Inspiration

Our favourite dog-friendly cottages in the Scottish Borders

Guest Expert

5 min read

The emerald fields, verdant hills and rippling Tweed River in the Borders are a delight to explore with your dog in tow. Once the land of the reivers, when fierce clans of brigands waged war and terrorised rival clans, it’s now a genteel sort of place with charming villages and towns to visit, a rich mix of magnificent abbey ruins and ancient castles, grand country houses and bountiful gardens. Just south of Melrose, the Eildon Hills rolling triple-peak is an iconic sight with a range of walks to suit all levels, The Borders Abbey Way links a quartet of abbeys and St Cuthbert’s Way ribbons all the way to Lindisfarne. After all that walking you’ll need a comfortable place to stay so we’ve rounded up a handful of the best dog-friendly holiday cottages where your dog's welcome will be just as enthusiastic as yours.

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The Potting Shed

This is a cosy hideaway for two plus a dog (welcome at no extra cost), surrounded by woods and wildflower meadows. Find a generous basket of home-baked bread, jam, granola and eggs from the hens when available. It’s cosy next to the wood burner with board games or a book, or you can sit out on your deck overlooking the River Leader – have a barbecue in the enclosed garden or stroll 20 minutes through woods to Earlston for cafes and pubs. It’s paradise here for outdoor lovers, walking routes leave from your door and you can fish on the River Tweed. Explore the great houses, abbeys and castles of the Scottish Borders.

Owner Kate: Surrounded by woodland walks and a river at the bottom of the garden to jump into. Dog heaven, just please don’t eat the free-range chickens!

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Riverside Cabin

A charming open-plan cabin with a wildflower-strewn garden and river for swimming, splashing or fishing. The dining/sitting room has a big table and benches, games, books, an open fire with logs and a drinks sideboard. A very comfortable place to be on a chilly day or, in summer, with the french doors open to the loggia overlooking the water. Your dog will be delighted that you can stride out from the door on stunning walks in the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys through woodland, hills and wild moorland. You can also walk to a nice old-fashioned pub for decent grub and a pint. Return to the garden and the chance to spot kingfishers and red squirrels.

Owner Louisa: Grab a proper artisan roast coffee in the Three Hills in Selkirk and if you’re keen, book a session to learn about the art of the true roast.

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Laundry Cottage in the Borders

This is a charming comfy cottage with a wood burner (first basket of logs free), delicious hilly views and glorious walks to get tails wagging straight from the door. Inside it’s a friendly space: whip up meals in the neat kitchen (delightful owners leave cake and bubbles for your arrival), dine at the farmhouse table, unbend on squashy sofas in front of the fire. If you fancy a night off cooking, it’s a stroll to the pub for good grub and a pint. Outside there’s a terrace for barbecues, a wildflower meadow, and a pond teeming with wildlife. After all that fresh air you’ll sleep like a log in calm, uncluttered ground floor bedrooms with deep windows framing more long views.

Owner Louisa: Off-road walks with miles of tracks and hills to explore from the doorstep, but watch out for sheep. Ettrick Water (salmon river) for splashing and swimming.

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Fiddle Hill

A clever new build in a stunning setting, it’s cosy inside with high insulation, underfloor heating and a wood burning stove, so whatever the weather hurls at the windows you’ll feel warm as toast. The kitchen is equipped for serious cooks and owner Sukie leaves you scones, bread, homemade jam and marmalade and a bottle of wine. You can also buy meat and eggs from the owners and fresh seasonal produce from their polytunnel and croft. Double height windows allow light to flood in and as evening falls, light the fire pit on the decking and watch the stars come out. By day strike out in any direction straight from the door, climb the Eildon Hills, join the Borders Abbey Way. Your dog will be in heaven.

Owners Sukie & Bill: Walks from the door in every direction and electric bikes to borrow. The ponds are great for wildlife right in front of the cottage: deer, foxes, badgers, hares, owls.

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Mulberry Cottage

A warm, quirkily classy Borders cottage with village green views. Sit out in the sheltered garden on balmy days or walk St Cuthbert’s Way. Light the wood burner, let your dog get cosy, and settle on the velvet sofa for an evening’s reading or chatting, then sleep soundly in seriously comfortable beds. There’s all the kit and space you need to rustle-up meals from fine local produce; Melrose and St Boswell’s have excellent butchers and shops for cheeses, fresh game and Tweed-fresh salmon. If you’re eating out try Provender in Melrose. Local cycling, running and walking trails take in Bowden Moor and the Eildon Hills’ three peaks. Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford, Dryburgh and Floors Castle are ‘must visits’ too.

Owners Pete & Posy: Visit award-winning Mainstreet Trading Company bookshop in nearby St Boswells. You can walk to The Eildon Hills from your door.

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Thirlestane Castle

Stay in one of five beautiful suites in the south wing of a fairy tale castle, or make up a bigger party and take the lot. Downstairs is a convivial area with a large log burner, comfy seating and ping pong, plus a big dining room. Each suite has its own kitchen and comfortable living area. Soak up all the grandeur, fine architectural features and family history. On hazy summer days you’ll drink Pimms and play croquet, in winter you’ll take long walks with your dog into the Lammermuir Hills before coming back for a warming soak in your opulent bathroom. It’s less than a mile through parkland into Lauder for The Spotty Dog Delicatessen, Flat Cat Gallery, a food shop and greengrocer. The Black Bull is a good gastro pub if you fancy eating out.

Owners Edward & Sarah: Doggy biscuits part of the welcome pack and there’s a communal boot room for drying off muddy paws before entering the apartments.

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Carmen McCormack

Guest Expert

Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.

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