Menu
Favourites Login
Overview
Layout
Location
Amenities
Reviews
Things to See & do
Availability
Home | Properties | The Old School, Hume
Kelso, Scottish Borders
 

The Old School, Hume

4
Guests
Babes in arms & children over 5 years only.
2
Bedrooms
2
Bathrooms

A welcoming converted schoolhouse set on the flanks of Hume Castle hill, near Kelso.

As you sip a drink in the leafy gardens of The Old School, watching sheep graze the peaceful grassy hillock topped by Hume Castle, it can be hard to imagine the ruined castle was once one of the most strategic fortresses in the Scottish Borders. Set at the castle’s feet, The Old School is a dainty stone building surrounded by mature gardens that tumble across various levels. Comfortable benches tucked into quiet corners of these well-tended gardens, including a wraparound bench by a firepit, invite you to contemplate the peace that reigns over Hume, while a cosy garden room provides shelter, books and magazines.

Taking the few steps from this charming two-bedroom property up to the castle explains why it was such a significant defensive site: unbroken views extend far across the Tweed valley, with the Cheviots to the south, the Eildon Hills to the west, and Lammermuirs to the north. Today’s modified Hume Castle is built around the remnants of a late 12th- or early 13th-century castle held by the powerful Hume or Home family, with both spellings recognised for the family, castle and small settlement below it.

Victorian schoolchildren would certainly recognise The Old School’s original panelling and 12-pane sash windows, set up high to provide ample light for them to practise their learning while not distracted by views of the outside world (although visitors today will find the views they offer of Hume Castle from the living area pleasantly distracting).

Today, the wood panelling is painted in soft grey tones, which complement the inky blue cabinetry of the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space that now benefit from the light flooding in through those large windows and the warmth of a cosy wood burner. Leading off from the entrance hallway, the ground floor further houses a double bedroom with an en-suite rainforest shower room, which is particularly well suited for guests with restricted mobility.

The most surprising part of The Old School lies in its first-floor conversion, where its owners have created an expansive bedroom and separate bathroom, set beneath the property’s vaulted ceiling. To one side of the staircase lies a super king bed beneath exposed timber beams, together with a sofa and desk by the window, while a bathroom lies to the other side, also set below exposed beams and boasting a rolltop bath and walk-in shower.

In addition to claiming a castle on its doorstep, The Old School is just 5 miles from the spectacular Floors Castle, which is located on the outskirts of the bustling Abbey town of Kelso. Further historic homes and gardens, including Manderston, Mellerstain and Thirlestane, are all within easy driving distance. The village is also a popular base for anglers, who can enjoy easy access to salmon fishing on various nearby middle Tweed fishing beats.

Property Layout

GROUND FLOOR

Access into inner hall with hanging rail.

Open plan kitchen, dining and living space comprising:

Kitchen with induction hob, electric oven and grill, microwave, washing machine, dishwasher and integrated fridge with icebox. Door to the rear with small boot room and hanging rail. Dining space with bench seating and chairs.

Sitting room with sofa, armchair, Smart TV, wood burning stove. Views of the garden and castle.

Bedroom one with king size bed, side tables, chest of drawers, peg rail with hangers. 

En suite bathroom with large walk-in shower (with rainforest head), heated towel rail, underfloor heating, basin and WC. 

FIRST FLOOR

Bedroom two - with super king bed with zip and link option which can be configured to 3' twin beds. Side tables, built-in cupboards with ample storage and hanging space, chest of drawers, desk and chair. A foldaway bed (Z bed) for a child can be provided at an additional cost. Gable view across the Merse, Velux windows view of the castle.

Large adjacent bathroom with roll-top bath, large walk-in shower (with rainforest head), heated towel rail, basin WC and underfloor heating. Velux view of the castle and garden.

OUTSIDE

The Old School benefits from a large private enclosed garden. This is a multi-terrace garden comprising herbaceous borders and lawn, with multiple seating areas. This includes bench seating with an outside fire pit. A charcoal barbecue is available on request (charcoal not supplied). A cosy garden room has seating and a collection of books. External storage for bikes and outdoor gear is available.

There is ample private parking for up to four cars in the gravelled front courtyard.

Location

You will find excellent local amenities in the thriving market town of Kelso (5.8 miles) set around a charming cobbled square. The town is home to a super range of independent shops where you can indulge in a little retail therapy, or purchase fresh local produce and holiday provisions from quality traders. There are some excellent pubs and restaurants for dining out, or for light lunches you will find plenty of tempting treats in the many cafes in the town - including Cafe U, or the Terrace Cafe at Floors Castle.

A twenty-minute drive will take you to the pretty village of St Boswells which boasts the fabulous, award-winning Mainstreet Trading bookshop, café, and deli; the excellent Blue Coo Bistro at the Buccleuch Arms; or Hunters Stables for Italian cuisine and pizza. A little further afield, the incredibly picturesque town of Melrose sits around 17 miles from the property and has plenty of restaurant choices, as well as a lovely selection of independent shops.

Amenities

    All Amenities

    • Allows babies in arms
      Refer to Important Information.
    • Allows children
      Refer to Important Information.
    • Barbecue
    • Cot
      A travel cot is available on request. Travel cot bedding is not supplied.
    • Enclosed garden
    • Hairdryer
      There is a hairdryer in each bedroom.
    • Heating
      Oil-fired heating with thermostatic control. Underfloor heating in the ground floor shower room and first floor bathroom. Wood burning stove in the sitting room.
    • Highchair
    • Linen & towels provided
      Duvets and pillows are hypo-allergenic.
    • Open fire/ Woodburning stove
      Initial basket of logs supplied. Further logs can be supplied at a cost of £5 per basket - paid directly to the owner.
    • Outside space
    • Pet free
      Sorry, dogs are not permitted.
    • Wi-Fi
      Superfast optic-fibre broadband. Due to the thickness of the walls, mobile reception can be variable inside the property. This improves outside.

Important Information

The Old School is a detached property and sits in the small hamlet of Hume. There are properties to the left and right of the property, however, they are at a distance and there is very limited over-looking, with plenty of private spaces in the multi-terrace private garden. The owner lives nearby and would be delighted to help with any queries during your stay, but is equally respectful of guest privacy.

Due to the multi-level garden, the property is felt to be best suited to babes in arms or children over the age of five.

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: SB00056F. The current EPC rating for this property is band D, a copy of the certificate can be found here.

Arrival time: 4pm
Departure time: 10am

Accessibility

Please call a member of the team on 01573 226711 to discuss your requirements.
Guests
Max Adults:
4
Max Children:
2
Max Infants:
1
Note: Babes in arms & children over 5 years only.
Maximum number of adults and children is 4
Previous
Next
Select an arrival day to begin
Please select a departure day.
Select a new arrival day or continue to summary..
Loading Getting availability
 
Summary
Nights
From
To
For
Total Cost
Sorry, but your searched dates are not available for this property
Share

The Little Things We Love

The original schoolhouse windows, set up high to deter children from glimpsing distracting goings on at street level, but offer superb views of Hume Castle.

Don't take our word for it...

We had such a lovely break in the Borders and The Old School was a delightful place to stay in. It felt like home from home from the minute we got there to the end of our stay. The owner met us in the pouring rain when we arrived and was so lovely and made us feel so welcome, showing us the important bits of the house so we could settle in, light a fire and enjoy her lovely home. Thank you and we look forward to staying with you again in the future.
Mr & Mrs Legge, 2nd April 2024

Don't take our word for it...

Beautifully converted School House in a gorgeous setting in view of Hume Castle. Location is ideal for visiting the local areas - Kelso was lovely and Berwick. Three days is not long enough so would have to return soon in the Autumn. The owner was so welcoming and the home made bread on arrival - the nicest thing i have ever tasted!
Mr Illingworth, 2nd April 2024

Don't take our word for it...

We have had a wonderful time here. Great place to relax and explore The Borders.
Mr & Mrs Wood, 2nd April 2024

Don't take our word for it...

The Old School is a great place to stay, very relaxing and lovely grounds. Ideally placed to explore the Borders!
Mr & Mrs Taylor, 2nd April 2024

Don't take our word for it...

A perfect place to stay! Warm, cosy, private with an amazing view...our advice is to just get out and explore the most beautiful Scottish Borders and friendly people. We will return!
Mr & Mrs Warin, 2nd April 2024

Things to See & Do

Explore our map of recommended things to see and do in our regions and discover the best ways to spend your stay with us. Select the filters below to highlight everything from restaurants to local events, so you can start building an exciting itinerary around your holiday home with the support of our in-depth local knowledge.

Plan Your Trip

Activities

Coast
National Parks & Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
Sports & Activities
Tourist Attractions

Arts & Crafts

Galleries
Learn a New Skill

Boutique Shops

Beauty & Skincare
Bookstores
Clothing Stores
Florists
Gift Shops
Gifts
Homewares
Lifestyle
Local Products
Shooting & Fishing

Food & Drink

Bakeries
Bistros & Gastro Pubs
Butchers
Cafés
Delicatessens
Dining Experiences
Distilleries & Breweries
Farmer's Market
Gelaterias
Local Suppliers & Producers
Pizzerias
Pubs
Restaurants
Street Food
Take Away
Wine Bars & Cocktail Bars
Wine Merchants

Health & Wellbeing

Gym & Personal Training
Massage
Pilates
Rewilding
Spas
Yoga
HideShow Filters

Experiences

Inspired by the wealth of brilliant activities on offer in the North of England and the South of Scotland, we offer an exciting collection of experiences for you to enjoy while holidaying with us. From snorkelling with seals around the Farne Islands to barefoot pilgrimages to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, each experience has been drawn from our in-depth local knowledge and is exclusive to C&C guests.

Find out more

Services

With numerous additions to make your stay extra special, from doorstep deliveries of regional hampers and fine wines to daily housekeeping, the arrangement of dog sitters, and the organisation of chefs for special occasions, we have all the finest contacts to help make your stay smooth and enjoyable.

Find out more
 
This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. We use necessary cookies to make sure that our website works. We’d also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. By clicking “Allow All”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
These cookies are required for basic functionalities such as accessing secure areas of the website, remembering previous actions and facilitating the proper display of the website. Necessary cookies are often exempt from requiring user consent as they do not collect personal data and are crucial for the website to perform its core functions.
A “preferences” cookie is used to remember user preferences and settings on a website. These cookies enhance the user experience by allowing the website to remember choices such as language preferences, font size, layout customization, and other similar settings. Preference cookies are not strictly necessary for the basic functioning of the website but contribute to a more personalised and convenient browsing experience for users.
A “statistics” cookie typically refers to cookies that are used to collect anonymous data about how visitors interact with a website. These cookies help website owners understand how users navigate their site, which pages are most frequently visited, how long users spend on each page, and similar metrics. The data collected by statistics cookies is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it does not contain personally identifiable information (PII).
Marketing cookies are used to track user behaviour across websites, allowing advertisers to deliver targeted advertisements based on the user’s interests and preferences. These cookies collect data such as browsing history and interactions with ads to create user profiles. While essential for effective online advertising, obtaining user consent is crucial to comply with privacy regulations.