your rural retreat.
A cluster of stone buildings in the Scottish Borders, dating back to 1858 - brought back to life, slowly and considered, as the kind of place we'd want to visit ourselves.
a place we're
building slowly,
on purpose.
come and stay. light a fire. walk somewhere quiet. relax in nature. be surrounded by art and nature. read the book you brought.
We bought Whitehill Steading in 2021 but its history goes back all the way to 1858.
It comprises a collection of stone outbuildings and was once part of the Mellerstain Estate - home to the Earls of Haddington for hundreds of years.
We're slowly bringing each building back to life, with the kind of care you'd give something 170 years old.
what’s here
The Cottage
The first building we brought back to life.
A two bedroom stone cottage, sleeping up to four, with thick walls, two wood burning stoves and the best dusk skies in the Borders.
Facing out over the fields - sleeps four and comes complete with hand-picked antique furniture, thoughtful art, and plenty of character.
The Sauna
Our very own wood-fired Scandinavian Sauna - in the heart of the Scottish Borders.
Complete with cold shower, cold plunge, and views over the fields towards Hume Castle - it's perfect for relaxation and resetting.
Join us for a public session or book your own private session for the ultimate retreat.
The Dog House
The estate’s original kennel block is now your very own pub. Perfect for small events (up to about 24 people) and offered on a BYOB basis.
Think thick stone walls, rustic flagstone floors, and the kind of fireplace that asks to be lit.
The building has always housed something four-legged and well-loved so we named it The Dog House.
Please contact us to find out more or to book.
what’s coming
The Studio
A new creative space at the heart of Whitehill Steading, designed for making, thinking, gathering, and occasionally doing very little at all. The Studio will be a flexible, light-filled room for workshops, small events, talks, exhibitions, and creative sessions, as well as somewhere guests can draw, paint, write, read, or work on something of their own.
Art+nature is a key part of Whitehill Steading, and The Studio will give it a space to become a more visible part of life here - informal, accessible, and always evolving.
Launching late 2026.
The Workshop
A generous one bedroom cottage taking shape within one of Whitehill Steading’s original working buildings. The Workshop will be spacious, calm, and full of character, with a large open-plan living space, a beautiful vaulted bathroom, and its own private terrace helping you feel immersed in the landscape.
Expect natural materials, carefully chosen furniture, original art, and all the thoughtful details that make a stay at Whitehill Steading feel special. Designed for two, but with plenty of room to properly settle in.
Launching early 2027.
The Stables
A characterful one bedroom cottage created within the old stables, with warm, playful interiors and a personality entirely of its own.
The Stables will balance the history and texture of the original building with generous, beautifully considered spaces, including a roll-top bath in the bedroom and plenty of unexpected details throughout. Designed as a comfortable countryside retreat for two, it will bring together original art, natural materials, and history - unmistakably part of Whitehill Steading, but distinctly The Stables.
Launching early 2027.
rural, but connected.
We’re situated in the heart of the Scottish Borders - with Kelso our nearest town. We have great road, rail, and airport connections. Edinburgh is just under an hour away (great for Edinburgh Waverley train station or flights to / from Edinburgh Airport), we have fast trains up and down the East Coast at Berwick upon Tweed (just 40 minutes away), and there’s a local train at Tweedbank.
When you get here you’ll be surrounded by nature. We’ve rolling hills to the front and our own woodland to the rear. All around us are fields full of crops and livestock (come in the spring for the lambs), and plenty of countryside charm.
We’ve walks of all types / lengths on our doorstep, you can be in the hills within half an hour, or at the beach in around the same time.
We like to think there’s something for everyone.
retreat, relax, refresh, renew.
