got a welcome WhatsApp message the housekeeper, checking that everything was in order. Not had that before but was a nice touch. Everything was provided from tabs for both dishwasher and washer, tea, coffee pods, tinfoil, clingfilm and a generous welcome back with local produce and home baked cake. There was even a treat tin for the dog! We loved the honey/bee theme with lovely crockery and lots of accessories from Sophie Allport. The towels in the bathroom were the whitest, largest, fluffiest I've seen for a long time - very luxurious. There were lots of toilet rolls and gorgeous toiletries in plenty supply.We dutifully replenished the bird feeder but only saw lots of sparrows with the odd bluetit. We enjoyed beautiful walks along the river Tweed and surrounding area and enjoyed coffee (from Holy Island) and cakes at the Stables Cafe at Paxton House and food at the cafe on the Hirsel Estate in Coldstream."
Mrs GillAvailability
- One dog is welcome.
- Typical arrival day: Saturday during high season. Flexible out of high season.
- Arrival time: 4pm
- Departure time: 10am
"Waking up to joyous birdsong in the rear, garden-facing bedroom."Richard and Viki, owners of Pentland Cottage
