Kelso self catering holiday cottages, Scotland
| country: | Scotland |
| location: | Near Kelso, Scottish Borders |
| price: | From £280 - £420 per cottage per week (sleeps 2-4), based on 2 people. Workshops available from £70, details are below |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
description
In the heart of the Scottish Borders, we have three one-bedroom cottages which were created during 1999-2001 by conversion of a long stone barn. Each cottage is light and airy with plenty of space. From the dining area of the living room, there is direct, level access to a south-facing conservatory with views across the secluded garden, river and the Tweed valley to the Cheviot hills and the border between Scotland and England.
Each cottage is generously equipped for 2-4 people for self catering. For those who require them, we can provide additional beds for each cottage.
All of the rooms are on the same level and reached from the car park without any step up or down. Cars can approach close to the main entrance of each cottage for loading. There is a large, private car park adjacent to the cottages.
Each cottage has electrical heating throughout which is supplemented by a wood-burning stove in the living room. We will lay the fire and light it on request or at an arranged time so that there is a bright glow to welcome you on your arrival or on return from an outing. We provide a supply of firewood in the living room. The cottages are well insulated and can be maintained warm in the coldest weather without any extra charge for fuel or electricity.
Cycling Walks Horse riding Golf Fishing Gardens Various events Workshops.
Walking: In addition to the possibilities for short walks in the immediate area, there are walks starting at the site. Although spectacular in places, the Borders countryside is not intimidating and there is a wide choice of walking of all levels of difficulty. The region has less rain and more dry, sunny weather than do the more western parts of Britain.
Cycling: Cycling is a particular pleasure on the network of quiet lanes around the cottages. In the hills are many tracks which can be cycled by those with the necessary stamina and equipment. In Glentress forest, there are extensive cycling tracks separate from walking paths and mountain bikes can be hired from the Hub at the main entrance to the forest. We can help with information about longer cycle routes.
Price: £70. Dates: 12/13 March 2009 (Thu/Fri).
Learn the techniques of free machine embroidery using a variety of threads and fabrics. A sewing machine on which you can lower the feed dog, or cover it with a plate, is essential. This is a useful technique for quilters as well as embroiderers. Enjoy discovering just what you and your sewing machine can achieve together!
Fabric, Paper and Stitch - Mary Sleigh
Price: £85. Dates: 28/29 April 2009 (Tue/Wed).
An experimental workshop using paper-making and bonding techniques to combine paper, fabric and stitch. This is a practical workshop with opportunities to be adventurous, extend your skills and explore new ideas to express your own ways of working.
More Handcrafted Books - Alison Rennie
Price: £75. Dates: 03/04 May 2009 (Sun/Mon).
Design and make your own unique hand-crafted books using a variety of construction and stitching methods. The books can be covered with purchased papers, those we create in class or stitched fabric. The class is suitable for beginners as well as improvers who wish to try something different.
Impressions of Stitch - Toni Hanley
Price: £75. Dates: 08/09 June 2009 (Mon/Tue).
Spend a day making different backgrounds suitable for an impressionistic style small panel. Try out various colouring mediums including transfer paints and crayons, painting on Bondaweb and the use of acrylic and silk paints. Then, using your chosen background and an impressionist painting (or your own painting done in an impressionistic style), as a guide, add stitch and perhaps fabric to embellish. Students could start several panels! Sewing machines are not required. At the end of day 2, a demonstration will show various ways to mount and finish off the work.
Machine Embroidery with Soluble Fabrics - Pat Lewis
Price: £75. Dates: 01/02 July 2009 (Wed/Thu).
Develop the techniques of free machine embroidery using soluble and other fabrics to create interesting textures, lacy effects, flowers, decorative bowls and more. Discover which of the multitude of types of soluble fabric is most suitable for your various projects.
Multifarious Muslin - Pauline Verrinder
Price: £85. Dates: 01/02 September 2009 (Tue/Wed).
During this two day workshop we will be swimming in a sea of muslin and stitch. We will explore the versatile nature of the fabric by manipulation, layering, distressing, wiring and painting. Experimentation with hand and machine techniques will enable you to extend your experience by concentrating on using one fabric to create textile art in two and three dimensions
Stitch and Structure - Jean Draper
Price: £85. Dates: 21/22 September 2009 (Mon/Tue).
Stitch can be used in a variety of ways to alter or to add structure to fabric. In addition, it is possible to use stitch alone, or stitch and mixed media, in the creation of three dimensional fabric structures.
Elizabethan Embroidery - Tracy Franklin
Price: £85. Dates: 20/21 October 2009 (Tue/Wed).
This short course of Elizabethan Embroidery will teach you the techniques used during this historic time, including linen canvas work, silk detached buttonhole stitch and metallic braiding. The design will be presented in class and can be used to be made into an "Elizabethan Sweete Bag".
Felt Jewellery and More - Sheila Mortlock
Price: £85. Dates: 14/15 November 2009 (Sat/Sun).
We will use felt to make beads and balls with which to create interesting textural and colourful neckpieces. By adding glass beads and stitch to adorn the felt, and jewellery findings to complete your work, you will create a range of original pieces of jewellery.
Each cottage is generously equipped for 2-4 people for self catering. For those who require them, we can provide additional beds for each cottage.
All of the rooms are on the same level and reached from the car park without any step up or down. Cars can approach close to the main entrance of each cottage for loading. There is a large, private car park adjacent to the cottages.
Each cottage has electrical heating throughout which is supplemented by a wood-burning stove in the living room. We will lay the fire and light it on request or at an arranged time so that there is a bright glow to welcome you on your arrival or on return from an outing. We provide a supply of firewood in the living room. The cottages are well insulated and can be maintained warm in the coldest weather without any extra charge for fuel or electricity.
special things to do and see here
Cycling Walking: In addition to the possibilities for short walks in the immediate area, there are walks starting at the site. Although spectacular in places, the Borders countryside is not intimidating and there is a wide choice of walking of all levels of difficulty. The region has less rain and more dry, sunny weather than do the more western parts of Britain.
Cycling: Cycling is a particular pleasure on the network of quiet lanes around the cottages. In the hills are many tracks which can be cycled by those with the necessary stamina and equipment. In Glentress forest, there are extensive cycling tracks separate from walking paths and mountain bikes can be hired from the Hub at the main entrance to the forest. We can help with information about longer cycle routes.
workshops
Introducing Free Machine Embroidery - Pat Lewis Price: £70. Dates: 12/13 March 2009 (Thu/Fri).
Learn the techniques of free machine embroidery using a variety of threads and fabrics. A sewing machine on which you can lower the feed dog, or cover it with a plate, is essential. This is a useful technique for quilters as well as embroiderers. Enjoy discovering just what you and your sewing machine can achieve together!
Fabric, Paper and Stitch - Mary Sleigh
Price: £85. Dates: 28/29 April 2009 (Tue/Wed).
An experimental workshop using paper-making and bonding techniques to combine paper, fabric and stitch. This is a practical workshop with opportunities to be adventurous, extend your skills and explore new ideas to express your own ways of working.
More Handcrafted Books - Alison Rennie
Price: £75. Dates: 03/04 May 2009 (Sun/Mon).
Design and make your own unique hand-crafted books using a variety of construction and stitching methods. The books can be covered with purchased papers, those we create in class or stitched fabric. The class is suitable for beginners as well as improvers who wish to try something different.
Impressions of Stitch - Toni Hanley
Price: £75. Dates: 08/09 June 2009 (Mon/Tue).
Spend a day making different backgrounds suitable for an impressionistic style small panel. Try out various colouring mediums including transfer paints and crayons, painting on Bondaweb and the use of acrylic and silk paints. Then, using your chosen background and an impressionist painting (or your own painting done in an impressionistic style), as a guide, add stitch and perhaps fabric to embellish. Students could start several panels! Sewing machines are not required. At the end of day 2, a demonstration will show various ways to mount and finish off the work.
Machine Embroidery with Soluble Fabrics - Pat Lewis
Price: £75. Dates: 01/02 July 2009 (Wed/Thu).
Develop the techniques of free machine embroidery using soluble and other fabrics to create interesting textures, lacy effects, flowers, decorative bowls and more. Discover which of the multitude of types of soluble fabric is most suitable for your various projects.
Multifarious Muslin - Pauline Verrinder
Price: £85. Dates: 01/02 September 2009 (Tue/Wed).
During this two day workshop we will be swimming in a sea of muslin and stitch. We will explore the versatile nature of the fabric by manipulation, layering, distressing, wiring and painting. Experimentation with hand and machine techniques will enable you to extend your experience by concentrating on using one fabric to create textile art in two and three dimensions
Stitch and Structure - Jean Draper
Price: £85. Dates: 21/22 September 2009 (Mon/Tue).
Stitch can be used in a variety of ways to alter or to add structure to fabric. In addition, it is possible to use stitch alone, or stitch and mixed media, in the creation of three dimensional fabric structures.
Elizabethan Embroidery - Tracy Franklin
Price: £85. Dates: 20/21 October 2009 (Tue/Wed).
This short course of Elizabethan Embroidery will teach you the techniques used during this historic time, including linen canvas work, silk detached buttonhole stitch and metallic braiding. The design will be presented in class and can be used to be made into an "Elizabethan Sweete Bag".
Felt Jewellery and More - Sheila Mortlock
Price: £85. Dates: 14/15 November 2009 (Sat/Sun).
We will use felt to make beads and balls with which to create interesting textural and colourful neckpieces. By adding glass beads and stitch to adorn the felt, and jewellery findings to complete your work, you will create a range of original pieces of jewellery.
rooms, food and facilities
Thairn Cottage (Sleeps 2-3): The spacious living room has electric heating, plus a wood-burning stove, hi-fi, tv, DVD, a large, south-facing window and direct access to the conservatory. The kitchen is fully equipped, including fridge-freezer, combination oven, and hob. The bedroom has a king size bed and plenty of space for an additional, single bed (which we provide if required). The bedroom also has a double wardrobe, dressing table and ample storage space.
The extra bed can alternatively be used in the living room and easily be stored in a cupboard during the day. The bathroom has a full size bath and walk-in shower, as well as wash basin and toilet.
Begrum Cottage (Sleeps 2-4): Begrum can sleep 4, using the bed-settee in the spacious living room. There is a built-in wardrobe off the living room too. The living room has electric heating, plus a wood-burning stove, hi-fi, tv, DVD, a large, south-facing window and direct access to the conservatory. The kitchen is fully equipped, including fridge-freezer, combination oven, and hob. The bedroom has twin beds. There is also a double wardrobe and a dressing table & stool. The bathroom has a shower over the bath.
Mungo's Well Cottage (Sleeps 2): The spacious living room has electric heating, plus a wood-burning stove, hi-fi, tv, DVD, a large, south-facing window and direct access to the conservatory. The kitchen is fully equipped, including fridge-freezer, combination oven, and hob.
The bathroom has a shower over the bath and a handle on the wall to assist stepping into the bath. The bedroom has twin beds which can also be zipped & linked to form a king size bed. There is also a double wardrobe,a dressing table & stool, an alarm clock radio and a hair dryer.
Disabled access: Each of our cottages is on one level with no steps between the rooms and the car park. We welcome on our courses those who are confined to a wheelchair.
Dog friendly: Well behaved dogs are welcome with their owners in Begrum Cottage, and in the pasture adjacent to the garden. We ask that dogs be supervised at all times and are not allowed on the beds or other furniture. We have about 30 acre of pasture in which you are welcome to walk with your dog. If you wish to bring a pet, please ask before making a holiday reservation.
how to find us
By Car: We are located on the A6089 about 9 miles off the A68/A697 from Edinburgh, near Kelso.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We provide 2-day courses in textile artwork, some suitable for beginners, some for those with a little experience and some for very experienced textile artists. Usually, several local people join others from outwith the Scottish Borders to enjoy together 2 days learning a new skill or developing an existing one.
Our Green Tourism Business Scheme Gold award is testament to our commitment to minimise the negative impact of our business on the environment, both locally and more broadly. We plant more than a hundred trees a year to replace those we harvest to provide fuel for the stove in each cottage. We have created a pond and protected considerable areas from grazing by stock to encourage wild flowers and other wildlife. We collect rain water for use in the garden, which is cultivated without the use of pesticides or fertilisers and all bathrooms have showers, as well as baths. We advise guests on local restaurants and shops and provide sample menus in each cottage. We inform them of the dial-a-bus service to and from our cottages and of connecting services to destinations in and beyond the Scottish Borders. We compost food and garden waste, provide facilities for our guests to recycle glass, plastic and paper and encourage them to do so. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |