Bread Oven Cottage

12/08/2024

It has been a good year so far. Lots of lovely guests again - and even some sunshine! We have a very few vacancies from now to Christmas but not many so if you are thinking of a trip to the Scottish Borders check our availability and book direct at www.breadovencottage.co.uk soon. 2025 availability is also now online for your convenience.

Renovations and improvements to the cottage have continued apace, most notably with installation of a new 7.4kw car charger available for guest use.

Hopefully it is now even more convenient for guests with electric vehicles to stay in Bread Oven Cottage. Just plug in when you settle in for the night and by morning your car will be as rested and recharged as you are - ready for another day exploring. Just bring a suitable cable for your vehicle with a type 2 connecter at the charger end and plug in. We only charge for the actual electricity used and payment is administered by Go Zero so it couldn't be simpler. If you need a fast charge there is also a big new commercial charging station located just 6miles away at Tweedbank.

Hope to see you soon😀

Online Bookable, Non Smoking Self Catering at Bread Oven Cottage in Smailholm by Kelso

20/06/2024

We are pleased (and very relieved) to confirm that Bread Oven Cottage has finally been granted a 3 year Short Term Let licence (SB-00324-F) by Scottish Borders Council. Our application was lodged in September 2023 and our shiney new licence was finally granted on 18th June 2024, expiring 18th June 2027.

Phew, now we can get back to providing the best accommodation, facilities and welcome we can to all of our guests whether new or returning.

Hope to see you all soon!

Andy & Sue

29/04/2024

We are very proud to announce our sponsorship of talented gardener Kate McClorey's entry in this year's .

Kate, the worthy 2023 winner of the event competition, is this year entering a garden themed around a medieval "physics garden" which will feature plants, a water feature, trellis screens and many other features - all brought together into a small but beautifully balanced exhibition garden.

You can follow progress at https://www.facebook.com/peter.fenton.7564 where Kate's husband is posting regular pictures and updates.

We wish Kate every success in the 2024 competition.

15/02/2024

First of all, we would like to thank all our lovely guests that have stayed or booked to stay, especially over the "quieter" months of November, December, January, February, March and April. We have never been so busy doing our best to ensure everybody has a relaxing and enjoyable break here in the Scottish Borders. We do still have a few dates available for short breaks if you fancy a few days away - but hurry, there isn't much availability left!

On a cautionery note, we have found ourselves appearing on few "opportunistic" websites without our consent or agreement. They seem to screen scrape our details and set themselves up offering to be a booking intermediary (often apparently taking payments and deposits without our knowledge!). We do have valued agreements with our friends at Cottages.com, Airbnb, VisitScotland, Google and a very few others but there seem to be some out there we do not recognise, can't contact and have not knowingly sanctioned. Just be careful out there!

The best way to book is always direct through our website at www.breadovencottage.co.uk . You can check our live availability, book the dates you need and securely pay your 10% deposit by Credit or Debit card, safe in the knowledge that you are dealing directly with your hosts at all times.

Looking forward to seeing some of you in 2024!

Andy & Sue

Online Bookable, Non Smoking Self Catering at Bread Oven Cottage in Smailholm by Kelso

24/12/2023

Another year, another Christmas greeting! A Merry Christmas to you all, especially those lovely guests who have stayed with us in 2023!

This year was "the year of the walls". We had two very old and rickety stone walls collapse in the garden, both of which we have rebuilt using the orignal stone and, as far as possible, traditional methods. We are certainly learning a lot by living in this lovely old building. We think the repaired/rebuilt walls are looking good and should now last another hundred years or so without too much intervention! We also took the opportunity to re-gravel the drive once the walls were completed so hopefully that is all the major external work done for a while now.

It has been a great year in Smailholm with more guests than ever choosing to enjoy our lovely Scottish Borders location. We hope you all have happy memories of your stay in Bread Oven Cottage and that we will see some of you again in 2024 and beyond.

Take care and enjoy your travels - wherever they may take you.

25/05/2023

Moving on from our "doggie disappointments" we have continued developing the cottage and welcoming our lovely guests from all over the world to Bread Oven Cottage. Some have visited for the first time, others we have known and welcomed repeatedly for many years!

Our major project for the next few weeks is to rebuild our inner garden wall. Like the rest of the property it has suffered from historical neglect and inappropriate "maintenance". Our highly skilled local craftsmen will be tearing it down and rebuilding it by hand, stone by stone, using traditional methods and the original stones so that it is fit to last another 300years. It is amazing to watch them work - we can't wait to share the end result with everybody.

2023 is a difficult year for everybody, world events and our politicians seem determined to conspire against us but we continue to offer a relaxing and confortable haven in which to forget the outside world and just enjoy some "me" time. Why not try it? It really will do you good!

We still have some short breaks and even a few weekly slots throught the remainder of the year. Pricing, further details and online availability and booking can be found at www.breadovencottage.co.uk . We are also now working with cottages.com and Airbnb to spread the good word - but direct booking is still the most flexible way to arrange your time with us in the Scottish Borders.

Come and see us soon. We will make you very welcome 😀

Send a message to learn more

23/04/2023

Sadly, in the past few months, we have experienced occurances of thoughtless behaviour, damage and abuse by some dog owners. As a result, reluctantly and with regret, we have taken the decision to cease accepting online bookings which include dogs and other pets with immediate effect.

We are very happy to honour all existing "pet friendly" bookings and will continue to offer a warm welcome to owners and pets alike.

We pride ourselves on ensuring that all of our guests enjoy the same very high standards of cleanliness and comfort on arrival. Unfortunately this is made so much more difficult when thoughtless humans, in contravention of our very few house rules, insist on leaving dogs unaccompanied in the cottage and/or allowing them onto furniture and beds.

It was a tiny minority of people that have forced this difficult decision upon us. Most of our past four legged guests have been lovely and have been accompanied by responsible owners who have kept their pets under control and who have left the cottage clean and tidy. To those we say a big thank you, you are welcome back anytime - just contact us direct to arrange a repeat booking.

To the few. we would just ask that before booking elsewhere, you consider the cost, time and stress involved in ensuring that the mess and damage you and your pets leave behind is rectified before the next guests arrive for their stay - perhaps just a few hours after your departure!

16/01/2023

Pretty as a picture at Bread Oven Cottage this morning. Cosy inside with a real log fire.

18/12/2022

Time to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and hopefully a more positive new year!

It has been a tough year for too many and we hope everyone can put aside some of the stresses and strains of 2022 for at least few days, not think about 2023 and just enjoy some time with friends and family over the festive season.

Our thanks to all our lovely guests in 2022. We hope we will have the pleasure and privilege of seeing at least some of you again in 2023.

Oh, and don't forget our prices are currently held for dates throughout 2023 pending a review in the new year - so an early booking direct through our website www.breadovencottage.co.uk could turn out to be very good value indeed!

Online Bookable, Non Smoking, Pet Friendly, Self Catering at Bread Oven Cottage in Smailholm by Kelso

16/07/2022

It's taken a while -and a lot of hard work but we finally got there! Bread Oven Cottage has just been awarded the VisitScotland 4star Quality Assurance rating following our assessment visit last week.

Thanks to all those who have encouraged and supported us. We couldn't have done it without you!

28/04/2022

It's a black letter day today! Our new hand forged house sign is finally on the wall. The sign has been designed and crafted by Walker Forge & Design, our local Artisan Blacksmith using traditional methods and a lot of skill. The sign has been beautifully made to last. Hope you like it, we do! Thanks Graeme.

06/04/2022

Well, we have been waiting for a grading visit from VisitScotland since August so no progress there!

The good news is that for the second quarter in a row we have been awarded Airbnb's Superhost status!

Direct booking via our website at www.breadovencottage.co.uk is still the cheapest and most flexible way to book your break in Scotland's border country but to maintain flexibility and confidence for our guests we are committed to continuing our listing on Airbnb for the 2022 season at least. Hurry though, whichever way you choose to check availability, we are booking up fast!

Online Bookable, Non Smoking, Pet Friendly, Self Catering at Bread Oven Cottage in Smailholm by Kelso

25/03/2022

Just thought I would share a recent review with our Bread Oven Cottage friends (now that I think I have figured out how!). We love to see happy guests who have saved money by booking direct. Guaranteed savings over prices on booking platforms, we save the commission and share it with the direct booking guests. Win,Win! Check out http://www.breadovencottage.co.uk for availability and book direct!

Our stay was a true 5 star experience from beginning to end. Bread Oven Cottage was stylishly decorated, immaculately clean and full of luxury fixtures and fittings. The hosts, Andy and Sue, have thought of everything and are on hand to help with any needs that arise. They also provide a lovely welc...

14/02/2022

Why not get in touch with Andy & Sue at Bread Oven Cottage via WhatsApp. We would love to hear from you!

20/12/2021

Christmas is coming to Bread Oven Cottage!

Our very first Christmas guests are due any day now. We wish them, all our lovely past guests and everyone else a happy and healthy Christmas in 2021. Hope to see you all next year. Direct online availability for 2022 can be found on our website at www.breadovencottage.co.uk

04/10/2021

After many years living and operating a B&B in Fort William we moved to the Scottish Borders and developed Bread Oven Cottage (https://www.breadovencottage.co.uk). We are pleased to be able to continue our close links with the Outdoor Capital of the UK by offering this great prize in the Fort William Festive Fund pre-Christmas prize draw!

All you need to do is buy a ticket NOW in the prize draw for a chance for up to four people to stay in Bread Oven Cottage self catering for three nights at ZERO cost!! We are offering £330 off the cost of any stay of at least 3 nights between 1st November 2021 and 31st March 2022 to the lucky winner of this special prize in the FWFF draw (terms and conditions apply). So, if you decided to stay with us for longer your whole stay would be discounted by £330.

You can see more about the Festive Fund or contact them via their page at https://www.facebook.com/FortWilliamFestiveFund. Why not help the locals keep Fort William a special and welcoming place for us all to visit in the Highlands of Scotland?

10/09/2021

The Scottish Borders Walking Festival happens this weekend. Hopefully the weather will stay nice and everybody will get a chance to make the most of the lovely countryside we around us.

There is more info at https://www.facebook.com/borderswalking/

Enjoy!

Scotland's longest running walking festival, est. 1994. Each year a different Borders town is host.

08/09/2021

Last year it was all Apples. This year Plums. Not the same tree of course. Even Bread Oven Cottage is not THAT magical!!

The taste is pretty spellbinding though. Come at the right time next year and maybe you can pick your own😋

31/08/2021

We have joined the visitscotland quality assurance scheme. We are currently "awaiting grading" but we are quietly confident we will achieve a four star rating when our assessment is complete. Until then we can only say that we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that, whatever the time of year, Bread Oven Cottage remains the perfect location for your next self catering break in the Scottish Borders!

19/08/2021

https://www.visitscotland.org/news/2021/great-tapestry-of-scotland?fbclid=IwAR12T-Mmqhy2DixCtm33bHhG_bsZLQ_klvq2xivr5g43YaywS4RGIVLQSPg

Amazing artwork finally opening in its new permanent home just along the road from us in Galashiels! Best bit (for me) is that Sue actually did a small section whilst the ladies in Smailholm were doing their bit! It has been a massive task for everybody involved - Big sighs of relief now that it is done! It is in my diary for a visit!

An opening date for the Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels, Scottish Borders, has been announced. We attended the press launch, read on for the full...

13/08/2021

The latest "hi-tec" addition to the garden facilities at Bread Oven Cottage! For those many dry but maybe just a little cool autumn evenings. Burns logs not charcoal and it will even cook a couple of steaks (or Veggie Burgers!) to go with a warming dram or two while you sit and watch the sunset.

11/08/2021

The new Trimontium Museum is now open in Melrose, just a few minutes drive from Smailholm. The museum tells the story of the fort, providing a modern window on the pivotal and turbulent history of this Roman frontier post, which for much of its existence was the main forward base for the continued Roman invasion and occupation of Scotland. Loads of information and regular guided walks see https://www.trimontium.co.uk. Well worth a visit during your stay in Bread Oven Cottage!

Trimontium is a Roman site near Newstead, just east of Melrose. The museum acts as a display area telling the story of the fort and its people.

01/08/2021

We have just released our availability for November 21 to October 22. Home sweet home for a week or two? We would love to see you.

Book direct for best rates. Confirm booking before 31st December 2021 and enter "Facebook" as the Promo code to get a special 7.5% discount for putting up with our bungling attempts at social media ☺️

22/07/2021

Yay! Got the result of our Energy Perfomance assessment today. We got a C, not bad for a building that is nearly 300 years old. It is a big improvement on the E we inherited when we arrived a couple of years ago. Lots of hard work but you can definately feel the difference.

Now all we have to do is raise Andy's energy efficiency to the same level!!

30/05/2021

First booking today! Thank you Debbie via Airbnb. Look forward to seeing you and your daughter in July. Thought you might like to see The Granary as it once was. I hope they were as happy here as we are!

By the way, we also accept bookings through our website at www.andykeen.co.uk and by phone of course.

30/05/2021

30/05/2021

Hello World! Bread Oven Cottage B&B suite is finally open for business! It has been a long haul but we hope you like it.