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F U N F A C T F R I D A Y ..... 5 things you might not know about me! 1. I played Scrum Half for my girl's rugby team at high school and we competed all over Scotland- we had the best time! 🏉 2. I am a bit of a geek and absolutely love learning- I hardly ever read fiction books- always something on business, personal development or science!! How things work fascinates me! 🧐 3. I worked for The Sheep Veterinary Society after uni, planning their annual conferences and running the membership - and I absolutely loved it- I love sheep!!! 🐑 4. I would rather do DIY or decorate a room than cook- and Simon is the exact opposite which is handy!! Cooking is not my thing! 🔨 5.My brother and I used to show ducks and hens!! We had gorgeous little Silkies, Pekins and Call Ducks that we hatched in an incubator and used to wash them in the bathroom sink on show days!! 🙈 I also had a little egg enterprise and sold eggs round our village on my bike every Sunday! 🐓 So there you have it, I'm a sheep loving, DIY-doing, hen-showing geek!! 😄 💪🏻 (at Scotland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJx9772jVWt/?igshid=172ua12r8wzjo

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C O F F E E .... Happy Sunday folks, may your coffee be strong and your clothes be comfy! ☕️ (at Kelso, Scottish Borders) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ29-8GDeMy/?igshid=1aq2hacpc6o1v

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H O W P E C K - U L I A R!.... So now that you all know of my love of hens (and especially these funky little ladies)- here are some fun facts you maybe didn't know about my wee feathered friends!! 1. You can tell what colour of egg a hen lays by the colour of her ear lobes- yup, they actually have earlobes! Red lobes lay brown eggs whilst white lobes lay white eggs! 2. Chickens are the closest living relative to the T-Rex! 3. Hens and their hatching chicks chat to each other through the shell- so when the chicks hatch, they know their Mother's voice! 4. Hens can recognise up to 100 different faces- human or hen! 5. The record for most yolks inside one egg is 9!! How egg-citing! So there you have it, some fun feathery facts to bolster your pub (Zoom) quiz knowledge should you ever need it! (at Kelso, Scottish Borders) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ78vfRjawa/?igshid=1owv81kc5h7id

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B L O G ...... Run for the hills! I'm sure we're all feeling a bit like that at the moment between home schooling, working from home and juggling the rest of life, but fresh air and exercise really can be the best therapy! Why not check out our newly launched blog series where we hope to enthuse, inspire and educate guests and locals alike on the many treasures the Scottish Borders has to offer. This week, we have highlighted our 'Best Hilly Hikes' if you are looking to 'step up' your walking game and breathe in some fresh new vistas! Click the link in our bio to head over to the blog. We would love to know what you think, and of course please tag us in your photos if you tackle any of the climbs! * * * * photo credit @cathycopson #hillwalking #cheviothills #hiking #walkscottishborders #pennineway #penielheugh #ramblers #walkinginscotland #visitscotland #visitkelso #lovescotland (at Cheviot Hills) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ-mV-sjm3D/?igshid=4grn2s5nf0pr

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If snow capped scenery and views for days are on your list of wishes whilst staying here in The Scottish Borders, then we have some treats in store for you!

With arguably some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, The Scottish Borders has long been a destination for ramblers and hill-hikers alike. From gentle climbs to historic monuments to challenging peaks for the more seasoned hiker, we have some of the best on offer. So without further ado, here are our 5 best ‘Hilly Hikes’ to tackle if you are looking to “step up the scenic” on your stay!

Best Family Foray (and closest to Kersmains) Penial Heugh leading to The Waterloo Monument- a 150 foot tower built in 1824 to commemorate The Battle of Waterloo. This is a steady climb on a guided path starting at Harestanes Visitor Centre and climbing to the tower with stunning views across the Scottish Borders over to The Cheviot Hills. The walk will take around an hour from Harestanes to the summit. You can then enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee back at Harestanes as a reward for your efforts! Harestanes is just a 10 minute drive from Kersmains- turn right out of Kersmains and follow the road down to Nisbet. Take a right at Nisbet crossroads and continue for a couple of miles- Harestanes is on your left.

The Eildons- Intermediate 4 Mile Hill Walk The Eildons are an iconic trio of hills that stand tall over Melrose and offer some fantastic walking routes to each of the three summits. Some parts are rather steep so walking boots are recommended. The views from the top are simply stunning looking out over The Lammermuirs, Moorfoots and Upper Tweeddale Hills on a clear day. Allow a good 2 hours for this walk, starting at Melrose Abbey car park. Route details here.

Three Brethren- Challenging 7.5 Mile Hill Walk The Three Brethren hill sits at 465m and is topped with three cairns each demarking the meeting of the three estates, Buccleuch, Yair and Selkirk Burgh. This is a more challenging route and we recommend an Ordnance Survey map or similar for this. Starts at The Corbie Linn, Selkirk. Full route details here.

The Schil- Challenging 15 Mile Hill Walk The Schil is a spectacular route across The Cheviot Hills and takes in both The College Valley in Northumberland and St Cuthbert’s Way on the Scottish side. This is one for more seasoned hill walkers due to the length of the route but the views are well worth the effort! Allow a good 7 hours for this route. Guidance and route details here.

BOOK YOUR STAY

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Ensuring our guests have all the local knowledge to hand when choosing the best places to dine during a stay with us is so important! So without further ado, here are our top 5 local eateries that rarely disappoint! And of course, if these suggestions tantalise your taste buds, why not book a stay with us and come and sample these best bites for yourself!

BOOK YOUR STAY

Best Sunday Family Lunch For a generously portioned and priced Sunday carvery, we highly recommend The Waggon in Kelso. With children’s menus and a whole host of burger and grill options as well, we think guests will leave feeling super satisfied!

Best Brunch Holidays are all about the slow and easy mornings, so we know that guests always need recommendations for the best brunch spots around. Our top pick of the brunch bunch has to be Born In Scotland, a quirky coffee house come trendy eatery whose roots are firmly planted around all things Scottish, including a brilliant Scottish gift shop, brewery and gin distillery! Have we piqued your interest?!!

Upmarket &Trendy Provender boasts a contemporary interior with top-notch British/French fare that never fails to bring the wow factor. All produce is locally sourced and guests can be assured of both a warm welcome and a dining experience to write home about. Their cocktail menu is rather enviable too!

Fine Dining Lemon & Thyme offers an international fusion of flavours in their contemporary fine dining restaurant. Chef and owner Piotr has had an illustrious career in many award-winning restaurants around the world and is always willing to add something special to the menu upon request.  

Italian/Mediterranean From classic Italian dishes to locally sourced traditional fare, The Contented Vine is a good all-rounder that always delivers on ambience and great customer service.

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A very warm welcome to The Guest Book! A place to be inspired, guided and educated about all that a visit to the beautifully diverse Scottish Borders has to offer! Whether you’re searching for the best hilly hikes, amazing trails to ride your bikes or want to rest for a while as you dine in style, we’ve got you covered! 

So dive on in to our “best of the best” guides and enjoy our virtual tour around our beautiful Border lands. And, of course, should you love what you see and wish to book a stay, we would be delighted to welcome you into one of our beautifully unique holiday cottages. A very warm welcome awaits....