About 5 miles from Kelso is the charmingly named Sweethope Farm, and any sweet hopes you may have of finding excellent holiday accommodation there will most certainly not be doomed to disappointment. For this is where you will find Dounbye Cottage, a bright, spacious and very comfortable holiday cottage in its own neat garden grounds with panoramic vistas away to the Cheviot Hills on the Border.
All on one level, it has been refurbished with the greatest of care by the owners. There is a large, airy sitting room, south facing, with an inset wood-burning stove and patio doors to the extensive terrace, a large farmhouse dining kitchen, utility room, three bedrooms (one en suite) and a further bathroom with separate shower.
The situation of the cottage is a very peaceful one. Accessed by the quietest of country lanes, it is well screened even from that by a high hedge. There is ample parking at the back door and ramp access for those of limited mobility. The pond in the adjoining paddock is the only thing which parents of young children would have to be aware of.
The great temptation here would be to simply relax, inside or out, and enjoy the wonderful view, but for those of a more active disposition there is no lack of interesting diversions. There are good farm walks, notably, perhaps to nearby Sweethope Hill which has an ancient hill fort at its summit. There are riding stables at nearby Nenthorn, the possibility of fishing on the Teviot or even the Tweed, while Kelso, a charming town with excellent shops, eating places and regular farmer's markets, also has a swimming pool, ice rink, golf course and racecourse. It is also the site of Floors Castle, the home of the Duke of Roxburghe, which is open to the public and well worth a visit. The Championship Golf Course at the Roxburghe Hotel is another nearby attraction.
Further afield, there is in one direction, the Berwickshire coast with sandy beaches at Coldingham and the diving centre and amazing seabird colonies on the cliffs at St Abbs. In the other are the Border hills, superb for walking and with Great Mountain biking trails round Innerleithen. The area also has numerous stately homes, keeps, castles and ruined abbeys to explore.
Bed linen, towels, and the first £15 of both electricity and oil-CH are INCLUDED in the rental. Up to two well behaved dogs are welcome by arrangement. Smoking is not permitted in the cottage. Water is from a private source.
