Snaptrip says
St Agnes is a well-loved, spacious cottage offering peace and tranquillity in the Scottish Borders. Guests praise its beautiful setting, secure garden ideal for dogs, and its cosy, family-friendly atmosphere. While some minor maintenance issues are noted, the property's charm, helpful owner communication, and stunning location make for a delightful stay.
Guests that stayed at this property said
Most guests found the property clean and well-kept, though there were isolated mentions of dust and pet hair. The majority of reviews, however, reflect satisfaction with the cleanliness standards.
The location is consistently lauded for its beauty, tranquillity, and secure garden, making it perfect for guests seeking a peaceful retreat or those with pets. The scenic views and wildlife add to the charm.
Guests generally find the cottage comfortable, with a warm, cosy atmosphere and secure garden. Some mentioned a creaky bed and cold bedrooms, but overall, the comfort level is high.
The property is well-equipped, with a few reports of dated kitchen items and minor maintenance issues like light bulbs and heating. However, the presence of a piano and secure garden are positive aspects.
While guests appreciate the secure garden and the property's suitability for dogs, there are no specific mentions of gifts or extra thoughtful touches provided by the hosts, so a score cannot be given.
About this property
Duns 11 miles. A beautifully presented holiday home resting in a remote position in rural Scotland, St Agnes offers families a welcoming base from which to explore this wonderful area. Hosting a traditional interior amidst all you could need for a self-catered stay, this Cranshaws house is a true delight at any time of the year. Venture through the front door to find the sitting room to your left, emanating the traditional character of the property with its rustic open fire and quaint decor, it makes a lovely spot to spend quality time with your loved ones when you're not out exploring. The kitchen/diner also makes for a wonderful social space, where the whole group can gather around the table for an evening of board games, the surrounding kitchen units host all the essential utensils and appliances, as well as a dishwasher and washing machine! Make your way into the study where you can delve into a good book for a quiet moment to yourself, with the countryside views outside providing a beautiful backdrop, or get together outside on the lawn for a picnic on the grass, with plenty of space for your canine companions to stretch their legs. Up on the first floor, passing the original Georgian window, you will find the three wonderful bedrooms, made up of two doubles and a child's room with both bunk beds and a single bed, this property offers a flexible sleeping arrangement for a variety of group needs, as well as a family bathroom on this floor where you can prepare for your day amidst bright and airy settings. Follow the farm road from the rear of the house for a good distance through a lovely valley, to walk along the River Bothwell where you can swim in a deep river pool; or you can follow the farm roads for a round walk of about 7 miles to and from the house, with the Southern Upland Way also easily accessible about 5 miles down the road towards Duns, and a new Cranshaw Community walk which follows the Whiteadder for part of the way. Explore the natural beauty of the area by foot, the nearby flowing river making the perfect place for a leisurely stroll or a picnic, leading all the way to the Whiteadder Reservoir, the Priestlaw Hill circular walk from here being a firm favourite taking you past the beauty of the Lammermuirs Hills, a lovely way to begin your days of adventure. For all of your local amenities, spend a day in the nearby border town of Duns, home to a wide range of shops to explore, pubs, restaurants, a delicatessen and an award-winning butchers, it caters to all your cuisine needs, as well as being home to the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in honour of the famous racing driver, Duns Castle Estate with its imposing 14th Century castle 1,900 acres of land to explore, as well as wonderful golfing opportunities. Spend a day across the border in the charming town of Berwick-upon-Tweed to find a whole host of attractions perfect for the whole family, its Elizabethan walls being the perfect way to begin your exploration of the historic town, with Berwick Castle, Berwick-upon-Tweed Barracks and Main Guard and the Town Hall with its old courtroom, jail lockups and ‘drunks’ cells' all being well-worth exploring too! Enjoy a family day at the dog-friendly beach of Coldingham, with opportunities for surfing here too, or visit the bustling city of Edinburgh for an experience like no other. In an idyllic location in easy reach of the many wonders of Scotland and beyond, St Agnes is a truly exceptional holiday base. EPC Rating: Band F
Duns is a modest border town resting in the valley known as 'The Merse' in Scotland. The town is host to a range of convenient amenities including an award-winning butchers, delicatessens, pubs and restaurants, perfect for any self-catered stay. Visit the Jim Clark Museum and Duns Castle, with plenty more castles and historic houses to explore in the surrounding area. Venture out to find the beaches of Coldingham, the walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, vibrant Edinburgh and so much more.
Accommodation
Three bedrooms: 2 x double, 1 x children's room with child's bunks and a single bed.
Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC.
Cloakroom with basin and WC.
First-floor cloakroom with basin and WC.
Kitchen/diner.
Lounge.
Study
Oil-fired central heating (Fuel and power included in rent) and open fire (Wood or Coal not included).
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, TV, WiFi and a selection of books and games.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Ample off-road parking.
Enclosed garden with lawned area.
Two well-behaved pets welcome (dog bed, bowl and leash available).
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop and pub within 10.9 miles.
Note: This property can sleep a maximum of five guests.
Note: Guests do not have access to the second floor.
Note: Please always remember to shut the gates and keep dogs under control as there are often sheep and cattle roaming.
Please note dogs are not allowed upstairs at this property
Nearby points of interest
- Jim Clark Motorsport Museum
- National Museum Of Flight
- Manderston House
- Duns Castle Nature Reserve
- Coldingham Priory
- Tantallon Castle
- King's Caves
- Coldingham Loch
- Coldingham Bay Beach
- St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve
Reviews (29)
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Sandra
There was also a field next to the garden which belonged to the property. Perfect for walking the dogs. Lovely, spacious, period property with lots of original features. Very comfortable bed. Slept very well indeed. Loved the seclusion and the bird life. The only sounds were the streams & the curlews - fabulous. Would have preferred blinds/curtains in all the windows (upstairs toilet & kitchen didnât have any). Couldnât find any board games.
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Michael
The house is large and the sitting room is comfortably warm with the door closed and the fire on (donât forget to bring some wood/coal and a means to start the fire!) despite -5c outside. Communication with the owner is excellent and appropriate arrangements had been made to mitigate the issue of not being able to drink the tap water without boiling first. If peace, tranquility and beautiful landscapes are what you are after, this is the place. Thanks again, and weâll see you next time!
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Rachel
The house is huge, surrounded by beautiful views. Our dog loved the enclosed garden, with plenty of pheasants to keep her bounding around. The kitchen is well equipped, and seemed very clean to us. There is a Nespresso machine in the kitchen - I didn't know this until we arrived. The piano was a great hit with all of us (even if it is, understandably, a bit out of tune!). Thanks to You Tube, we were all maestros by the end of the week! There are plenty of walks from the door, or a short drive away. There is lots of information in the folder. Following a negative review about the heating, I contacted Sykes Cottages for some reassurance. Twice I was told that someone would call me back, I still haven't received a call. I ended up speaking to the owner who couldn't have been more reassuring and helpful. St Agnes is a warm house, the heating warms it up quickly when returning from a day of walking. When the heating is on, there is a smell of oil but, hopefully, the owner will be getting the engineer out soon to fix the issue. It is also worth pointing out that the owner doesn't provide coal/wood for the fire - I was told by Sykes Cottages that all fuel was provided, and their website would also lead you to believe this is the case. All in all we enjoyed our stay.