Vacation Rentals by Owner

Country House Set in Own Grounds [#462954ha] | View Property

Hawick
5 large bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, fully fitted kitchen
£121 - £271 per night (GBP)
Write a Review

Traveler Reviews (18)

• Great weeks holiday

  Great weeks holiday

  • Guest Angela H.
  • Date of stay 08/25/12
  • Review Submitted 09/05/12
  What a perfect property for exploring the Scottish Borders from. Seven of us, two adults and five children, had a great week staying at the cottage. The weather was mixed, rain in the morning with the sun out before lunch time, giving us plenty of time to explore the area. The cottage had everything you could possibly think of, very well stocked with all the equipment you could possibly need in the kitchen. All 5 of the bedrooms are a good size and very comfortable and the en-suite bathroom is enormous. Whilst there is a formal dining room within the property we used the more comfortable table in the conservatory which is much closer to the kitchen. We spent loads of time in this area of the house, a great place to sit as a family playing cards and for the kids to sit quietly on their DSs. Of an evening we used the smaller, cosier living room watching DVDs with a roaring fire going. The property has a huge garden, regularly called the forest by our youngest niece, which was constantly buzzing with birds using the bird feeders which we kept filled including a couple of woodpeckers. There are areas to sit within the garden and a BBQ is provided for anyone wishing to dine alfresco. We had a great time, loved the cottage and it's location and would recommend it to anyone. There are plenty of places to visit without spending too long in the car including Northumberland, the scenery on the journeys in all directions is simply stunning. The cottage is in perfect condition, very clean and, as said earlier, very well equipped. The family who own it are very lucky indeed and were helpful from the initial 'phone call to enquire about availability and cost to the very last day of our holiday as we waved goodbye.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Perfect in every way

  Perfect in every way

  • Guest Gill B.
  • Date of stay 08/04/12
  • Review Submitted 08/16/12
  I booked this property to celebrate my husband's 60th birthday and I am so pleased I did. Big enough for 10 adults to be together or find their own space and beautiful grounds to explore - perfect for 2 small visitors who arrived for the day. The secret castle was a great hit as was the adventure playground at Bowhill house not far away. A perfectly relaxing time was had by all and so much better than staying in a hotel. Brilliant!!!

  Owner response: We are glad you all had a great time at Branxholm Knowe. It's always lovely to hear that a large family party enjoyed the house and felt they had plenty of space. Our two children (aged 7 and 5) also love the grounds and spend hours messing around in the woods reluctantly returning when dinner is ready! Thanks for your kind comments and we hope you choose to return. Ian and Sally Dowling

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• a week to always remember

  a week to always remember

  • Guest nadine p.
  • Date of stay 07/14/12
  • Review Submitted 07/24/12
  on arrival isobel was there to meet us and show us around, we found the property very spacious and just what we needed as me and my husband were celebrating our 25th (silver wedding anniversary) with all the family, we spent most of our time in the conservatory and in the gardens which was beutifull we also had a lovely family barbecue which although the weather was rainy at times we managed as the area is undercover. the house was nice and clean and so were the beds, i would recommend this property to a freind, some us went bowling in hawick and found the people on the bowling green so freindly, some of us went horse riding at dryden riding school, a lovely place to stay and also i recommend a trip to the johnny armstrong gold and silver smiths where we had our new wedding rings made also we had a lovely chinese at jjs in hawick we had to pick it up as they could not find the house, but was really nice and good value for money i left a menu in the house. many thanks to ian whom allowed us to bring our 3 dogs. a week i will always remember, and thank you to isobel who is very sweet.

  Owner response: I am glad you all enjoyed Branxholm Knowe and had a good holiday in the Scottish Borders. Thanks for your comments on the garden - our gardener and Isobel will be pleased! They put a lot of effort into the garden and surrounding woodland area. We hope to see you return to Branxholm soon! Ian

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Fab week despite weather

  Fab week despite weather

  • Guest Maggie N.
  • Date of stay 06/30/12
  • Review Submitted 08/14/12
  Despite a pretty wet week, we were very comfortable in the house; lots of space for people to spread (conservatory the favourite), very comfy beds, plenty of towels, good showers and a well supplied kitchen. More like a home than a holiday rental. sheltered from road by trees, very private, while the partly wooded grounds were great for kids and OAPs to explore. The surrounding area was much more interesting than we expected, Hawick itself (lovely butcher's!) and places nearby. Huge park to wander round. Can thoroughly recommend Branxholm Howe.

  Owner response: We are glad you had a great week at Branxholm Knowe. It is amazing how many people are surprised at the natural beauty of the Borders and in particular, the area surrounding Hawick. There really is plenty to do and see, making it an ideal family destination. Hope to see you again! Ian and Sally Dowling

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Al's 40th Birthday retreat

  Al's 40th Birthday retreat

  • Guest Alistair H.
  • Date of stay 06/09/12
  • Review Submitted 06/27/12
  We had a wonderful week staying at Branxholme Knowe. The house had everything we needed and the grounds were beautiful. My one year old son loved exploring the gardens and as the main areas were gravel, he was out in all types of weather. Apart from sleeping, we lived in the kitchen and huge conservatory. The house was equiped to a high standard and a cot and childrens toys were a bonus. Even though there were ten of us staying, we never felt crowded. We would recommend this property to anyone to stay in.

  Owner response: Many thanks for your kind comments and we are glad you enjoyed your week at Branxholm Knowe. We have our first wedding (we have a civil ceremony licence) next month which is taking place in the much favoured conservatory so we eagerly await feedback! We hope to see you again at Branxholm Knowe!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Great location, and a great house.

  Great location, and a great house.

  • Guest Andrew T.
  • Date of stay 04/28/12
  • Review Submitted 05/10/12
  Had a great time in this lovely house. Homely and well looked after property in a beautiful location. The area has walking, mountain biking and other outdoor activities. Amenities close by, if you can pull yourself away from the comfort of the house. Would be more than happy to go back.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Excellent Property - Highly Recommended

  Excellent Property - Highly Recommended

  • Guest John P.
  • Date of stay 04/21/12
  • Review Submitted 05/02/12
  We have just returned from a very enjoyable stay at Branxholm Knowe. This is an ideal property for a family get-together being very spacious and suitably equipped for at least 10 people. The house was spotless and well maintained and the garden and grounds were great, not just for the adults and children but also the 2 dogs that we had with us. The huge conservatory was an added bonus and seemed to be the place where everyone congregated and its wood burning stove was easily lit and maintained on the couple of cold, damp days we experienced. The area is a beautiful, often overlooked, part of the country with several interesting towns within easy reach, would recommend Kelso, Melrose, Jedburg, Peebles and Moffat and even Edinburgh approximately 50 miles away is easily 'doable' as a day trip. Hawick with all its services is about 3 miles down the road and is a pleasant working town most noticeable for its cashmere outlets (excellent quality, though not cheap!) We also enjoyed a day at Kielder Water indulging in a little, light cycling! The owners were very friendly and co-operative and bent over backwards to accommodate us (we had to postpone for a while due to a family illness) and their communication skills couldn't have been bettered. All in all an excellent property and service which none of us would hesitate to recommend!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Easter Break 2012

  Easter Break 2012

  • Guest Lesley W.
  • Date of stay 04/07/12
  • Review Submitted 05/12/12
  Our extended family (6 adults, 3 children) spent a lovely relaxing week in this beautiful property. Set off the main road under 10 mins to Hawick in its own elevated grounds, surrounded by woodland, the house did not disappoint. A warm welcome greeted us from the owner, who showed us round the house and explained how the wood burner etc worked. Our request for baking utensils had also kindly been especially added to the house, which was greatly appreciated. All the bedrooms were clean, spacious and cosy; plenty of bathrooms for everyone; the lounge and conservatory great for relaxing and allowing everyone to do their own thing or all have some fun together. The kitchen is well laid out with all the essential items and the additional fridge/freezer is great with such a large party. There is also a beautiful large dining room off the hallway, however we preferred less formal eating together in the conservatory, where there is a table which could seat all 9 of us, as well as comfy sofas and chairs leading out to the lovely patio with picnic seating, BBQ and a paddock, where we rolled our eggs on Easter Monday! The only shortfall was the lack of a tumbledryer in the utility room. We had thought there was one in the house, but could not find it when we looked. There is a washing line at the far side of the stables/garden area and an indoor dryer stand but as the weather was not the best a tumbledryer would have been handy. We were familiar with the area, having stayed in the Borders for the Easter week in different locations over the last 3 years. The house is very close to Hawick, which has a large Morrison's and now also a Sainsbury's as well as local shops in the town. Down the road is the beautiful Wilton Lodge Park, where we played cricket and rounders in one of the many playing fields, pitch and putt golf,went to the children's playground and enjoyed long walks in the beautiful surroundings. An hour's drive east takes you out to Jedburgh and Coldstream, with lovely coffee houses, hotel/pub/bars, and another hour on to Northumberland and the delights of Lindisfarne or Alnwick Castle and Gardens. Branxholme Knowle is a beautiful property which we would definitely recommend as an ideal base for a family break.

  Owner response: Dear Lesley, Thank you for your kind words about Branxholm Knowe and I am glad you had a super week. By the sounds of it you all had a very busy time and made the most of the fabulous Scottish Borders. Apologies and thanks for highlighting the lack of a tumble dryer - we renovated the utility area last year adding a bathroom, and the tumble dryer I must admit got overlooked. This is something we will look into. Finally, we hope to welcome you back soon! Kind regards, Ian

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• What a lovely house !!!

  What a lovely house !!!

  • Guest anne c.
  • Date of stay 03/02/12
  • Review Submitted 03/12/12
  We stayed at Branxholm Knowe for a week and had an amazing time. We were welcomed by Isabel, who is such a lovely person. She took her time to show us around and was very sweet and helpful. The house is a very welcoming and lovely place and we were all in awe of how spacious and modern it is inside. It holds everything you need for a relaxing and wonderful vacation. The original features of the house are great as well as the big, big garden with so many different birds bringing colour to it. All the rooms in the house are just beautiful...........bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, etc. Whe spent many hours around the fireplace in the gardenroom, chatting, playing games, just enjoying being in such a great place and felt we wanted to stay much longer that a week. We feel spoiled rotten and we have no choice but to come back ;-) !! Thank you for a lovely time !!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• An fantastic and well upkept traditional house

  An fantastic and well upkept traditional house

  • Guest Henry W.
  • Date of stay 09/25/11
  • Review Submitted 10/05/11
  We booked the house quite late and couldn't have been happier with it. It is a traditional old house set in own woods on the side of hill. Plenty of room both inside and out. The conservatory is a fantastic space which we spent most of our time in. The house isn't overlooked and you get a great sense of getting away from it all.

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners.

  Owner response: Many thanks Henry - we are glad you enjoyed your stay and look forward to your return. Interestingly, we have now added floor plans to our website so guests can fully appreciate the space the house has to offer.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Our stay at Branxholm Knowe

  Our stay at Branxholm Knowe

  • Guest jenny
  • Date of stay 06/11/11
  • Review Submitted 06/21/11
  We stayed at Branxholm in June 2011, and would thoroughly recommend this as a lovely place to holiday. It is centrally placed, and an ideal base for travelling to other border towns. Although close to the A7, there was minimal road noise, and at night, it was absolutely silent. The house itself is very beautiful, with lots of period features, but all mod cons as well. The conservatory is an absolute joy, with lovely views of the garden, with lots of birds, particularly nut hatches, coming to visit. In fact, the only rooms we really used downstairs were the conservatory and the well appointed kitchen.The beds are very comfortable - most important after a hard days enjoyment. We visited the Newmill Pub/restaurant just up the road twice. We were made to feel very welcome, food was good and reasonably priced. We also found a good fish and chip shop in Hawick, but definitely not Geno's! We also had a good meal at the Mansfield Hotel in Hawick, although the service was somewhat spasmodic - good to begin with, then fell apart just before the dessert. I t was very convenient having Morrisons and Sainsburys only three miles away for shopping and petrol. We enjoyed visiting the towns of Jedburg, Kelso, and Melrose in particular - a wonderful butchers, craft shop and fabric shop here, all worthy of a visit. We would certainly recommend this property to a friend or relative, secure in the knowledge that they would not be disappointed with it. We shall certainly return here again when next we visit the borders.

  Recommended for: People with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing.

  Owner response: Thank you for your positive comments about our home and we hope you visit us again. It is interesting how the conservatory/garden room is always a hit with guests. From simply watching the birds in the garden to hosting a family gathering or small wedding party this part of the house repeatedly scores top marks with our guests! We like it ourselves having hosted a party for 40 a few years back!

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Lovely family home

  Lovely family home

  • Guest Rob
  • Date of stay 05/14/11
  • Review Submitted 06/13/11
  We had a super week on the Scotish border in this lovely family home. Plenty of room for the children to run around. Clean and well appointed. Couldn't of wanted more from the house. 5 minutes drive from large town with plenty of shops and things to do. Thank you

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Hutchinson, Walker and Stewart Party

  Hutchinson, Walker and Stewart Party

  • Guest Suzy
  • Date of stay 04/16/11
  • Review Submitted 04/29/11
  Our stay at Braxholme Knowe was excellent. The house was stunning and spacious even for 9 adults and 5 children (ranging from 5 months to 6 years). Ian and Isobel were very accomodating, with Ian answering any questions we had prior to our stay very promptly. The house was spotless and well maintained by Isobel but still felt very homely. We decided to bring all our own food and the kitchen was very well stocked with crockery, pots and pans for all our catering needs. The dining room table also comfortably seated all 13 of us. We were very lucky with the weather during our stay and the children certainly made the most of the garden. It was the perfect setting for our easter egg hunt which went down very well with the adults and children alike. We had a very busy few days in the Scottish Borders and couldn't believe how beautiful it was. We would recommend a trip to Traquair House for the beautiful drive alone. it was a wonderful place for our picnic with the maze and gardens perfect for the kids to expend some energy. The brewery was a bonus for the adults. We also went to East Links Family Park which was fantastic for everyone with animals, pony rides, fantastic play equipment, go karts and trampolines! We would all have no hesitation in recommending Braxholme Knowe to friends and family and we would love to return in the future. Thanks to Ian and Isobel for making the stay so wonderful!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• A beautiful country house

  A beautiful country house

  • Guest sam
  • Date of stay 10/30/10
  • Review Submitted 04/08/11
  What a fantastic week we had at Branxholme. Not only did the house surpass our expectations, but there was plenty to do in the area too. The house was well equiped, clean, with plenty of space and a lovely garden. The bedrooms were huge, and the new bathroom was lovely The kitchen was ideal for cooking family dinners, and the conservatory with the wood burning stove was lovely and cosy at the end of a busy day. We particularly enjoyed visiting Kelso, and Rock UK. It would have been nice to have a pub or bar near by, but the nearest one was only open at the weekend. We had a fabulous holiday and have already booked a return visit with friends.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/1

• What a Fab place to Stay!!!

  What a Fab place to Stay!!!

  • Guest Corrine
  • Date of stay 10/10/10
  • Review Submitted 11/10/10
  We had a great holiday in your lovely home. Very spacious, at times you wouldn`t even have known the children were there. 7 kids and 3 mums what a blast! Great dining room as well seats 13 I think (it was just like Christmas). Kitchen had everything you need and the conservatory was amazing especially with the wood burner stove. We had 3 six year olds, a 9 year old, 12 year old, 14 and 15 year old and they all loved it. We will definitely be back. From Corrine,Friends and Family.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/3

• graet holiday

  graet holiday

  • Guest sue
  • Date of stay 08/14/10
  • Review Submitted 09/07/10
  Had a fantastic holiday with my family this August excellent accommadation, really good facillities.Ideal with the two dogs(secure garden area). Excellent location for sight seeing.Thanks very much Ian and Isobel,we will be back.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• A superb property

  Guest comment entered by owner

  A superb property

  • Guest Jeff Howland, Isle of Man
  • Date of stay 06/12/10
  • Review Submitted 09/06/10
  Thank you for a great week at Branxholm Knowe. The house is fantastic for a family holiday and our three young children loved exploring the grounds surrounding the house. The size of the property ensured that we all had plenty of space and we particularly enjoyed the garden room where we seemed to spend the week! An added bonus was the weather. We will be back.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

• Lovely house in an area of stunning beauty

  Lovely house in an area of stunning beauty

  • Guest RichardH
  • Date of stay 12/23/05
  • Review Submitted 09/06/10
  A great base to explore the Borders area from. Very comfortable with all the amenities one would expect from a top notch holiday home, i.e. the things that make it seem like a home from home. The walking in the area is great, and some of the little towns in the area are a delight. The area as a whole is like stepping back in time in the nicest possible way. We had a large family gathering for Christmas here, with extended family here and at a couple of smaller cottages in the area. It had all the space we needed for 20 to sit down to Christmas dinner and the kitchen proved perfect for the catering. The house and area are both heartily recommended.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2