Courtyard Cottage Smailholm

Courtyard Cottage is one of two on the Mellerstain estate. It's a stone converted building, not grand but solid and comfortable. You've got the run of the grounds here, which is the main draw. It's 200 acres of parkland around Mellerstain House. You can walk through it all. The Italian gardens are special, you get a great view from the terraces.

It sleeps six. Three bedrooms, all with their own bathroom which is handy. The rating is 4 Star. It's well equipped and clean. The layout is open plan downstairs.

You're in Smailholm, in the Borders. It's quiet. The nearest shop and pub are about three and a half miles away in Gordon. Kelso is six miles for more shops and eating places. Edinburgh is 35 miles by car, so you can get there in under an hour if you fancy a city day.

The place has a washing machine, dishwasher, WiFi, and parking right outside. Bedding and towels are included. There's a cot if you need one. You can bring up to two dogs.

There's a coffee shop in the courtyard on days when the house is open. They do good home baking.

For local walks and history, the Borders are full of it. You're close to Kelso for Floors Castle. The coast at Berwick-upon-Tweed and Holy Island is about a 40 minute drive. For planning, the Visit Scotland Borders page is useful, and the National Trust for Scotland page for Mellerstain has details about the house and gardens.