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LARGER and arguably much prettier than historic Burn’s Cottage in Ayrshire, Leyden’s Cottage in the Borders’ village of Denholm marks the birthplace of another, albeit less well-known poet and linguist, Dr John Leyden, a friend of Sir Walter Scott and the man credited with undertaking much of the research for Scott’s narrative poem, The Lay of the Last Minstrel – the two also collaborated for three years preparing the first two volumes of the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Borders for print. Leyden’s name was given to the road outside the A-listed thatched cottage and is further commemorated by a carved granite plaque next to the front door.

Pre-dating 1775, the terraced property was restored in 1896 and altered/refurbished in the early 21st century to create an upper level. The only surviving thatched cottage in the village, it largely retains its original footprint, historic character and detailing – thatched reed roof with turf ridge (re-thatched within the last 15 years), while a more recent staircase leads up to the single room created in the roof space beneath exposed 18th century timber-pegged roof trusses.

Internally it has a large living/dining room with multi-fuel stove; upgraded Shaker style fitted kitchen; refurbished bathroom, and two bedrooms. But the jaw-dropping feature is the main bedroom upstairs, an open-plan space incorporating sitting area and bathroom.

Outside, the half-acre rear garden houses a former garden shed, fully insulated and converted into an artist’s studio. Adding to the many reasons to covet this cottage is a picturesque village setting six miles from Hawick, 50 miles from Edinburgh, and only 16 miles from the English border. Offers over £285,000 are invited by Hastings Legal.