Self catering
Self-catering holiday cottage rental accommodation
in the wilds of the Scottish Border Country
- a remote retreat. Sleeps 6-7
The Roughley Cottage
Near Newcastleton
Roxburghshire,
Southern Scotland
"53 different species of birds spotted in one week in May!"
A traditional Victorian shepherd's cottage available as a self catering holiday cottage rental, high up and facing south with a wonderful view of Hermitage Castle in and a open outlook over the hills and valleys of the Hermitage Water and Liddesdale.
Six miles from the village and a further mile from the farm up a rough but accessible track. Utter privacy and seclusion. Solar panels and a small windmill provide just enough power for LED lights in old gaslamps. There's an open fire in the sitting room and central heating run from a stove.
The Roughley has a wild beauty in Winter when migrating wildfowl settle on the loch and woodcock shelter in the woods. Until recently it was not available to rent in winter, but now with central heating it is, and would make a unique and challenging retreat for the hardy and adventurous.
In Summer it is idyllic: long summer evenings, skylarks, boating on the loch, tiny wildflowers, big skies and endless space. You could almost be in another time.
Liddesdale is part of the 11 percent left in the UK where there is no light pollution in the night sky - so bring your telescope - and watch the stars - though beware of long light summer evenings and clouds!
Accommodation:
The cottage itself has been sensitively restored. The old kitchen with its original Victorian cast iron range and bread oven has been preserved and is now the sitting room. Don't expect everything to be new. The kitchen is basic but functional and the whole house is newly decorated.
There's plenty of local history and poetry to read by the fire in the evening quiet. One visitor, a writer, found the sense of peace so profound and the atmosphere so elevating that he completed a book while staying here.
- Sitting room/dining room with open range fire.
- Kitchen, Larder
- Bathroom and w.c.
- Three double bedrooms, one with a double bed, the other two with twin beds, and an extra bed in a traditional shepherd's box-bed space half way up the stairs.
- A travel cot is provided.
Roughley Cottage has a modern gas cooker, electric fridge and LED lighting. There is an open fire in the sitting room and the downstairs double bedroom has a multi-fuel boiler in the fireplace which heats the radiators in the other bedrooms.
Pillows and duvets (one per bed) are provided. You may either bring your own sheets towels and pillowcases OR you may hire them.
View of the Loch from upstairs
Please note:
- No telephone or television. Electricity insufficient for appliances.
- 75 yards behind the house is a ravine which could be a hazard for small children.
- There is a small enclosed garden in front of the house.
- This is a working farm and visitors, children especially, have always been welcome to take an interest in what's going on.
- Very well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Walking: The Roughley Cottage, is on a large hill farm and the owners, Toby and Emma Tennant, are only too happy (provided of course that you respect the interests of the farm) that you roam over its ancient drove-roads in order to get to such places as Nine Stane Rig, where there's a Celtic stone circle, or Bloody Bush, the remote and forgotten boundary toll, or across the valley to Hazelyside Rig, Black Bogs or Crossbow Hill. Hermitage Castle lies in the valley below.
Wildlife and Fishing on the Roughley Loch:
Fishing is available on the loch by arrangement. A few yards from the house (right) is a well-stocked (brown trout) private loch, and a boat house with a rowing boat. Brown trout from 1lb - 3 lbs may be caught on a fly.
Wildlife abounds in this unspoilt landscape; a visitor's note in the cottage log-book records 53 species of birds seen in one week in June.
Tariff:
Prices range from about £310 to about £574 per week.
For up-to-date availability and online booking please see:
Availability and Bookings for Roughley Cottage (- opens a new tab in your browser)
Linen is NOT included. Linen can be hired for £15 per double bed and £10 per single bed.
All fuel, ie. gas, coal and anthracite, is NOT included in the price. Please ask the agency for exact details.
Fishing is £40 per rod per week.
To enquire or to book:
Please use
Emma and Toby Tennants' agents at:
Availability and Bookings for Roughley Cottage. (- opens a new tab in your browser)
email: enquiries@nccc-ltd.co.uk
Tel: 01665 830783
or 01665 830902
Fax: 01665 830071
or from outside the UK:
Tel: 44 1665 830783
or 44 1665 830902
Fax: 44 1665 830071
Right;
The Roughley, the loch and the hills of Liddesdale.
See this other Tennant cottage in the Scottish Borders (map below).
Kirknowe.
The Scottish Borders
The Roughley is an ideal base from which to explore the magnificent country and many historic towns and buildings of the Borders:
Hermitage Castle (visible from The Roughley)
see Hermitage Castle page
Newcastleton, 6 miles with shops, tennis courts, pubs and two restaurants.
Hawick, 15miles. Centre of the knitwear industry. Museums and many mill shops.
Langholm, 15 miles. Many tweed mills and shops.
Jedburgh, 20 miles. Queen Mary's House,
Abbey, and interesting shops.
Carlisle, 30 miles. Excellent shopping centre. Railway station; Inter-city trains 4 hours from London.
Edinburgh, 70 miles via A7 or A68.
London, 350 miles, 6 hours drive via M6 to Carlisle.
Houses open to the public within driving distance include: Cragside and Wallington in Northumberland, and Bowhill and Floors Castle in Roxburghshire.
Emma Tennant makes traditional rag rugs. This one is in a bedroom upstairs.
About Scotland
photography design john boyd-brent -