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The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home

The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home

Photo gallery for The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home

The Five Turrets, Scottish Borders
Triple height living space, The Five Turrets, Scottish Borders
'Tweed' bedroom, The Five Turrets, Scottish Borders
Kitchen and breakfast bar, The Five Turrets, Scottish Borders
The Five Turrets, Scottish Borders

Overview of The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home

Reviews
10 out of 10 Exceptional
4 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8152 sq m

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill

Enjoy the area

Map
Selkirk, Scotland
  • Popular LocationSir Walter Scott's Courtroom3 min walk
  • Popular LocationAbbotsford The Home Of Sir Walter Scott7 min drive
  • Popular LocationMelrose Abbey11 min drive
  • AirportEdinburgh (EDI)78 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Ettrick

1 King Bed

Teviot

1 Double Bed

Tweed

1 King Bed

Yarrow

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Downstairs

Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home

The Five Turrets has been recommended by Cosmopolitan magazine, The Sunday Times and The Times as one of the best places to stay in the UK.
The stylish self catering home features fairytale castle good looks, set in a B-listed stone-built property at the heart of the Scottish Borders.
Inside is an extraordinary blend of style and substance and enough space to comfortably accommodate eight people in four big bedrooms.
Our chic bedrooms are named after the local rivers - the Tweed, Ettrick, Yarrow and Teviot.
We use award winning Casper mattress - described by Which? magazine as "supportive, breathable, stable, easy to turn over on, doesn t sag or soften, support doesn t deteriorate with time. Cons? None.”
Bedlinen is Egyptian cotton and each room is carpeted and fitted with a modern and efficient radiator equipped with individual thermostat.
Two of the rooms are normally set up as super king size beds, but these can also be split to provide twin beds. One of the remaining rooms features a king size bed and the other a double bed.
​The heart of the comprehensively refurbished home is the unique triple height living space, with sofas arranged around a fabulous wood burning stove, a huge dining table set up to provide commanding views over the stunning Ettrick valley.
There are three lighting zones all controlled by dimmer switches, so you can have it as bright or as romantic as you fancy. And just in case the fire is not enough, there are four powerful modern radiators dotted around the walls to ensure that you are comfortable on even the coldest day.
An oak and glass stair leads up to the mezzanine library, stocked with hundreds of books, more sofas and a smart 49 inch TV connected to the free fast broadband available throughout the property.
The kitchen has everything to captivate the keenest cook and is open into the main living space. We ve kitted it out with high quality appliances and cookware, including super-tough Circulon non-stick pans. The AEG oven does everything you could want an oven to do and even has a steam function for brilliant baking. The Bosch fan is whisper-quiet and there s a full-size dishwasher to make clearing up a doddle.
There s a washing machine and a tumble dryer in a separate utility room and a boot room for cleaning up after a day out on the hills.
The star of the big downstairs bathroom is the lovely walk-in Bristan rain shower, with an additional handset. You ll find it stocked with a range of luxurious Cole & Lewis toiletries. There s also a modern white bathroom suite, a heated towel rail and, of course, fluffy towels. Upstairs you get most of the same features as the downstairs bathroom - including the Bristan rain shower and additional handset - but there s also a nice deep bath to soak in.
To complete the accommodation there s a spacious entrance room, which also features a piano. Because why not?
Built around 1870 in the Scottish Baronial style, this historic listed building is ideally located at the heart of the Borders in the Royal Burgh of Selkirk, with road and nearby rail links to Edinburgh to the north and England to the south.
Working with some of the best local businesses it offers guests a range of exciting personalised packages. From a personal chef to in-house massage therapies, we can make your stay special.
Guests who can bear to drag themselves away from the comforts of the house will enjoy a region steeped in history and reminders of the region’s colourful past as the home of the notorious and bloodthirsty Border Reivers.
There’s some of the best hillwalking in Scotland on the doorstep and easy access to world-class cycling trails (with secure bike storage on site) and golf courses. For anglers, there’s the Tweed, while wildlife lovers have the opportunity to spot golden eagles, ospreys and red squirrels.
And if that’s all too energetic, guests can put their feet up in the garden where there is a lovely decked area looking out to the hills, with a dining table and eight chairs and a barbecue available. Or why not retire to one of the local bars and restaurants a short walk away for a bit of rest and relaxation?

Property manager

Gethin Chamberlain

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Barbecue grill

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Suitable for children, but not ideal for toddlers.

Events

No events allowed
Private family parties allowed, of course

Pets

No pets allowed
We can arrange home boarding for pets nearby

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking inside: smoking outside is fine.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: Private family parties allowed, of course
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Selkirk

Located in Selkirk, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. The area's natural beauty can be seen at St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve and Bank Street Gardens, while Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom and Halliwell's House Museum are cultural highlights. Waverley Line and Scott's View are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging.
Map
Selkirk, Scotland

What's nearby

  • Market Square - 3 min walk
  • Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom - 3 min walk
  • Halliwell's House Museum - 4 min walk
  • Abbotsford The Home Of Sir Walter Scott - 7 min drive
  • Melrose Abbey - 11 min drive

Getting around

  • Tweedbank Station - 9 min drive
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 79 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Salmon Inn - 10 min drive
  • Herges on the Loch - 8 min drive
  • Philipburn Hotel - 19 min walk
  • Domino's Pizza - 12 min drive
  • Woll Golf Course - 10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Five Turrets: stay in Scotland in style in a historic four-bed holiday home located?

Situated in the mountains, this holiday home is steps away from Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom and Market Square. Halliwell's House Museum is 0.2 mi (0.3 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 3 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 3 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 3 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Steph M., Victoria

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Spacious and comfortable!
Our family of four stayed for five days and saw historic sites all around the borders. We enjoyed the space and the ever changing view from the big windows. The photos can’t really show how spacious and bright it is at Five Turrets! Beautiful!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Holly D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Brilliant stay
Brilliant stay on a sunny weekend. We went swimming at Lindean Loch and had a great dinner at number one in Selkirk which was a few minutes’ walk from the property. Really well presented house, very clean, beds were comfy, kitchen was well stocked and there’s a dishwasher. Would love to stay again
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Christmas Stay
We did enjoy a very nice stay over Christmas at the Five Turrets. Our hosts prepared the place very nicely, even with two Christmas trees and helped out with good recommendations for the local butcher, fishing trips, etc. We did have a great time!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

About the host

Hosted by Gethin Chamberlain

Host profile image
Your hosts are Gethin Chamberlain and Carolynn Shaw: we live opposite the property with our son Ieuan.
We’re a family business and we want to make you feel at home. We’ve spent a lot of time and effort renovating the property to make sure that your stay is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
Gethin works as a freelance foreign correspondent, specialising in human rights investigations, while Carolynn's background is in IT. We started the business to subsidise Gethin’s work and to support Carolynn as she endeavours to turn her passion for weaving into a business.
You’ll find examples of Carolynn’s beautiful work throughout the property, while some of Gethin’s pictures decorate the walls. Ieuan, meanwhile, cuts the grass...
We moved to the Borders in 2014 after six years in India and fell in love with the place. It’s a beautiful part of the world and we’re learning more about it every day. Talk to us before you arrive and we’ll do everything we can to share some of our knowledge to help you get the most out of your stay.

Why they chose this property

When this property came onto the market, we knew it was what we were looking for. It's a really extraordinary building in terms of the external architecture and the dramatic internal space. We had an idea how to transform it into the sort of place we'd love to stay on holiday - somewhere a little bit extra-special. With a lot of renovation work needed throughout the property it gave us a blank canvas to work with and we seized the opportunity to produce a unique property that is a destination in itself.
The place itself looks a bit like a fairytale castle, thanks to the Scottish Baronial style of architecture which dates back to the time of Mary Queen of Scots but was revived by Sir Walter Scott, a former sheriff of the town. The property owes much to Scott's own home at Abbotsford, a few miles to the east.

What makes this property unique

It's got turrets, lots of turrets. Well, five, anyway. Only one of them is accessible from inside - and it's a bit of a squeeze, but they do make it a bit special.
The views out over the valley to the hills opposite are fabulous throughout the day, but dawn and sunset are particularly notable.
But the stand-out feature has to be the main living space. Everyone who walks in stops and smiles and says "Wow!".
It's just a really comfortable space for a large group to spread out: there's half a dozen sofas and chairs downstairs and up on the mezzanine, the fire is warm and cosy and when its time to eat there's a great big dining table in front of the windows, lit with mini theatre spotlights, for everyone to get together. We're really looking forward to welcoming you so you can see it for yourself.

Languages:

English
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