Kelso and Gin

First of all this blog is not about gin lol. It really is about a lovely place we stayed near Kelso. Everyone I know that has been to the Borders always tells me what a lovely part of Scotland it is. So when Captain Stag suggested we go there for a few days I was really looking forward to it. It turns out the Scottish Borders are filled with delightful small towns and villages, big houses, castles and rich Scottish history ( and rich people with old money ).

So from Cupar we took the A92 down to the A6089 to Kelso. On the way we stopped at Soutra Coffee House. It was a little busy which is a good sign and the food was freshly made. Result.

We arrived in Kelso in the glorious sun! Kelso is a pretty little town. I loved the thrift shops I even found a few bargains😊 Some photos of where we visited can be found here. I love old church doors and if they are open I go in for a wee prayer. When in Kelso one must visit the Kelso Abbey, if you can walk by it at night as well it is truly magical for those with a romantic disposition.

To get to our Airbnb we left Kelso and drove down some of the prettiest country lanes I have ever seen. Most of them were fields of wheat or was it barley ? 🤔 Anyway it looked so beautiful. Our home for the next few days was the North Pavilion, an apartment set within the private wing of a beautiful country house built in the seventeenth century.

The Country House

As we drove up-to the house there were 2 lovely horses grazing away in a field along the driveway. “Here horsy horsy” OK I didn’t say that out loud, do not fret. The parking area was the gated old steadings which was great for letting Lewis roam freely. Oh and there was a private garden just for us so each evening, we sat on the bench drinking Gin. I actually carried out an experiment, I bought some Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb and Ginger then I also bought Aldi’s gin of the same flavour and the winner was – I digress.

The apartment itself is more like a house it is so spacious with a simple country interior design. It has a modern country feel to it which makes it a warm relaxing place to be. It also has a log fire with a generous amount of sticks provided.

Melanie even had a picnic basket full of goodies that came in handy on our first day trip. When we drove back home after a long day of site seeing, we would unwind and refresh in a comfortable clean home from home.

If you want to explore the Scottish Borders and need a cosy place to stay, I think The North Pavilion will be lovely for a couple looking for a romantic getaway. Waking up to a lovely herd of beasts in the fields below was so special because it reminded me of my grandfathers herd – nostalgic. And beyond the fields the view of the Cheviot Hills was enough to make me smile, because in life, a smile is what lives on in our memories.