Entire home

Historic, homely village retreat with log fires, in stunning Borders. Sleeps 4/6

Photo gallery for Historic, homely village retreat with log fires, in stunning Borders. Sleeps 4/6

Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Property grounds
Exterior
2 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, travel crib, free WiFi
TV, fireplace, DVD player, books
Reviews
10

Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly
  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Allanton, Scotland
  • Popular LocationPaxton House8 min drive
  • Popular LocationOld Bridge13 min drive
  • Popular LocationChain Bridge Honey Farm14 min drive
  • AirportEdinburgh (EDI)82 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Historic, homely village retreat with log fires, in stunning Borders. Sleeps 4/6

The Cottage

Purves Cottage is a prominent and historic building, in Allanton, formerly a successful Tailor's business, one of many in the village back in the early 1900's, which has now been lovingly converted to a delightful spacious holiday cottage. It is in perfect location for walks or fishing on the Whiteadder and Blackadder rivers at Allanton (just 100m from the cottage) and nearby on the Tweed in various locations throughout the borders.

Clean, friendly dogs and well-behaved kids most welcome ;-)

HEATING: The house has central heating throughout and a store of coal & logs for the fires ready for the colder months.

BEDS: There are 3-4 beds available.
2 bedrooms; one upstairs and one downstairs.
The bedroom downstairs has a king size bed. It also has a day-bed which is set up as 2 singles between the two bedrooms but can be used as another double (although if used as a double, it will be a tight squeeze in this room). Drawers and wardrobe storage are provided in this room also.

The upstairs bedroom has a double bed and walk in closet storage, with skylight roof window to the rear looking out over gardens and the fields beyond.

BATHROOM: is located on the ground floor.

UTILITIES: There is a washing machine in the utility room along with iron and ironing board. There is no tumble dryer.

OTHER: We have provided a selection of items should it be a rainy day and you want to chill inside. Books, board games, cards and a selection of DVDs are available.

GARDEN: There is an enclosed garden out to the rear by the parking area looking out over the field with BBQ facilities, table and chairs and a whirligig washing line should you need it. There is a log store here too. There is a water hose fitted outside if you want to wash dogs from a muddy walk!

NEARBY: In the village itself is The Allanton Inn pub & hotel, an award-winning establishment with fully stocked bar and excellent dining.

They have a number of events each year including a summer Beer Festival and Garden Party (June). And just 100m up the street it's not far to stumble home after a tipple or two. William & Katrina serve real ales changed weekly, over 40 gins, a great selection of wines and fabulous food. They have a beer garden to the rear and dogs are welcome here too. On sunny days you can dine alfresco in the pretty garden looking out over the fields towards the coast.

There is play-park further up the village for young children, and you have access to some of the most beautiful countryside and riverside walks.

The cottage is perfectly located to enjoy an abundance of sights, places to visit, attractions and activities for all tastes including amazing walks, golf, fishing, shooting, cycle routes and surfing. St Abbs and Coldingham on the coast a few miles away are excellent for surfing, sea-kayaking and diving.

There are a number of historic houses and castles nearby such as Manderston, Thirlestaine, Mellerstain and Floors Castle all a short drive away throughout the Borders.

Alnwick Castle & Gardens (Harry Potter fame!) is a short drive down the A1, as is Bamburgh Castle on the fantastic Northumberland coast. You can take a drive down the coast through a number of pretty coastal villages and towns.

Holy Island or Lindisfarne (featured in TV series Vikings) is a real treat to visit with lovely local shops selling gifts, art and ice-cream, Lindisfarne Castle and beautiful historic Priory to walk around. Holy Island is cut off twice-daily from the rest of the world by fast-moving tides which cover over the causeway road to and from the island - so be sure to check the crossing times or you'll be stranded!

Guest access

Wifi.
Garden with BBQ and water hose for dogs.
Parking off-street for 2 cars max.

Interaction with guests

If there is anything you need during your stay that you need or feel you are missing, we, the owners Sally & Ian, live next door so please just contact us.

Other things to note

There are take-aways available nearby, but none that deliver to Allanton. If you are desperate for takeaway but cannot drive, you could book a taxi to pick up the food from the takeaway, but it's an expensive way to have a quick meal! Has been done before though...

Property manager

Sally Black

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach loungers

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Ice maker
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Stovetop
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room
  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Video library

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Firepit
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming cats and dogs only
  • 3 pets total

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In a rural location
  • In a village
  • Near the bay

Things to do

  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Scuba diving nearby
  • Surfing/bodyboarding nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • 1 unit
  • Garden

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM

Check-out

Check-out before 10:30 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
3 total pets
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Note from host: Well behaved dogs are allowed.

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 10
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Property Registration Number SLL000235

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Duns

Located in Duns, this vacation home is in a rural area. Manderston House and Paxton House are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Duns Castle Nature Reserve and St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve. Traveling with kids? Consider Eyemouth Maritime Centre, or check out an event or a game at Shielfield Park. Scuba diving and windsurfing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and mountain biking nearby.

What's nearby

  • Paxton House - 8 min drive
  • Norham Castle - 10 min drive
  • Berwick-upon-Tweed Town Hall - 13 min drive
  • Old Bridge - 13 min drive
  • Chain Bridge Honey Farm - 14 min drive

Getting around

  • Reston Train Station - 17 min drive
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 83 min drive

Restaurants

  • Hemelvaart Bier Cafe - 9 min drive
  • The Cross Inn - 7 min drive
  • The Masons Arms - 9 min drive
  • The Craw Inn - 7 min drive
  • Border Baguettes - 9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic, homely village retreat with log fires, in stunning Borders. Sleeps 4/6 pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 3 total).

What time is check-in at Historic, homely village retreat with log fires, in stunning Borders. Sleeps 4/6?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic, homely village retreat with log fires, in stunning Borders. Sleeps 4/6?

Check-out is at 10:30 AM.

Where is Historic, homely village retreat with log fires, in stunning Borders. Sleeps 4/6 located?

This family-friendly Duns vacation home is located in a rural location, 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from Whitsome Ark, and within 6 mi (10 km) of The Jim Clark Room and Manderston House. Eyemouth Maritime Centre and Eyemouth Museum are also within 9 mi (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 11 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 11 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Richard B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Charming, characterful cottage
A lovely, warm cottage with spacious bedrooms, fabulous bathroom, and cracking kitchen. Equipped to a high standard, with a great pub serving wonderful food just up the road. Highly recommend for a peaceful break in the Borders.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Bethanie C., Coalville Leicestershire

Liked: Cleanliness
Stunning and Memorable Stay
This cottage was perfect in every way; the decor, facilities and location. Check in was simple and Sally was a lovely host who left a nice touch with the welcome pack! The cottage is literally our dream home in many ways, it was really comfortable and cosy. More than well equipped too. It was an unforgettable holiday and my boyfriend even got on one knee by the beautiful fireplace! So thank you for a wonderful stay, we can’t wait to book in again!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rob O.

Liked: Cleanliness
April 2022
We had a great time at this cottage. The pictures don’t do it justice. The bathroom is modern and huge. The owner provided a high chair and travel cot upon our request so it couldn’t have been any easier for us. We ate at the Allanton Inn which we would recommend. We will definitely stay here again if we were visiting the area.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rob P., Hessle, United Kingdom

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful cottage, the pictures don’t do it justice
Stayed here for a long weekend and fitted loads in. Ideally placed for easy access to Edinburgh and other locate landmarks. Allanton Inn just up the road serves lovely food. The cottage is large and spacious and of a high standard. It joy to stay in. Thanks again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sian M.

Liked: Cleanliness
The Perfect Getaway
Purves Cottage is the perfect location to explore the Borders and Northumberland coast from. The cottage itself is fabulous and has everything you could wish for in a rental property. It’s extremely spacious and the beds are super comfortable after a day spent exploring. Everything in the cottage was spotless and I especially loved the soft, fluffy bath towels! Communication with Sally was quick and easy and she answered all our questions promptly. We left it too late to book a table on the Saturday night at The Allanton Inn but we had an amazing meal at The Cross at Paxton a few miles down the road and I can’t recommend the food or the staff highly enough. A visit to Lindisfarne is a must but make sure you check the times of the tides before you go!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Allanton stay
Beautiful property, very clean, very quiet, perfect placement between surrounding towns. Big garden which was perfect for our dog. We had a lovely time and would recommend staying here to anyone.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Karen T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Comfortable & well equipped
Lovely comfortable & well equipped cottage. Loved spending the evenings in front of the coal fire after long walks along the nearby coast before retiring into the super comfy bed. The shower has good pressure and plenty of hot water. The kitchen is fully equipped with everything required.

10/10 Excellent

Craig S., Dundee, UK

Liked: Cleanliness
Nice semi rural retreat in spacious property
We had very poor weather during our holiday and the cottage bail us out with space and good quality games and equipment for the users .Great bathroom with stand alone bath caused a queue ! Book nearby Bob for a meal well worth it
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Maureen S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Late summer break.
We had a lovely week, highlights were a RIB trip to St Abbs with a walk back to Eyemouth, a day by train in Edinburgh and two lovely meals at the Allanton Inn and the Cross at Paxton. The walk along the Tweed at Norham was also enjoyable.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jenny L., Huddersfield

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect Christmas getaway!
The cottage is extremely spacious, absolutely brilliant for us - we went with my parents, our baby and dog. Incredibly comfortable, the sofa was huge and the beds were difficult to leave they were so cosy. Well equipped for families and dog owners. It was wonderfully clean, every attention to detail had been made so that our stay was fantastic over the Christmas period. Lovely decorations and enough seating for 9 as we had family over on Christmas Eve which Sally sorted out beforehand, what a star! Would recommended to anyone and we will be back ☺️.