Escape to the Country: Lilylaw Cottage
Allow me to introduce you to Lilylaw, a picture perfect cottage in the heart of the Scottish Borders.
My weekend at Lilylaw was complimentary (organised through Crabtree & Crabtree.)
As always, all content and opinions are my own.
Lilylaw cottage
When autumn comes around I love nothing more than running away from the city. It’s always a joy to swap cobbled streets for country roads, particularly when the leaves are turning and the world is going golden. I was so delighted to be invited to spend a weekend at Lilylaw, a gorgeous former gamekeeper’s residence on the Minto Estate in the Scottish Borders. About an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, Lilylaw is the perfect countryside hideaway. The location is gloriously secluded - the cottage is nestled within the lush grounds of the Minto Estate, between an ancient woodland and open parkland. Residents also get to enjoy access to Fatlips Castle (more on that later!) The cottage itself is small but perfectly formed. It’s decorated in the style of an English country house with antique furnishings, stunning Lewis & Wood curtains, Pooky lights, a huge wood-burning stove and the most incredible freestanding roll-top bath. It’s wonderfully cosy in the evening and bathed in natural light during the day.
We were lucky enough to enjoy some early autumn sunshine and it was just warm enough to dine al fresco one morning. Drinking hot tea and tucking into local eggs (picked up from the farm next door!) while the golden leaves fluttered from the trees around us was a magical experience. One of the things I loved most about Lilylaw is the total seclusion and glorious tranquillity. Because the cottage is set at the end of a private road (read: dirt track) there is no car noise whatsoever, just the glorious sound of birdsong. There’s no packing up the car to go for a walk, you simply open the door and step out into picturesque parkland.
Fatlips Castle
While in residence at Lilylaw you can request keys to Fatlips Castle, a recently-restored Pele tower situated at the top of Minto Crags. It’s a beautiful walk from the cottage to the castle and the panoramic views at the top (reaching all the way to England) are breathtaking. If you’re not a fan of heights, this won’t be for you! It’s an incredible perk of staying at the cottage and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I felt like a princess in my very own tower. Plan ahead and take a picnic - or, better, time your visit for golden hour and sunset. The views are divine!
Good To Know
The cottage is open plan and sleeps two so is definitely more of a romantic hideaway than a family cottage.
Lilylaw is dog friendly (as are many of Crabtree & Crabtree’s cottages) but must be arranged in advance.
There are some stunning walks nearby - bring walking boots or wellies!
Getting There
Lilylaw is situated on the Minto Estate near the village of Denholm. It’s around 6.5 miles from Hawick and 8 miles from Jedburgh. Our drive from central Edinburgh took around an hour so it’s still very convenient for visiting the city if that’s what you fancy doing.
Local Area
Roughly five minutes from Lilylaw is the pretty village of Denholm. It’s a quiet, sleepy sort of place with a few shops and pubs and is extremely picturesque—I loved the little lending library inside the old phonebox. For any golf lovers out there, Minto Golf Club is around five minutes drive from the cottage. Also nearby is the stunning Abbotsford House, the former home of Scottish author Sir Walter Scott (we didn’t manage a visit this time but it’s one of my favourite days out in the Borders!) and Floors Castle, one of the Borders’ most iconic buildings. Lilylaw is about 20 minutes drive from one of my favourite café/bookshops - Mainstreet Trading in St Boswells. It’s not to be missed if you’re in the area.
Crabtree & Crabtree
Lilylaw is one of the gorgeous cottages available through Crabtree & Crabtree, an online portfolio of luxury self-catering holiday cottages, specialising in properties in some of the UK’s wildest and most beautiful regions, specifically the North of England and the South of Scotland. Thank you for being such wonderful hosts!
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY:
Lilylaw cottage