PRESS MAINS FARM COTTAGES, NR COLDINGHAM, SCOTTISH BORDERS
WHAT’S THE SCOOP? Press Mains Farm is located in a peaceful valley, just 20 minutes away from Berwick-upon-Tweed. It has four holiday cottages to hire, sleeping from two to six people.
We travelled with my parents on this trip, so stayed in the largest – Castle Cottage – which was built in the 1850s and has three comfortable bedrooms. At the end of 2016, Press Mains was taken over by new owners who have renovated the holiday cottages and improved the farm.
ARE MUDDY PAWS WELCOME? Yes, all the cottages are dog-friendly with bowls, biscuits and blankets provided. Dogs are welcome to explore the site on-lead and each property has a secure enclosed garden so your four-legged friend will be able to enjoy all the sights, sounds and smells of a working farm. Ernie was very interested in the resident pheasants!
AND WHEN I’M DOG TIRED? The country-style cottages are a real home-from-home and have everything you need for a relaxing break. Castle Cottage is ideal for families with two bathrooms – one on each floor – a master bedroom and two twins, one of which is downstairs. There’s a fully-fitted kitchen, a large flatscreen TV and DVD player, plus free wifi and an iPod dock. Some of the cottages even have Jacuzzi baths.
If you visit during the chilly winter months, you can also cosy up in front of the wood burner in the lounge or rely on the eco-friendly biomass boiler to keep you nice and warm.
HOW ARE THE SCOOBY SNACKS? All the properties are self-catering so you’ll need to stock up on supplies before you arrive. Due to the rural location, there are no shops within walking distance. The nearest, in Coldingham, is a ten-minute drive away while the closest supermarket can be found in Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Coldingham is also where you’ll find the nearest pub – The New Inn. Dogs are allowed in the lounge bar and the food is excellent.
ANY FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS TO PLAY WITH? Yes! Resident farm dog Dug, above, will be on hand to greet you and is always up for making new friends.
WHERE’S GOOD FOR WALKIES? A stroll around the farm itself is great for a little leg stretch but there’s plenty more to see and do nearby. Coldingham Bay, four miles up the road, has a lovely dog-friendly beach and from there, you can pick up the Berwickshire Coastal Path and walk for miles.
St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve is well worth checking out too, if only for the rugged cliffs and dramatic sea views. If the weather is on your side, there’s a lovely two-hour circular walk you can do – it hugs the coast and passes by the lighthouse. For more suggestions when it comes to what to do and where to go, click here to check out our Ruff Guide to the Scottish Borders.
WHAT ERNIE LOVED: Trying – and failing – to catch a pheasant, long walks in the countryside
WHAT I LOVED: The peace and tranquillity, the amazing night skies full of stars
