This unusual and beautiful house, dating from 1779, has a secluded and peaceful position beside the Quair Water just half a mile from the tiny hamlet of Traquair, near Innerleithen and Peebles in the heart of the Scottish Borders.
It has been the owners' home, and has therefore been furnished and equipped to a very high standard for their own use. It also comes with its own adjacent and self-contained Bothy which, full of character, spacious and comfortable, can house extra guests from the house (charge). It's therefore ideal for extended family get-togethers or for two families wishing to holiday together.
The main house, too, is nothing if not interesting, a walk through it giving a new meaning to the phrase 'round tour'! There are two staircases, one rising from the main hall and the other a spiral going up from the very large and beautifully appointed kitchen-diner. Also on the ground floor are two sitting rooms with wood burners and a bathroom, while steps lead down to a delightful conservatory/games room with pool table and darts overlooking the meadow and Quair Water at the back. There is also a utility room down a further staircase. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and a further bathroom.
Outside, there is parking right at the door, while to the side of the house, behind the Bothy, is a large, enclosed and secluded grass garden (furniture), perfect for lazing on a sunny afternoon, for evening drinks or for children to kick a football and generally have fun.
The nearest attraction to the Mill House is Traquair House, the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland, with its famous Bear Gates, which will only be opened again when a Stuart sits once more on the throne of Scotland. With craft shops in the grounds, and regular events, it is certainly worth a visit. It is only one of the numerous stately homes in the area, Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford among them. The lovely Border Abbeys of Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh and Dryburgh should also not be missed.
Walkers will find that Traquair is on the Southern Upland Way. The stretch from the village across Minch Muir via the Cheese Well to Yair is a great day's walking.
Cyclists will need no introduction to Innerleithen, with its extreme downhill track, or nearby Glentress with its dedicated forest trails of all levels of difficulty. Both are within easy distance of the houseand Traquair Mill House can also offer secure storage for equipment including bike racks. Fishermen will be equally aware that this is Tweed country, though there are plenty of other rivers and stocked lochs in the area where they can try their luck without the risk of bankruptcy!
Garden lovers will enjoy visits to Kailzie and Dawyck. At Kailzie (and Glentress for that matter) you can also see CCTV footage of the ospreys who nest each year in the nearby forests.
Peebles is a charming town on the river, with excellent shops, eating places, leisure centre, theatre and riding at the Hydro. Innerleithen (shops, pubs, hotel) also has a number of antique and collectables shops. You can also be in Edinburgh within the hour, perhaps combining a visit to the capital with Roslin Chapel (made famous in The Da Vinci Code) on the way. For exploring further afield, the Edinburgh Ring Road will speed you on your way to the west or north to the Highlands.
First £25 of oil central heating, electricity, bed linen and towels are all INCLUDED in the rental. Sorry pets are not accepted and smoking is not permitted within either property. Broadband is available.
