Handcrafted Gypsy Roulottes in a Wildflower Meadow near Melrose, Borders, Scotland
- Garden
- Hot Tub
- Courses Available
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf nearby
- Horse Riding
- Therapies
- Walking
- Ideal for honeymoons
- Other rental properties on site
In a landscaped meadow within the Scottish Borders, set around a wildlife lochan, sits a cluster of French hand crafted wooden Romany-style caravans, elegant and luxurious yet simple and timeless. Some have eco wood fired hot tubs; others deep copper wood fired hot tubs. If you want to escape the humdrum of your day to day life, reconnect with nature, and experience something truly authentic and rejuvenating, then this is the place. In a word: magical.
Roulotte Retreat is an enchanting getaway, romantic, relaxing and restorative. Surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of nature, this is a place to just `be` - walking, painting, bird watching, writing, reading, cycling, and simply enjoying a different pace of life. The roulottes themselves have the real wow factor, with exquisite quirky interiors and colourful furnishings and fabrics, and the owners have enhanced the already beautiful natural surroundings by planting more native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. We want our guests to enjoy a relaxed, nurturing visit with time and space to themselves, enhanced by the peace and quiet of the countryside with fresh air, dark skies for stargazing and colourful walks through the woods, by the River Tweed or over the Eildon Hills. Yoga, massage treatments, bicycle hire, horse riding are also available. The Scottish Borders is an area of outstanding beauty and these gypsy caravans are a unique little paradise in its heart.
Nestled beneath trees on a small private estate near the legendary Eildon Hills in the Scottish Borders, Roulotte Retreat offers you the chance to completely escape. The breathtaking scenery makes this ideal walking countryside, and St. Cuthbert`s Way long distance footpath meanders nearby. Woodlands, streams, waterfalls and hills complete the surrounding beautiful landscape - it`s easy to see why writers and painters find this part of the world so inspiring. The River Tweed flows nearby, the valleys of Yarrow and Ettrick fan out from Selkirk, and another neighbouring valley moves towards Peebles and its mountain biking terrain.
Getting There:
Just 3 miles away from Melrose, home of Rugby Sevens and the Borders Book Festival, Roulotte Retreat is easily accessible from all local towns and villages. Directions will be given on booking.
Nearest Airport:
Edinburgh or Newcastle 45-75 miles
Nearest Train Station:
Tweedbank (just outside Melrose) or Edinburgh 45 miles
Nearest Bus Stop:
St Boswells 2-3 miles
Nearest Ferry:
Rosyth or Newcastle 50-75 miles
Nearest Restaurant:
In Melrose there are many excellent restaurants
Nearest Beach:
Coldingham, Tyninghame, St Abbs, East Coast
Nearest Shop:
Co-op, 2 miles away
Nearest Market:
Local Farmer's Markets on throughout the year
Car Hire:
Advised
Interior Details
Four of the roulottes - Devanna, Karlotta, Gitana and Maharani - are made just for two, and their chic interiors with salon and boudoir make them perfect for romantic hideaways. Devanna is the original roulotte, and is furnished in an Indian style with peacock and paisley design - think rich colours, velvets, silks and Indian carvings. Karlotta is magnificently kitted out in an art deco style, with an elegant chaise longue, Oriental rugs, and a definite essence of Morocco. Gitana is truly enchanting, with fairies, butterflies and wild strawberries carved into the walls and rainbow coloured butterfly windows. A chaise longue and silk curtains complete the picture. Maharani is our Rajasthani-inspired roulotte, with velvet throws, an Indian elephant daybed and ornate carvings of elephants and lotuses. All the roulottes have Baby Belling ovens, stylish beds, stainless steel shower rooms, wood burning stoves and electric radiators. Bed linen, towels, crockery and eco fuel for the wood
Exterior Details
The roulottes are situated in a 3 acre meadow nestled below the Eildon Hills. The meadow is greeted by the sun in the early morning and enjoys a south-facing climate all day before the dazzling sunset in the west. The West Burn traverses through the field on its way to the River Tweed and the sea, and in the middle of the meadow is an enchanting little lochan complete with a jetty and a small shingle beach. The meadow leads up from the lochan towards the fire pit where you can enjoy evenings around the campfire, and each roulotte has its own space for enjoying al fresco time around the lochan. Discover little nooks for picnics, play petanque, or just relax in the sunshine. Wildlife abounds, from deer, badgers, hares, voles and rabbits to owls, swallows, kingfishers and herons, so keep your eyes open! Zenaya and Gitana roulottes also have a Japanese style eco hot tub where you can wallow under starlit skies. There is an additional payment for use of the hot tub - minimum 2 nights for
