THE WHITE HOUSE - DUNS CASTLE ESTATE

A family and dog-friendly retreat great for golfers, walkers or beach-lovers – plus motorsports enthusiasts
The White House is a charming period cottage dating to when adjacent Duns Castle received a grand Gothic Revival makeover in the 1820s. That fortress’s walled garden now borders the length of The White House’s own garden – a lovely, lawned space in which you can stroll past pretty shrubs en route to a rope swing, or sit and read under the dappled light of large trees.

Such tranquillity is just one way that The White House is so well suited to families. Another example is its spacious kitchen: a bright, homely hang-out filled with country charm. The farmhouse table here seats six, while a bright red AGA range cooker will keep the room comfortably warm as you rustle up dinner, or perhaps a cake or three, and relish garden views.

Although compact in size, the sitting room is a cosy space for relaxation following busy days courtesy of its comfy seating and crackling log fire. Just along the hallway, you will find the ground floor bedroom, set up with twin beds amid a calming colour palette. There's also a separate downstairs loo and a handy utility room.

Two more bedrooms await on the first floor (as do books and board games ready to keep everyone entertained). A large sash window and skylight render the first a bright, airy space, one containing a king-sized sleigh bed and an en-suite bathroom with a tub. Neighbouring a shower room, the second double contains a cute nook affording further garden vistas.

A multitude of walks navigating the 1,200-acre estate of this turreted, picturesque castle – whose defensive pele tower supposedly dates to 1320 – begin from The White House’s front door. There are winding woodland paths to delight your four-legged friends (two are welcome to stay here), or two attractive ponds – Mill Dam and the curiously-named Hen Poo Lake – amid the castle’s nature reserve. Look out for roe deer, red squirrels, mute swans, badgers and birds galore as you saunter about.

The White House is an idyllic retreat, yet civilization is just a mile away in the form of Duns. As well as shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, this market town hosts The Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, where you can learn about the late local son turned Formula One champion. Alternatively, head to Duns Golf Club for 18 spectacular parkland holes.

Further afield, there are six more golf courses in the vicinity and sandy beaches within a half-hour drive. Holy Island is in reach, too, as is Edinburgh.