Just across the mighty River Tweed from the lovely Border town of Melrose, tucked away among the trees and surrounded by bluebells in season,  is a charming gingerbread house which could indeed have come straight out of Hansel and Gretel and looks good enough to eat!

This is Abbotsmeadow Cottage, which stands in the grounds of Abbotsmeadow House.  It has its own area of garden and a patio with furniture, ideal for taking the air on pleasant summer evenings.

Inside it is just as delightful as its attractive exterior.  Light and spacious, with big windows providing excellent views of the surrounding garden grounds and glimpses of the legendary Eildon Hills beyond, it is well heated by central heating and an open fire in the living room, and most comfortably furnished.   There are three large bedrooms (one en suite on the ground floor), with a further bathroom upstairs.

A gentle walk down to the river and across the footbridge will bring you into Melrose itself, where, in addition to its ancient ruined abbey, there is a fine selection of hotels, pubs, restaurants and shops.  However, there is really no need to go even that far to eat, for Gattonside itself has two excellent restaurants within walking distance of the cottage.

Melrose is, of course the home of the Rugby sevens game.  It also has a good golf course on the shoulder of the Eildons, and tennis in the park.  About 4 miles in the other direction from the cottage, there is riding near Redpath, and fishermen can try their luck not just on the Tweed itself but in the many lochans around about.

At Abbotsmeadow, you are just about in the centre of the lovely Border country.  You can be at the coast within the hour, relaxing on the beach at Coldingham or walking along the cliffs at St Abbs to see the amazing seabird colonies there.  To the west, there is excellent walking in the Border hills. (Melrose stands at the beginning of St Cuthbert's Way which runs to Lindisfarne and the Southern Upland Way may be joined less than a mile from the cottage.)  There are more castles, stately homes, ruined abbeys and peel towers to visit than, with the best will in the world, you can probably manage in a week. You can also be in Edinburgh in an hour, and with buses running regularly from Melrose it may be a good opportunity for leaving the car at home.

Heating is by electric white meter and storage heaters and open fire (first £15 of electricity  and starter pack of fuel INCLUDED).  Bed linen and towels are INCLUDED.  Sorry, no pets or smoking within the house.