The Stables at West Moneylaws

Set in the undulating Northumbrian countryside near Cornhill-on-Tweed, The Stables offers those who make it their (extremely stylish) home for a time the opportunity to enjoy the unbroken peace of a truly rural setting. As the name suggests, this freshly converted property was once the stable block for the farm steading that sat on this prime spot of pastoral land. Together with the adjoining Byre, The Stables has been transformed from a tumbledown stone outbuilding to a rustic-chic holiday cottage with a hard-to-beat location.

Known as the first and last village in England, Cornhill sits on the border with Scotland where it follows the River Tweed, bordered by the Cheviot Hills to the south. The Stables is remote enough to deliver a sense of blissful rural isolation while also being close enough to Cornhill to easily pick up provisions and a pint in the village shop and Collingwood Arms Hotel.

The low-lying stone stables have been brought bang up to date with a smart slate roof, galvanised window and door frames, and a contemporary timber extension. The clever blending of original and modern continues inside the two-bedroom home, where exposed timber trusses, exposed dry-stone walls and a magnificent stone fireplace are juxtaposed with industrial-style matt black galvanised steel and timber furniture, a striking pitched roof lantern over the dining table and a modern country-style kitchen.

Tactile flagstone floors span the dining room and open-plan kitchen and living room, giving way to plush carpet in the two bedrooms. These both feature slick en-suite bathrooms that continue the property’s subtle industrial design feel with exposed chrome pipework, hammered subway tiles and large walk-in showers with tropical rainforest shower heads. One of the bedrooms features a king size bed while the other is set up with twin beds, which can be configured as a king size bed.

Last but certainly not least, The Stables boasts an outdoor hot tub on a raised platform in the small, enclosed courtyard garden to the rear of the property, as well as access to a separate games room (shared between guests staying at The Stables and The Byre) with a pool table, football table and darts board. And, just a few hundred yards from the house, there’s a pretty pond teeming with ducks and wildlife.

Only slightly further afield, there’s walking and biking galore in the Cheviot Hills, fishing on the River Tweed, historic castles to visit at Norham, Ford and Etal, and the nearby Battlefield of Flodden to explore.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION

For larger groups who wish to holiday together, The Stables can be let in conjunction with The Old Byre, which adjoins the property and sits in the same ownership.