ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY
Our subscribers’ wings may have been clipped for now, but here to help plan your next self-catering retreat is our Scottish Field team
Staycations could soon be on the cards, so here are a few self-catering getaways to inspire the plans
The Steading at Legerwood REVIEWED BY THE BOOTLAND-REID’S FROM FIFE
Driving to the Borders is always a joy, but knowing we were staying at Legerwood made this trip even more exciting.
The Steading is a huge L-shaped former grain mill which now provides incredibly luxurious accommodation for up to 20 people. There is also a cottage which sleeps four at Legerwood. Both are set on a working farm between Lauder and Earlston. The old building has been beautifully redeveloped to provide lots of space. The open-plan living area is a grand kitchen/dining/sitting room with the biggest dining table we had ever seen. The Scott Aiton’s were very gracious hosts and Jo was kind enough to leave us delicious home-baking which vanished in a flash. There’s also a formal drawing room with cosy wood burning stove.
The double doors open onto a decked area with seating and a fire pit. This led on to a large, enclosed orchard garden that our son loved exploring. Meanwhile the nine bedrooms are ensuite, but the master suite is really special, with its own dressing room, freestanding bath and star gazing windows. We also loved the addition of a games room with a full-sized snooker table and a beer fridge.
Dogs are well catered for, with two heated kennels, or they can stay in the house. The drying room, gun cabinets and utility area make this a great option for sporting fans and the proximity of the Tweed would appeal to many. Legerwood is a great base from which to explore the Borders, if you can tear yourself away from the lovely accommodation.
The Invergarry
REVIEWED BY PHOTOGRAPHER JENNY ANDERSON After a hectic drive on snow covered roads, I arrived at the welcoming bliss of The Invergarry, Aboyne. What a place to hunker down after an exhausting day exploring the wonders of the Cairngorms. Originally the gardener’s cottage to the adjacent house, owners Sheila and Ron transformed the once humble bungalow into a breathtakingly modern but cosy retreat. With the accessibility of Aboyne’s restaurants, cafés and shops, plus the option of exploring the magnificent outdoors of Deeside and the Cairngorms, The Invergarry has absolutely everything going for it.
My first day I woke to the most snowfall Aboyne has seen in years. It was idyllic and relaxing nestling in on the cosy sofa as the natural light flooded through the glass-framed lounge. With snow falling all around and the prospect of the hot-tub at my finger tips, I was in heaven.
I ventured out into the town and wandered alongside the River Dee, crunching through thick snow and marvelling at the ice formations and curious birds overhead. On my return I used their bluetooth speakers to play some relaxing music, poured myself a glass of red and slipped into the hot tub. The snow fell overhead and after a relaxing hour my hair was white with snow.
The combination of prime location, wonderfully warm hosts, next level facilities and all the luxurious touches makes The Invergarry a dreamy retreat to enjoy at any time of year.
Curlew Cottage REVIEWED BY EDITOR RICHARD BATH
From a quick flick through the visitors’ book at Curlew Cottage it was immediately apparent that many of the guests at this beautifully restored one-bedroomed cottage at the foot of the Angus Glens are repeat visitors. Having stayed there I’m not surprised: this is a haven of peace and tranquility where, as we left, we realised that we hadn’t heard a single car or tractor since we arrived.
We did, however, spend lengthy periods sitting by the windows watching the wildlife in general and one cheeky red squirrel in particular. According to the visitors’ book (and Curlew Cottage’s owners, farmers Adrian and Katie Ivory), this red squirrel and a pal often spend an hour a day putting on a show for visitors, and we loved their pantomime.
The cottage is one of three on the estate (the others have two and three bedrooms) and is immaculate. There are two bathrooms, WiFi, a new kitchen with coffee machine and duck eggs supplied by the owners, a boot room, lovely views and walks through the woods at the bottom of the garden.
One of the great things about this place on the Perthshire/Angus border is its accessibility. You’re just over an hour from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Deeside, and just half an hour from Dundee and the Cairngorms. If it’s golf you like then there’s Blairgowrie Rosemount just around the corner, skiing at Glenshee and beautiful walking in the Angus glens. You’re unlikely to get bored, we certainly didn’t.
Auldhame House
REVIEWED BY CHIEF SUB-EDITOR ROSIE MORTON
It never ceases to amaze how many havens are sitting right on our doorsteps. This time, driving less than an hour from Edinburgh to North Berwick I found the extraordinarily beautiful Auldhame East Wing. Attached to the owners’ own Georgian farmhouse, the East Wing has a private driveway, making it wonderfully secluded. A double garage can be used to store bikes, kayaks and outdoor equipment if requested.
The self check-in process was very straightforward, and my lovely host Ginny Lawson still took the time to welcome me from a distance. The wing itself was spotless. Natural light floods the entire wing, (which sleeps up to four with a sofa bed and king-size bed fit for a queen), and the neutral colours throughout make it a serene space. The kitchen has a fridge-freezer big enough to cater for a small army, a high-spec induction hob, dishwasher and washing machine.
Auldhame is within touching distance of the famed Seacliff Beach and Bass Rock. Turn right out the driveway for unimpeded views of this postcard landmark. Pheasants aplenty admire this vista over breakfast, as do the deer who graze above the beach – this is a nature lover’s paradise.
Gullane lies a few miles down the road, as well as woodland walks, world-class links golf courses, and breathtaking beaches in North Berwick, Yellowcraig, and Canty Bay (where you’ll find a spectacular cliffside coffee house, Drift, for a bite to eat). Pack up your buckets and spades; this seaside paradise lifts the spirits in a flash.