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Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders

Photo gallery for Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders

A stone house with a tiled roof, a chimney, and a window.
A kitchen with a central island, pendant lighting, and a view of the dining area.
A stone building with a slate roof, multiple chimneys, and a stone wall with flowers.
A wooden chair in a lush garden with a stone building in the background.
A cozy living room with a stone fireplace, wooden beams, a sofa, and a television.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Bring your furry friends

    Top-rated for creating memorable stays with your pets.

  • Onsite parking available

    Convenient and secure on-site parking, a rare amenity in the area.

  • A quiet escape

    Guests like the location for the peace and quiet.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 7

Popular amenities

  • Dog-friendly
  • Barbecue grill
  • Electric vehicle charging point
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Off-street parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Duns, Scottish Borders
  • Place, Whitsome Ark
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Manderston House
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Paxton House
    ‪13 min drive‬

Where you'll sleep

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders

Blackadder Mains Cottage is a beautiful and unusual substantial detached house situated 10 miles west of the historic town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Built in 1865 of dressed sandstone with a decorative slate roof and arched upper windows, the property enjoys uninterrupted views of the Cheviot Hill. The house has been listed due to its unusual architectural features and the cottage is tastefully decorated and furnished throughout and has been renovated and upgraded in 2021-2022:
Eco electric underfloor heating throughout from a ground source borehole. New Electric 3 oven Aga. EV charging point. New carpenter made oak back door & French windows. Reclaimed beech flooring throughout - Limestone flagstones in kitchen, utility, hall & WC. Re-wired, plumbed & decorated throughout, including vintage lighting & fittings. Re-roofed using reclaimed vintage slates.

GROUND FLOOR

Sitting room large with beamed ceiling, wood burning stove, open fire, Smart TV, Marshall Bluetooth Speaker, Oak French doors to garden.

Kitchen with Carpenter built solid beech kitchen with solid wood & marble worktops/drainer and a copper sink. Limestone flagged floor with underfloor heating. Beamed ceiling, 3 oven electric Aga cooker, Smeg fridge/freezer; integrated dishwasher, microwave and large antique pine table.

Utility room with teak drainer & Belfast sink. Washing machine.

WC - with vintage 1908 high level cistern & sink with antique taps.

Solid Ash staircase leading to upper landing.

FIRST FLOOR

Bedroom 1 with Antique Victorian king size bed and ornamental fireplace.

Bedroom 2 with Antique iron double bed.

Bedroom 3 with Antique (1885) double brass bed and Antique single brass bed. Ornamental fireplace.

Bathroom with large vintage cast iron bath. Separate shower cubicle with power shower Vintage WC and washbasin.

Half acre cottage garden with borders, vegetable plot and herbs. Oil central heating. All electricity, logs and bed linen, kitchen & hand towels included.

Guests have access to my 5 acre field immediately behind the garden which has an apple orchard and is surrounded by native hedgerows.

Ample private parking.

Only an hour's drive from Scotland's beautiful capital city of Edinburgh.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 10:00 AM

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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

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Events

No events allowed

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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)

Well-behaved dogs - £20

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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:

Start the dishwasher

Strip any used beds

Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish

Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number SB0849F
Property # 1399220
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Duns

Located in Duns, this cottage is in a rural area and by the sea. Manderston House and St Cuthbert's Church are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Hirsel Golf Club and Magdalene Fields Golf Club. Chain Bridge Honey Farm and Home Park are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving and windsurfing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hunting and cycling.
View more Cottages in DunsOpens in a new window
Map
Duns, Scottish Borders

What's nearby

  • Whitsome Ark - 4 min drive - 4.3 km
  • Manderston House - 9 min drive - 6.2 km
  • St Cuthbert's Church - 11 min drive - 11.8 km
  • Norham Castle - 12 min drive - 13.0 km
  • Paxton House - 13 min drive - 12.5 km

Getting around

  • Berwick-Upon-Tweed Station - 21 min drive
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 84 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Masons Arms - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Waterloo Arms - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Wheatsheaf Hotel - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Jim Clark Cafe Bistro - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪The Cross Inn - ‬8 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders?

As of 19 Sept 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders on 26 Sept 2026 start from £954, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Stone Cottage - A Unique Rural Retreat In The Scottish Borders located?

Situated by the sea, this cottage is 2 mi (3.3 km) from Whitsome Ark and within 6 miles (10 km) of Manderston House and The Jim Clark Room. St Cuthbert's Church and Paxton House are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 19 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A beautiful spot and home of great comfort. Every window offers a wonderful view. We appreciated the care and generosity in the furnishings from the huge living room to well-equipped kitchen. The plumbing is surprisingly good for an old house, and shower pressure excellent. Outside, the grounds are big enough to get lost in. There's plenty to do in the Borders area, and plenty of games if the weather is lousy (check out the Marmite jigsaw puzzle). Highly recommended.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept 2026
Thanks for your very kind comments Camille. It was great to meet you and your family and chat about the history of the cottage and places you enjoyed nearby. Hopefully see you again in the Borders sometime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Restful Borders

We really loved staying here. It was beautifully appointed throughout, with so many really attractive features. We loved the garden and the paddock (which was a delight for our dog). We would definitely think about holidaying here again.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Blackadder Mains Cottage

We had a lovely holiday at Blackadder Mains. The accommodation was first class with excellent facilities and a superb garden. Our host Brian could not have been more helpful or friendlier. We will definitely be booking again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jul 2025
Thanks for your very kind comments Wendy. It was such a pleasure to meet you and Angus. Hopefully see you next time. Best wishes, Brian
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

Fantastic garden space for dogs to run about. Thanks.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Jul 2023
So glad you enjoyed your stay. Best wishes, Brian
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Cottage on the Borders

Wonderfully restored cottage with a lovely farmhouse kitchen complete with AGA and a large sitting room with a log stove (and lots of wood!), surrounded by old fashioned gardens. We found the owner very welcoming and helpful. What more could we ask for a relaxing and comfortable stay!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Sept 2024
Thanks so much for your kind comments. It was lovely to meet you both and hopefully see you again at Blackadder sometime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Quirky, comfortable, cozy,

We all had a lovely, relaxing break. The weather could have been kinder and we would have done more but the cottage was a real warm retreat from all the wind, rain and today, snow! A great holiday was had by all six of us; plenty of space for quiet time and family time. We will be back.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2018
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful renovated and fully equipped cottage with great extras

Wonderful cottage, beautifully renovated with great taste. The kitchen with the electric AGA is very comfortabel and inviting, and the living room with a big window stove warm and cosy (with open doors to the garden for warmer seasons). The location was perfect with a short scenic drive to either the beach, the muirs or the Cheviot Hills. Edinburgh is only 1,5 hours away and there’s a good train connnection from Berwick upon Tweed. Paxton House is only a 10 minute drive as is the pub. We had an amazing time in the Borders while staying in this oldfeel but very modern cottage with many thanks to the owner - Brian - for all is help.
Stayed 77 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Feb 2023
Thank you Marisa & Rob for being such wonderful guests. I am so glad you appreciated all the renovations and upgrades. Our aim was to modernise the cottage whilst keeping and enhancing the original character and features that previous guests enjoyed so much. Hope to see you back at Blackadder some time in the future. Very best wishes Brian
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Tranquil Cottage in an ideal location

Myself, my husband and our Dog, Bonnie recently stayed at Brian's cottage for ten days and what a brilliant holiday! The cottage has been so lovingly and carefully restored, the pictures really don’t do it justice. It’s cosy and homely, the kitchen is very well equipped with all the various utensils and pots and pans you could need and the gardens are stunning. Staying in June meant a lot of the garden was in bloom with fruits and veggies starting to ripen and it was a real joy to spend our mornings sat outside with a coffee and again in the evening with a beer. Bonnie in particular loved running around the huge field! The location is fab, very quiet and peaceful and yet only 20 minutes from the beach and 20 mins from Berwick for shops and the supermarket. The Cross Inn is a fab pub approx. 10 mins drive away – although we definitely recommend booking as it gets busy. Overall, we’d definitely recommend Brian’s cottage and we hope to book again for another trip soon.
Stayed 10 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul 2024
Thanks so much for your kind comments Hollie it means a lot after all the work we put into the restoration. It was lovely to meet you both, and Bonnie too. We’ll hopefully see you again at some point in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Überaus freundlicher und zuvorkommender Gastgeber. Das Haus liegt etwas abgelegen und bietet viel Ruhe. Riesiges Grundstück. Ca. 1h Fahrzeit nach Edinburgh, Border Abbeys in 30-60min erreichbar. Supermarkt in Duns. Uneingeschränkt weiterzuempfehlen.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Aug 2026
It was great to meet Florian and he and his family were perfect guests. I accidentally marked him as a 4 for house rules but they are wonderful five star guests who I would happily recommend to all other hosts.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ein wunderschönes Zuhause!

Dieses Haus ist etwas ganz besonderes, wunderschön und liebevollst eingerichtet. Es ist alles da was man braucht und jeden Tag entdeckt man wieder eine neue Besonderheit.Es ist unglaublich gemütlich, wir haben herrlich geschlafen und 2 wunderschöne Wochen verbracht. Der Garten ist umwerfend und auch hier sieht man die große Liebe die in allen Dingen hier steckt. Vielen Dank Brian, es war eine große Freude dich kennen zu lernen und wir hoffen auf ein baldiges Wiedersehen.
Stayed 14 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jun 2023
Thanks so much Eva. It was so nice to meet you and your lovely family. I really appreciate your kind words and I am so glad you had such a special time at Blackadder. Hopefully see you all again before too long, Brian
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Blackadder stay

We loved this cottage, it's well worn and cosy. We loved the location. Our dog loved all the space around attached to it. All in all we had a wonderful stay and would go back tomorrow if we could.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Oct 2020
It was lovely to meet you and your family Margaret. Thanks for leaving the cottage in such good order. Hopefully see you back at Blackadder sometime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Idyllic break in beautiful country cottage

We had a wonderful time at Blackadder Cottage - a genuine home from home, and even better than the photos suggest! The beds were very comfortable indeed, the fire a lovely feature, and the extremely well-equipped kitchen (especially the aga) made cooking a real pleasure. There are lovely walks a short car journey from the house - including those at Paxton House and Duns Castle Estate (there were many more around but we ended up going back to these twice so didn't reach them!). Brian couldn't have been a kinder host and went above and beyond to make our trip a memorable one. Highly recommended :)
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 6 Apr 2020
So glad you enjoyed your time at Blackadder Amelia. It was a pleasure having you all to stay and you left the house beautifully clean and tidy. Hope we’ll see you again one day.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

Absolutely can not recommend this cottage highly enough from start to finish our stay was amazing . Brian was a fantastic host and answered all our queries promptly with detail The cottage was cost and well equipped with beautiful garden and hidden extras set in a fantastic spot for seeing all sorts of sites of interest with the two cost fires to come home to and settle down for the evening on comfy sofas ( beds amazing too ). We loved our stay and wat to hopefully come back soon Thank you
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thanks so much for your very kind comments Sophia. It was a pleasure corresponding with you & we’ll hopefully see you back at Blackadder again some day soon. Best wishes, Brian
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sehr schönes Haus in toller Umgebung

Das Haus hat unsere Erwartungen von den Bildern auf FeWo-direkt voll erfüllt. Obendrein war es sehr sauber bei Ankunft. Es gibt einen AGA-Ofen, mit dem wir das Kochen lieben gelernt haben. Zwar ist eine Straße vor dem Haus, aber der Verkehr hält sich in Grenzen und nachts ist es sehr ruhig. Der Garten und das nutzbare Feld gehen nach hinten raus, sodass es auch keine Probleme gab, die Kinder dort spielen zu lassen (Fußball, Drachensteigen, ...). Die vom Vermieter gestellte Bettwäsche war auch sehr schön und es gibt genug Kissen für Nackenstrapazierte. Man kommt gut an interessante Orte. Wir haben North Berwick und seine Vogelinseln besucht, die Strände in Seawick und Berwick upon Tweed, Doone Castle, Edinburgh, Balloch am Loch Lomond, Melrose, Kelso, The Three Brethren und Selkirk. Trotzdem haben wir noch einiges zu erkunden und planen deshalb, erneut hier Urlaub zu machen. Die genauen Koordinaten für Google Maps sind 55.762545, -2.238507 Vielen Dank für einen tollen Urlaub! Familie mit 2 Kindern (10 und 12)
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great

Fabulous
Stayed 28 nights in Aug 2017
Archival

6/10 Okay

Lovely area

Lovely area for walking with the Lammermuirs close by and lots of things to see and do if that takes your fancy. Cottage well equipped and quirky. Aga wonderful but cottage looking very tired and would be impossible for any cleaner to clean it as it needs work. However, even a lick of paint might be a good start.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 31 Mar 2020
Thank you for your feedback. Blackadder Mains Cottage is a rustic property as highlighted by the positive feedback of previous guests. We have regular work carried out on the cottage to keep it in good decorative order. Sorry it did not meet your expectations - I note your kind and positive comments in the Visitors' Book.
Archival

8/10 Good

Cozy and charming cottage

Loved the quiet location, yet able to travel to many area attractions. The cottage has so much charm, very comfortable and tastefully done. Very roomy, can easily sleep 7 to 8 guests. Loved the very large soaking tub too. The AGA stove was fabulous, keeps the place warm and cozy, especially on chilly rainy days. Cooking was so quick and easy. Several nights I placed porridge in the warmer too cook overnight, perfect. Loved getting fresh eggs from the farm.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Oozing rustic charm, spacious yet warm, cosy and comfortable.

We stayed with our 5 daughters and found the accommodation extremely comfortable. There was plenty of space in the cottage yet it was also warm and cosy. We also enjoyed the outside space and found the location great for visiting along the coast and other local places. We also enjoyed a daytime to Edinburgh. The kitchen was extremely well kitted out and we all fell in love with the warmth of the Aga. Cooking on it was a new experience which we liked and made some delicious meals. Thank-you!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2017
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Rustic, quaint, and overall lovely

Exactly what we were looking for! Loved that it's an older stone home. The kids loved playing in the back yard, and starting a cozy fire in the living room in the evenings. The AGA stove is just lovely to come back to after a brisk day at the beach. The neighbour up the way also was very kind to sell us some eggs and vegetables. Can't say enough about this cottage, it's so cozy. Only downside is the Postal Code is off if you are using Garmin GPS, it will take you to the wrong house entirely. Use google maps, comes much closer. We arrived after dark, so it was a bit challenging to find it.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Très belle endroit

Nous sommes satisfait de notre séjour d'une semaine dans cette belle maison en pierre , tout à fait chaleureux , c'est un endroit au calme en pleine campagne . Rien ne manque dans la maison , tout est à disposition , aucun souci particulier pour nous . Nous la conseillons vivement .
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2016
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Secluded and Charming

Quaint, rustic, like stepping into the past but with many modern twists. Beautiful property set in an idyllic location with easy access to Berwick and the surrounding area. The Aga was amazing to cook with, the rooms oozed charm with each one having its own twist. Loved the giant bath, first bath i've been able to lie in properly since i was a kid (6'4"). Kids loved helping with log duty and kindling and the acreage at the rear of the property was loved by us all. Such a lovely part of the world with so many castles and towers to keep you busy and nothing more welcoming than returning to the prospect of relaxing with a book, a cuppa and a roaring log fire. Loved every minute of it!
Archival

8/10 Good

A charming and warm country cottage

We spent Christmas there this year and despite the pretty miserable weather enjoyed a cosy treat in the Scottish Borders the house fully lived up to our expectations apart from one thing. Visitors should be aware that although it clearly states on the website that the cottage has two bathrooms it only actually has one, the other is a downstairs loo. That aside, I can't be more glad to have stayed there and wouldn't hesitate to go back. Although, next time when the weather was a little less breezy and a little drier.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2015

About the host

Hosted by Owner / Brian Crozier

Host profile image

What makes this property unique

This property was refurbished from 2 derelict farm cottages from 1990 to 1993, and I moved-in in May of that year. The house is still furnished and equipped much as it was when I lived there so you are getting the use of a home, not just a house set-up for holiday rentals. As such, and due to its age and heritage and the fact that it has been sympathetically restored, the house has unique and quirky features which set it apart from some of the bland properties available to rent.

Languages:

English

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