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Scottish Borders self catering accommodation

COUNTRY:
Scotland
LOCATION:
Kirkcudbright, near Dumfries
PRICE:
From £350 - £950 per week (sleeps 4-6)
MORE INFO:
Price is per week, depending on season. 3 day weekend breaks and 4 day weekday breaks are available all year from £210- £600 Suitable for 2 people as well as 4-6 Discounts for children
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can not be used with this holiday
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Scottish Borders self catering accommodation
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Scottish Borders self catering accommodation

How this holiday makes a difference

Environment

The building and contents have been designed to minimise carbon emissions and to be as natural a build as possible. All timber in the building and decks comes from local and/or sustainable sources. The living roof is clad in green sedum to lessen environmental impact on the landscape. The thick insulation is natural Thermafleece, sheep’s wool. Interior paints and varnish are safe and natural green products. The windows have heat reflective glass.
To reduce energy use, all light bulbs are low energy and electrical appliances have been kept to a minimum. Water is heated using a solar panel and a bio-mass wood pellet stove is the main source of heat. We use biodegradable Ecover cleaning materials as standard and change sheets at the end of stays only. We used all local crafts people, tradesmen and materials in the build. We support Friends of the Earth with monthly donations. We encourage our guests to visit local attractions, eat in local restaurants and buy local produce with bedside books and leaflets. The garden in mostly organic and guests can harvest their own vegetables as available. We have large ponds with breeding Great Crested newts, frogs and toads. Resident Mallards are seen daily as well as ducks and breeding swallows under The Waterhouse eves in summer months.These are surrounded with more trhan 100 varieties of wildflowers and 100s of nectar rich garden fowers in an 1 acre terraced garden. There are numerous breeding bird species and bats. The site is a mini nature reserve.

Community

We bring valuable business to the community during quiet winter months as well as the summer. We encourge support for local shops and restaurants.

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Story of the accommodation provider

The Waterhouse was designed and built by husband and wife School Teachers Martin Gould and Sharon O'Rourke with the help of clever friends, family and local tradesmen . It was started in 2006 and opened June 2007 with The Boathouse being added in 2011. The gardens have been a labour of love for nearly 30 years and have been recognized by their inclusion in the Scottish Gardens scheme and many magazines and BBC TVs The Beechgrove Gardens The small centre was a retirement plan for the owners and the ethos to create the most beautiful place possible and share it with others- Natural tranquility

Accommodation provider no: 724

The hot tub in the snow

Scottish Borders self catering accommodation

Reviewed 27 Mar 2009 by Graham Dalby4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


A totally chill-out experience - a comfortable, luxurious cabin in a well laid out garden - definitely stands out as a special place to stay. Located in lovely countryside with several options for walking locally. Martin and Sharon who built and run house are a lovely couple and really made us feel at home. The menu for those not wanting to cook, is imaginative and varied and our meal, shared with Martin and Sharon was excellent. We visited when there was snow on the ground which made the hot tub in the garden a real treat.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Don't be surprised if you spend much more time than you'd expected, in and around the Waterhouse. The kitchen in the cabin is well fitted out so it was much nicer having a relaxing evening in or eating at Martin and Sharon's rather than driving out to eat. The best walk we had was in the woods around The Waterhouse where we saw 3 separate groups of deer. It's a 'clothing optional' place which was good - but as there's only the one cabin it's not a problem whether you want to strip off or not

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Martin and Sharon have worked hard to create a 'green' cabin (their website gives more details).

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


We had a great time and would definitely recommend it.
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Accommodation Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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The hot tub in the snow
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