*** Please note the cat has temporarily gone to live as a therapet with a lady who recently lost her husband. She is likely to come back some time in the spring (but may not), please bear this in mind when making a booking, any questions, please get in touch***
Summary
Homely self-catering holiday cottage with a well-equipped kitchen, a snuggly cat and a woodburner. Set in wildlife-rich mature gardens in a convenient yet secluded location close to the centre of the small town of Duns. Ideally situated for country walks and cycling, local wedding venues or exploring the towns, historic properties and beaches of the Scottish Borders, with the bright city lights of Edinburgh only an hour’s drive away across the moors of the Southern Uplands.
Description
Gardener’s Lodging is a first floor apartment occupying the rear wing of a category B listed Georgian Villa dating to 1791. A home-from-home with its own resident cat, Athena, it is full of character, decorated with hand-made soft furnishings using quality fabrics by the owner who runs a small textile business, Blyth and Bonnie (blythandbonnie.co.uk). Whilst it is attached to the owner’s house, it has its own entrance and a private sheltered garden.
Parking is in the courtyard behind the main house. Entrance into a hallway, with maps and guidebooks, and then up a broad-shallow staircase to the apartment. Lobby with coat hooks and access to the dining kitchen and bathroom. Traditional bathroom with a hand-held shower over a large, deep bath. The kitchen has a dishwasher, Belfast sink, larder fridge, small chest freezer, coffee and espresso maker, induction hob (not suitable for people with certain types of pacemaker), oven and microwave. The kitchen window overlooks the garden and a well-visited bird feeder. The table comfortably seats six and there is plenty of crockery and cutlery for multi-course dinner parties. Access from the kitchen down four steps into the private garden with its outside seating area. Access from the kitchen to the living room (up two steps). The living room has a woodburning stove (free wood provided), supplementing the central heating, making this a cosy place to stay at any time of year. A low window overlooking the courtyard is Athena’s favourite place to sit, and there is plenty of seating for people (which includes a double sofa bed if required – please advise at time of booking). The living room also has a small desk which can be opened up to form a table for those wishing to eat away from the kitchen or to play board games. There is a range of games along with a good collection of books and CDs. We have a bouncy chair, play mat and other toys for babies and young children. Please note that while there is a DAB stereo system and WiFi, Gardener’s Lodging is a TV-free zone: there is no TV licence associated with the accommodation and therefore it is an offence to watch TV live or on BBC iPlayer. The bedroom is accessed from the living room and has a comfortable king size bed as well as a single, plus an extra single bed which pulls out from underneath if required. Due to the thick walls of the house there is no Wifi reception in the bathroom and limited reception in the kitchen. Two cots and Tripp Trapp high chairs can be supplied free of charge (please book these in advance). There is a shared washing machine and tumble dryer available in a shared utility room accessed from the entrance hallway (there is a charge for the use of the tumble dryer to encourage line drying). All bed linen, towels and fuel (including logs for the fire) included. Everything is supplied for your first cup of tea, herbal tea, hot chocolate or coffee on arrival.
Gardener’s Lodging is Athena’s home because she does not get on with three of our other cats in the main house (who were her kittens). She has a cat flap so will come and go as she pleases. She will need feeding and given fresh water daily: we supply her food and a little bag of treats for you to use to help her get to know you. She is very affectionate once she has got to know people, but generally spends a lot of time outside.
Please note that unfortunately we cannot accept any pets, for obvious reasons. Check-in is from 4pm, checkout by 10am. If you would like an earlier check-in time or later check-out time this can potentially be arranged in advance, for a charge of £15 per hour. This will allow us to pay extra staff to get the accommodation ready on time. Please let us know. Alternatively, please consider booking an extra day. Thank you for your understanding.
Delightful self-catering holiday cottage with resident cat, a wood burner and well equipped kitchen, in a convenient yet secluded location close to the centre of the small town of Duns. Ideally situated for outdoor pursuits, local wedding venues or exploring the Scottish Borders towns, abbeys and beaches.
Gardener’s Lodging, part of a category B listed Georgian Villa, is full of character, decorated with hand-made soft furnishings using quality fabrics. Whilst it is attached to the owner’s house it has its own entrance and a private sheltered garden. The lodging can accommodate up to two additional guests for an extra charge.
Parking in the courtyard. Entrance into a (shared) hallway and then up a broad-shallow staircase to the apartment. Lobby with coat hooks and access to dining kitchen and bathroom. Traditional bathroom with hand held shower over the bath. The kitchen has a dishwasher, Belfast sink, larder fridge and chest freezer, coffee and espresso maker, induction hob (not suitable for people with certain types of pacemaker), oven and microwave and four slice toaster with bagel setting. The table comfortably seats six. Access from the kitchen into the private garden with its outside seating area. Access from the kitchen to the living room (two steps). The living room has a woodburning stove (free wood available), making this a cosy place to stay at any time of year. There is plenty of seating (which includes a double sofa bed if required – please advise at time of booking) and a small table for those wishing to eat away from the kitchen. Please note that while there is a DAB stereo system and Wifi available in here, Gardener’s Lodging is a TV-free zone. There is no TV licence associated with the accommodation and therefore it is not possible to watch TV live or on the iPlayer. The living room has a good collection of books and CDs and also a range of games. We are very keen board game player and will happily lend you games if you are interested. The bedroom is accessed from the living room and has a comfortable king size bed as well as a single, plus an extra single bed which pulls out from underneath if required. Due to the thick walls of the house there is no Wifi reception in the bathroom. Two cots and Tripp Trapp high chairs can be supplied free of charge (please book these in advance). Washing machine and tumble dryer are available in a shared utility room accessed from the entrance hallway. All bed linen, towels and fuel included. Everything is supplied for your first cup of tea or coffee on arrival.
Please note that unfortunately we cannot accept any pets. Athena the cat moved in earlier this year when our son came to stay. Whilst he has now moved on to pastures new, the cat alas could not follow. If you have never lived with a cat before, it is quite straight forward and we will supply everything for her, of course.
Since the start of the pandemic we have had a succession of longer term lets. For long term bookings please contact us for the relevant rates.