come and stay a while.
A two bedroom stone cottage in the Scottish Borders, surrounded by fields, woodland, art, and the quiet of the countryside. We’ve made a retreat like one we’d want to stay in ourselves.
the first part of our story at whitehill steading.
The Cottage sits within the original 1858 steading and was the first building we restored here.
We wanted to keep the character that had accumulated over more than 160 years, while creating somewhere comfortable, warm, and easy to live in.
Inside, old pieces sit alongside new ones, original art hangs wherever it feels right, and nothing has been chosen simply because it matches.
It’s thoughtful without being precious - a place designed to be settled into, rather than admired from a distance.
with nowhere else you need to be.
Wake up slowly. Coffee while you watch the weather moving across the fields. Pull on your boots and head out for a walk, or drive into Kelso for lunch. Come back for an afternoon sauna and cold plunge. Light the fire. Cook good food. Open a bottle of wine. Watch the last of the light disappear over the Borders.
book a stay
make yourself at home
The Sitting Room
A room made for settling into. Light the wood-burning stove, sink into the sofa with a book, put some music on, or simply spend an evening doing very little.
Original art, antiques, and collected pieces give the room its character, while warm colours and soft lighting make it especially cosy once the sun goes down.
We have a Smart TV, there are piles of books, and a cupboard full of games. But guests often tell us they don’t need any of that once the fire is going.
The Kitchen
A proper country kitchen, designed for cooking as much as looking good.
There’s everything you need for slow breakfasts, long dinners, and a bottle of something good around the table, with plenty of space to cook together.
Warm, relaxed, and well equipped, it’s very much the heart of The Cottage and one of our favourite spaces.
We’ll have homemade bread waiting for you, along with local milk and butter, and fresh eggs from our own hens - Agatha, Dorothy, Violet, and Hyacinth. We’ll usually add some treats too!
We can arrange one of our fuller breakfast hampers, or a movie night bundle for a cosy evening in, too. Let us know if you have any special requests.
The Upstairs Bedroom
Tucked away upstairs, this is a wonderfully peaceful room with its own freestanding roll top bath. Fill it after a long walk or an evening in The Sauna, open a book, and take your time.
Soft linen, warm lighting, and views out across the countryside make this a particularly lovely place to disappear to at the end of the day.
The Downstairs Bedroom
With high ceilings, a four-poster bed, and views straight out across the fields, this is a wonderfully spacious and peaceful room.
Wake to the changing Borders landscape - and, more often than not, a few friendly sheep waiting to say good morning.
Thoughtful furniture, original art, and soft layers make it every bit as inviting as its upstairs counterpart.
The Bathroom
Simple, calm, and made for warming up after a day outside. There’s a generous shower, plenty of hot water, hotel-grade fluffy towels, and robes to wrap up in afterwards.
Throughout The Cottage, you’ll find luxurious toiletries from ARRAN Sense of Scotland - one of those small details that makes coming back from a long walk, or getting ready for dinner, feel that little bit better.
The Boot Room
Last but not least, the practical room in the house - although we’ve tried to make it a lovely one too.
There’s space for muddy boots, wet coats, walking gear, and all the paraphernalia that comes with exploring the Borders. It’s particularly useful for four-legged guests, giving dogs their own place to dry off and settle down after a day spent adventuring.
You’ll also find everything you need to keep things fresh during a longer stay, including the washing machine and eco-friendly Ecover laundry products in both bio and non-bio options.
at a glance
two bedrooms
sleeps 4
private parking
fast wi-fi
quality bedlinen,
towels, and robes
roll top bath
fully equipped kitchen
local produce
dogs welcome
wood-burning stoves
private outdoor space
on site sauna
and cold plunge
‘Guest Favourite’
2026
‘Five Star Stay’
2026
‘Superhost’ status
2026
beyond the front door
If you feel like exploring
Whitehill Steading feels wonderfully tucked away, but there’s plenty within easy reach.
Kelso is under 10 minutes’ drive for independent shops, cafés, pubs, and restaurants, while the wider Scottish Borders is full of beautiful towns, historic houses, gardens, and some of the best walking and cycling country in Scotland.
Head south for the Cheviots and Northumberland National Park, east for the beaches and villages of the Northumberland coast, or spend a day exploring places like Melrose, St Boswells, and Coldstream.
Edinburgh is less than an hour away too, making The Cottage an easy place to retreat to before or after a few days in the city.
Then again, you don’t have to go very far at all.
Some of our guests arrive, slow down, and barely leave. There’s something rather lovely about allowing a day to unfold without much of a plan. Slow mornings, slow food, fresh air, and nowhere in particular you need to be. Sometimes that’s the whole point.
The Sauna and Cold Plunge
While you’re here, make time for The Sauna. Our wood-fired Scandinavian sauna sits just a short wander from The Cottage, looking out across the fields towards Hume Castle, with a cold plunge, cold shower, and space outside to sit, cool down, and take in the Borders air.
We run a small number of public sessions, which you’re welcome to join, or you can book a private session and have the whole space to yourselves. Either way, there’s no rush: warm up by the wood fire, cool down outside or take the plunge, rest for a while, and repeat.
All Whitehill Steading guests receive 50% off sauna sessions during their stay. It’s our way of encouraging you to give it a try - whether you’re already a sauna convert or have never set foot in one before.