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Overview
If you are looking for a house with wow-factor, this contemporary five-bedroom church conversion just 3 miles from Kelso is ideal for get-togethers and family time.
Architect designed contemporary church conversion
Cairns House has 5 bedrooms, one of which is en suite and two of which have showers and basins in the room. There are two additional family bathrooms and a cloakroom. Two bedrooms offer a single bed for additional guests.
Arriving on the first floor living area via a bespoke glass and oak staircase, leads in to an impressive 54' x 34' open plan living space with opaque glass floors below, magnificent rose-glass windows and a superb vaulted ceiling.
This spectacular space has been carefully designed to maintain the wow-factor whilst creating a functional and cosy living space. Individual living areas offer seamless accommodation ideal for families and large parties who want to be together whilst not being on top of one another. There is a bespoke kitchen complete with breakfast bar, high-tech kitchen wizardry, a more traditional dining area for 12, a games area with pool table and a sitting area with sumptuous sofas, flat screen TV and DVD and state of the art sound system with pre-loaded albums.
The light-filled bedrooms in the main part of the church are furnished in a simple, contemporary style enhanced by light through the opaque floor tiles of the floor above. The substantial master bedroom has its own bathroom complete with designer fittings, argon mood lighting and a state of the art sound system.
The house has a myriad of interesting architectural features and has been featured in a number of architecture and interiors magazines including Grand Designs, Homes and Interiors, and featured on the BBC Homes Live show in 2007. It was described by the Scotsman as “one of the most arresting homes in Scotland”.
From the first floor living area, patio door open onto a cedar clad balcony with fabulous views over the Tweed Valley to the Cheviot Hills beyond. An additional timber decked patio area to the side of the house provides an outside dining area and barbecue for summer dining ‘al fresco'.
The house is well-equipped for younger guests with a pool table and numerous toys and games. Cots and a stair gate are available on request.
Property details
Ground floor
Large atrium/reception area.
Bedroom one with king size bed, double sofa bed, TV.
En suite wet room with large walk in shower, bath, basin and WC.
Bedroom two with double bed.
En suite bathroom with shower and basin.
Bedroom three with double bed.
En suite bathroom with shower and basin.
Bedroom four with double bed and additional 3' single bed.
Bedroom five with double bed and additional 3' single bed.
Family bathroom with bath with shower over, basin and WC.
Family bathroom with bath with shower over, basin and WC.
Laundry room with washing machine and dryer.
Cloakroom with WC and basin.
First floor
Vast open-plan living area includes a cosy seating area, TV with DVD player, Sonos sound system, books and games and doors to balcony.
Fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel and granite worktops, dishwasher, electric hob and oven, microwave, fridge/freezer and additional freezer.
Dining area (seats 12).
Games area with pool table.
Outside
Wood clad balcony from the first floor living area with views over the Cheviot Hills to the south. Additional timber decked patio area to the side of the house with furniture for outside dining and charcoal barbecue. Small grassed area at the front of the church exclusively for use of guests. Ample private parking.
Parking
There is private parking on the driveway.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING
For safety reasons, we do not permit electric vehicle or hybrid car charging at this property. If you’re travelling by EV, discover your nearest electric vehicle charging point here.
Babies & Children
A travel cot, highchair and stair gates are available on request.
Dogs
One well-behaved dog is welcome at Cairns House. A second dog may be considered on request. There is a charge of £20 per dog.
Guest amenities
Bed linen and towels are provided. A hairdryer is supplied in the master bedroom.
Wi-Fi & Mobile coverage
Wi-Fi is available in the property. Mobile signal is generally good.
Heating
Cairns House has underfloor heating which is provided by an oil fired boiler.
Guest privacy
The owners live in the vestry which is at the rear of the church. They have their own private entrance and garden area. They are on hand to ensure that guests get the best from their stay but are equally respectful of guests' privacy.
SHORT-TERM LETS LICENSING
Scottish short-term lets licence number: Pending
The current EPC rating for this property will be available soon.
Location
Cairns House is situated 3 miles from the delightful, historic town of Kelso, home to the majestic Floors Castle, residence of the Duke of Roxburghe, the championship Roxburghe golf course and the famous race course. Described by Sir Walter Scott as "the most beautiful, if not the most romantic village in Scotland," today the town retains much of its original charm with an interesting range of independent shops including an excellent new deli, butcher, fish monger, baker, galleries, antique shops, country sports as well as a monthly farmer's market. Kelso plays host to a number of events throughout the year including regular National Hunt race meets, the ancient custom of the Common Ridings of the town boundaries and the famous Borders Rugby 7s games.
Kelso is an excellent base for exploring the wider Borders area. The pretty town of Melrose is nearby with its winding streets with antique shops, pubs and restaurants. On the way home, stop off at Mellerstain House, an impressive stately home with a noteworthy art collection. Pop into the 15th Century Smailholm Tower, built to withstand Reivers' raids and offering panoramic views from the top. Or take a detour up to the magnificent Scott's View overlooking the Tweed Valley and Eildon Hills. Scott's horse even stopped out of habit during his own funeral procession. For day trips further afield, the stunning coastline is nearby with endless sandy beaches that remain almost deserted even in the summer months. The magnificent city of Edinburgh is an easy day trip from Kelso, just an hour by car.
The area is a golfer's paradise with 22 courses within a 30 mile radius ranging from challenging PGA Championship courses, to picturesque links and parkland courses to suit all standards. For keen walkers, there are hundreds of miles of quiet countryside to explore on two feet, four hooves or two wheels, from the stunning, sandy beaches on the coast to the heather-clad Cheviot and Lammermuir Hills.
Activities
Kelso sits right on the confluence of the Rivers Tweed and Teviot and is a much loved destination for salmon anglers who come to experience world-class fishing on the prolific Middle Tweed salmon beats around this area - Rutherford, Makerstoun, Upper and Lower Floors, Junction and Hendersyde are all within a few miles of the property. Fishing can be booked through FishTweed, while Fin and Game based in the centre of Kelso offers a wealth of advice on river levels, latest catches, permits, tackle and all things fishing and country. The day’s catches can be smoked locally at the nearby Teviot Smokery, or for a little relaxation after the day’s endeavours you will find plenty of congenial fisher chat at Ednam House where you can celebrate......or perhaps commiserate over a wee dram in this renowned fishing establishment!
For golf enthusiasts, Kelso Golf Club is an attractive parkland course resting on the edge of the town, or you can experience a fantastic day-out playing the Roxburghe Championship Course (5 miles), recently voted 6th best course in Scotland by readers of the country’s best selling golf title. There is a pro-shop and PGA golf academy here for those who are new to the game or wish to refine their swing, and if you’re feeling particularly energetic you may decide to finish off your day popping a few clays at the nearby shooting school.
For sightseeing, the grand stately homes and castles of Floors, Mellerstain, Manderston, Abbotsford and Thirlestaneare all within a short half hour drive where the beautiful artworks, rich architectural detailing and scenic grounds and gardens are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.
Our local events and festivals provide the perfect excuse for short breaks or friendly get-togethers where you can enjoy National Hunt Racing at Kelso Racecourse, local Antique Fairs and Auctions, the Floors Castle Horse Trials, Point-to-Point Meets, the Borders Book Festival, Walking Festival and Common Ridings.......to name just a few!
A half-hour will take you to the wonderful heritage coastline with miles of deserted golden sands perfect for rest or play, while the cultural city of Edinburgh is just an hour’s drive where you can take advantage of events such as the vibrant Edinburgh Fringe Festival, exceptional Jazz and Blues Festival, or simply a day-out exploring the exquisite historical architecture of this beautiful city.
C&C experiences
We invite you to enjoy the most coveted and exclusive local experiences available in the North of England and the South of Scotland on your next Crabtree & Crabtree adventure.
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Walking
From the lush green uplands to shimmering sea, the area boasts a hugely diverse and enticing landscape that is perfect for exploring on foot. From gentle rambles to long-distance hikes, there are a vast array of trails and waymarked routes for newbie walkers or experienced alike.
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Golf
There are 40 golf courses in Northumberland, and another 21 in the Scottish Borders offering visitors an incredibly wide and varied range of golfing options.
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Historic houses and castles
With more stately homes, castles and historic sites here than you can shake a proverbial stick at, visitors are quite simply spoilt for choice.
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Children and families
Here at Crabtree & Crabtree, we like to think we’ve pulled together some rather nifty ideas to keep tots to teens happy and entertained during your stay.
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Fishing
Welcome to the realm of the king of fish, the mighty River Tweed. Every year thousands of Atlantic Salmon make their way up river, an annual odyssey that is one of nature's miracles.
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Wildlife
Our region is home to outstanding scenery which boasts emerald forests, pristine lochs and rivers, heathery hillsides, sweeping moorlands as well as a picture perfect coastline.
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Cycling & mountain biking
Whether you ride fast or slow, on-road or off-road, there is something uniquely special about enjoying some outdoor time on two wheels. Here in the region we have something for everyone from high-energy mountain biking blasts to gentle forest paths the whole family can enjoy.
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Adventure Sports
If you love a challenge or just crave a little excitement away from the day-to-day bustle of working life, we have lots to offer - whether it be watery pursuits, muddy blasts or thrill seeking, adrenaline-charged adventures.
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Shooting
For sheer variety alone Northumberland and the Scottish Borders are irresistible to any gun.
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Ancestral history research
Crabtree & Crabtree know that tracing the history of your family can be a wonderful journey of discovery. Here are our top tips for starting your family tree.
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Additional housekeeping
Award yourself a real break and let us provide a pair (or more) of helping hands.
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Dog sitting
Our experienced dog sitters will look after your furry friends whilst you are out exploring.
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Holiday photography
Family holidays, reunions and honeymoons kindle priceless moments that deserve preserving.
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Wine delivery
Crabtree & Crabtree have teamed up with Corney & Barrow one of the longest established independent Wine Merchants in the UK to offer a bespoke service.
Find Out MoreReviews
"What a weekend at Cairn House; from start to finish we had a perfect wedding venue and perfect wedding ceremony and reception. The owner was super helpful, assisting with the delivery of equipment and any issues encountered ahead of the wedding. I couldn’t find a better place to have our wedding! The local caterers, Lucy Wilson farm to kitchen, we had chosen to do our buffet was another perfect decision as it was divine and there was nothing left. Another recommendation is Hiccup bar from Hawick who were just brilliant. They walked in and said "leave everything to us" and true to their word, Alison and her mum Gail looked after our guests. I cannot rate everyone involved in our weekend highly enough and would not change a thing. We had some super photos taken in this old church building as so much of its original features have been sympathetically restored."
The Whellans"We had a lovely time at Cairns House and the surrounding area. Property was every bit as good as you advertised, would recommend."
Mr Sweeney"Cairns house is a perfect escape for a large family or a group of friends. We went with extended family of 7 adults and 2 children ages 7 and 11. The house is quite spectacular and it has a definite wow factor! The bedrooms are very comfortable and the shared space is great. The hosts were so kind and we loved our afternoon tea of scones, clotted cream and strawberries. The surrounding area is stunning! We had a few days out that adults and children enjoyed - we went to Seahouses - a tip is to give them a call before leaving the house if you want to go the the Farne islands. Bowhill was lovely and such a great adventure playground for the kids. We were able to go to Edinburgh easily for the day and there is something for everyone there - we split up and did different things from the Harry Potter walking tour (this was good and it's free but I'd say more for young teenagers/adults rather than younger children) to the city sight seeing bus to the Surgeons museum. Floors castle is interesting and such gorgeous gardens to enjoy. Kelso golf club was lovely and very welcoming. Everyone in the area was kind, helpful and very hospitable. I would highly recommend Cairns house to anyone and our sincere thanks to the hosts."
The Hickey Damily"This is a lovely house, beautifully converted from a church. It is very well equipped and set up for a group stay. The kitchen was very well equipped, and it has a standard oven and a bigger professional oven also, so great facilities. The initial impression was good, and we got to like the house more and more as the week went on.
Thoroughly recommend it."
"What a wonderful space! As a group of nine adults it Cairns House provided us with an amazing space to eat, drink and chill. The renovation has been done very sympathetically to retain many original features with a contemporary design. The owner was very friendly and informative and helped with may suggestions of places to visit. We would love to visit again."
Davies family"First class service from Crabtree & Crabtree again. We very much enjoyed our stay at Cairns House - the property had everything we could ask for and more!"
Bowerman family"We have spent a wonderful long weekend here for a 60th birthday. What an unforgettable place! Beautiful original features, modern, cosy, warm and very comfortable. Excellent sound system, We have been playing our Spotify playlist all weekend and having lovey meals sat at the dining table. Found lots to do nearby - had a fun time throwing tomahawks at Roxburghe and having a flutter (and a few wines) at Kelso races. Thank you very much for these wonderful memories!"
Irving & Penaluna Family"What a fantastic time we had at Cairns House, my family and I enjoyed every minute of our break away. We all said we would come back for another stay. Thank you so much for letting us share your beautiful home."
Boyland familyAvailability
- One dog is welcome with a charge of £20. A second dog may be considered on request.
- Typical arrival day: Saturday during July & August. Flexible during other months.
- Arrival time: 4pm
- Departure time: 10am
"The bespoke glass and oak staircase is a statement piece framed by an ornate rose-glass window."Lynn, Crabtree & Crabtree
