Guests say
Iona Cottage is a well-received holiday rental with guests praising its homely feel, well-equipped kitchen, and peaceful location ideal for exploring the Scottish Borders. The enclosed garden is appreciated by pet owners, and the welcome basket is a delightful touch. Some guests have noted issues with cleanliness, garden maintenance, and internet connectivity, but these are generally seen as minor compared to the overall positive experience.
Cleanliness has received mixed feedback. While some guests found the cottage spotless, others reported issues with broken glass, cobwebs, and general untidiness. The presence of both positive and negative comments suggests that cleanliness is generally good, but there is room for improvement.
The location of Iona Cottage is highly praised for its quietness, picturesque setting, and convenience for exploring the Scottish Borders. It is described as peaceful with friendly locals, making it an excellent base for holidays.
Comfort is generally well-regarded, with the cottage described as homely and spacious. However, some guests mentioned issues with mattresses and dampness in one of the bedrooms, which suggests that while the overall comfort is good, there are specific areas that could be enhanced.
Facilities are appreciated, especially the well-equipped kitchen and ample bathroom facilities. However, there are several mentions of maintenance issues such as problems with the Wi-Fi, garden upkeep, and appliance functionality. These issues indicate that while the facilities are adequate, maintenance needs to be more consistent.
The thoughtfulness of the hosts is evident through mentions of a welcome basket, which many guests found to be a nice touch. However, it should be noted that such gestures are subject to change and may not be guaranteed for every stay.
About this property
A pretty, stone-built cottage resting within the peaceful settlement of Gavinton, a few miles away from the border town of Duns. Iona Cottage is a heart-warming retreat for a family seeking a relaxing break to an area framed by rolling hills, beautiful lochs, historical landmarks and a vast array of attractions to explore. Upon entering the property, be welcomed into the hallway, where you will find space to kick off your walking boots and hang your rain coats before relaxing into the evening within the charming interior. Here, there are three bedrooms to choose from, including a ground-floor single bedroom with an en-suite, a double bedroom and a twin bedroom which occupies the eaves of the cottage and has its own en-suite basin and WC. Stepping through the property, you will find a dining room, where you and your loved ones can gather to enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared within the amply-equipped, galley-style kitchen, which comes with all the essentials you could possibly need to cater for yourself during a week-long break, including a washing machine and a dishwasher. After dinner, look forward to curling up on the sofa - which rests in front of a warming electric fire - and tune into the Smart TV or admire the well-kept garden from the patio doors. If you are visiting during the summer months, spend a balmy afternoon within the garden, where a spot of alfresco dining can be enjoyed whilst your canine companion roams the lawn. If you don’t feel like cooking one evening, venture into the nearby town of Duns, where you will be delighted to find a selection of pubs serving food, as well as restaurants and takeaways to choose from. Whilst visiting the town, the Jim Clark Museum is worth a visit, as well as the 14th-century grand castle and the Manderston House. Alternatively, head to the larger town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, where you will find further quality amenities and attractions including the museums in Berwick Barracks and The Main Guard, the golf course and the Royal Border Bridge. Iona Cottage is an idyllic retreat for spending time within the picturesque location. EPC Rating: Band D
Duns is a small border town set within a wide valley known as The Merse, and was once the capital of the Scottish Borders. Within the town you will find a good range of shops, including an award-winning butchers and quality delicatessen, pubs and restaurants, whilst the Jim Clark Museum is open to the public. Duns Castle rests within a nature reserve and offers woodland walks through the estate.
Accommodation
Three bedrooms; 1 x double, 1 x twin with en-suite basin and WC, 1 x ground-floor single bed with an en-suite shower, basin and WC.
Bathroom with shower over bath, basin and WC.
Kitchen.
Dining room with an electric fire.
Sitting room with electric fire.
Gas central heating and 2 x electric fire.
Gas hob, electric oven, fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, selection of books and games, Smart TV.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Travel cot and highchair available.
Roadside parking.
Garden with table and chairs.
One well-behaved dog welcome.
Sorry, no smoking allowed.
Pub and shop within 2.4 miles
Reviews (36)
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Fiona
It is deceptively spacious, very comfortably accommodating our party of four adults and a dog. There is loads of storage and a well equipped kitchen. It was nice and warm when we entered and we appreciated the option to adjust the heating if required. As previous reviews have noted the single ensuite room was cold - we think the radiator may need attention. The wifi router appears to be faulty and we had no wifi for the duration of our stay. Phone signal is very good but this was inadequate, given that the television required wifi and therefore mobile data was drained quickly. Once these issues are addressed, it will be a super cottage.
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June
The dog loved playing hide and seek in the garden. The only trouble we had was in locking the doors and working the oven as we are used to gas. Some instructions would have been very helpful, as would leaflets about local attractions.
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Rachel
This cottage is being let down by basic problems. The 3 single beds have 1 mattress that is adequate, I spent the first night on the sofa to try and get some sleep. The pink bedroom is very damp, all clothes hanging in the cupboards quickly smelt of damp and the bedding on the grey bed also smells of damp. The garden is very neglected, I weeded the steps to create a safe path for my husband, and there is a pond which would be dangerous if we had small children. This is such a shame because the rest of the cottage is lovely, the kitchen is well equipped. The sitting room is cozy with French windows that looked onto the garden. The locks on the French windows and the front door are very tricky and at times impossible to lock or unlock. Because of the rural nature of the cottage the Wi-Fi is very limited so I advise doing your research before you get to the cottage for places to go. We did find the most of the local pubs had better Wi-Fi if we needed to load books to kindle or look something up. If the above issues were sorted out we would have no hesitation in returning to such a lovely place. So much more to explore.