Barn it may be called (and it was once stacked floor to ceiling with hay), but it's now like no barn you've ever seen! On the edge of the village of Dolphinton on the Peeblesshire-Lanarkshire border, within a half hour drive of Edinburgh and an hour of Glasgow, Meadowhead is a gracious, sandstone country house. It stands in a peaceful situation among the trees with fine views across a valley, where an old walled garden is being carefully restored, to the hills and woods on the other side.
Meadowhead Barn adjoins the House, but is quite private and self-contained, with its own sun-trap parterre garden (furniture), its privacy ensured by a wall and high yew hedge on two sides, and to the front there is your own slice of that lovely view.
But perhaps the most breathtaking feature of Meadowhead Barn is the light and space within. The erstwhile hayshed is now the main sitting room - about 40 ft long, light and airy with its Velux windows and a French door to the garden. Its wood burning stove (more efficient than an open fire and just as atmospheric) and oil-fired central heating keep the whole place warm and cosy. At the far end of the room there are two daybeds, and the overall size of the place means that two extra tenants can be accommodated with ease (at a small extra charge).
The well-fitted and equipped kitchen-diner would not disgrace the average farmhouse in terms of space. It too faces south, as does the large double bedroom. The bathroom has a separate shower. Being all on one level, Meadowhead Barn is a good choice for those of limited mobility.
Two of the primary mountain biking centres in the world, offering trails of all grades, are close by at Glentress and Innerleithen.
Dolphinton has a tearoom, and West Linton (4m) has a restaurant, shops and two pubs. It is also the site of the nearest golf course. The nearest town of any size is Biggar (8m, all facilities, trout fishery).
There is excellent walking, either in the Pentland Hills to the north, or in Tweeddale to the south, and riding is also available locally. While in the area, a visit to Robert Owen's New Lanark (18m), now a UNESCO World Heritage Site beside the Falls of Clyde, is a must, and is guaranteed to keep the whole family happy on a wet day.
Those wishing to roam further afield will find the lovely Border country beyond Peebles, with its stately homes and castles, or the Fife coast across the Forth from Edinburgh, within easy reach for a day out. And of course, Meadowhead Barn is a perfect base to which to return if you are visiting Edinburgh or Glasgow for business or pleasure.
Bed linen, towels, heating, electricity and a starter pack of logs are all INCLUDED in the rental. Up to two well-behaved pets are welcome. Please note that smoking is not permitted in the house.
