The Old Tearoom is...

well, it's the old tearoom. If you go back a good few years, it was indeed the village tearoom, adjacent to the smithy and post office. Now we're just part of a short row of cottages overlooking open farmland and forestry.

The Old Tearoom sleeps four people, in a double bedroom and a twin bedroom. We are also happy to accept up to two dogs, by arrangement, and provided they mind their manners!

Lets are usually from Saturday to Saturday but we are happy to accommodate variations on that and short breaks of a minimum of two nights, whenever we can.

The cottage has parking for two cars and a ramp to the sunny wooden porch. All on the ground floor, it is bright and cheerful, full of handmade textiles and original artwork by your arty hosts. The livingroom, double bedroom and shower room lead off the hallway. The twin room and kitchen lead off the living room.

There's a secure garden accessed from the back door, with garden furniture so you can soak up some sun or cool down after a long walk.

Talking of walks, you just need to step out of the door to start exploring on foot, enjoying the wide open views over forest and hills to the English border.

Alternatively, you could curl up in front of the fire with guide books and maps, to plan your next day's adventures.... whatever you choose to do, we aim to provide the extras to make it more enjoyable.

Walkers' Wishlist

We've got hills and valleys, forests and open moorland, long distance routes and short strolls - the Borders is full of possibilities for walkers.
We're happy to provide:

• guidebooks and maps to take out with you while you are staying here


• thermos flask and binoculars to borrow too


• our own maps of local walks from the door


• a drop-off service (arranged in advance) so you can wend your way home


• your dinner in the oven (arranged in advance) if you are going to be late

We'd always advise you to wear good footwear and take wet weather gear, to let someone know where you are going and to take a map. Please be aware that mobile phone signals can be very patchy in the hilly bits.

Fancy trying something new?

We can offer you a range of tailor-made opportunities while you are on holiday here -

• learn to handspin! Lindsay will take you through the basics from fleece preparation to spinning on a lovely modern spinning wheel
• thinking of keeping chickens? Spend a little time with Hugh and meet our motley flock as he introduces you to handling the birds, caring for them, feeding and housing.
• you'll see some of her work hanging in the cottage. If you'd like to try your hand at making a collage or simple books and other paper-based ideas, Lindsay can organise a mini-workshop just for you
• ever seen a badger in the wild? We can treat you to a night time mini safari through the best badger-spotting territory. We cannot guarantee they'll play ball but there's every chance
• we're hoping to be able to offer you an off-road driving experience using either George, our trusty Land Rover Defender, or perhaps Shorty, the bobtailed V8 powered Range Rover
  

Living Room and Kitchen

Living Room

• laminate floor with rugs


• three seater sofa, armchair, upholstered stool, coffee table


• bookshelves with novels and guidebooks, maps and information on the area like walks and bike rides, eating out, visitor attractions etc


• original art on the walls


• open fire with an initial supply of logs


• extending dining table and upholstered dining chairs


• colour tv with built-in video and DVD player and freeview channels


• videos and games


• large window to the front of the cottage

Kitchen

• galley-style room with ceramic tiled floor and window to the rear of the cottage overlooking the garden


• electric hob and oven, fridge with freezer compartment, microwave, kettle, toaster, washing-up sink and separate hand wash sink, wine bottle storage (well, you may need it)


• ample crockery, cutlery and glassware


• pans and bakeware, scales, mixing bowls, serving dishes, knives and tools


• cleaning materials


• hand towels, dish towels, washing-up liquid, oven gloves


• separate small utility room with washing machine, dishwasher, central heating boiler and drying rails


• utility room leads to the small enclosed rear porch with space to store footwear and other gear, and access to the garden

Bedrooms

Double bedroom

• comfortable double bed with generous duvet and extra blankets for good measure


• wardrobe, large chest of drawers, open shelves with books and sewing kit, hair dryer


• bedside tables and lamps


• original artwork on the walls


• fitted carpet, radiator, window to the front of the cottage

Twin bedroom

• warm single beds with generous duvets and locally woven blankets


• wardrobe, cupboard, bedside table or bookshelves and lights, additional hanging hooks


• original art on the walls, and a rocking chair to relax in


• fitted carpet, radiator, window to the front which can open wide in emergencies

What's waiting for you...

• a comfortable but quirky cottage with lots of extras to make your stay as perfect as possible
  


• milk in the fridge, fresh eggs from our hens, and newly baked bread to get you off to a good start on your first morning!


• oil fired central heating


• an open fire in the living room with an initial supply of logs


• colour tv with built-in video and DVD player


• a library of videos and books and games for rainy days and quiet nights


• wireless broadband access (it's consistent but not very high speed)


• lots of maps, guide books and information on the area


• details of walks and bike rides from the door


• a generously equipped kitchen including microwave and dishwasher


• dishwasher powder, washing up liquid and laundry liquid


• kitchen roll, kitchen hand towel and tea towels


• teabags, sugar, salt and pepper


• washing machine and internal drying area


• secure garden with furniture and washing line


• recycling bins


• comfortable beds with freshly laundered sheets and duvets, locally woven blankets and hot water bottles too (just in case you feel you need 'em)


• a good big shower-room, with hand towels and bathmat


• hairdryers, mending kit


• a secure lock-up for your bikes, golf clubs, fishing rods


• a menu of homemade frozen dishes to save you cooking


• bath towels available to hire (or bring your own)

• a 'can do' attitude from us to help you wherever we can

Prices and Booking

Below the tariff you'll find our booking terms and conditions.

PLEASE read them before you make a booking and if you

have any queries, just e-mail us or give us a call

2009/10 TARIFF

price per week

for weeks starting in...

MAY................................£400

JUNE...............................£400

JULY................................£450

AUGUST..........................£450

SEPTEMBER....................£400

OCTOBER.........................£400

NOVEMBER...................£300

DECEMBER.....................£250

Christmas/New Year....... £400

JANUARY.......................£250

FEBRUARY....................£250

MARCH...........................£300

APRIL.............................£400

short breaks of TWO nights or more are priced as follows

2 nights............60% of weekly price

3 nights............70% of weekly price

4 nights............80% of weekly price

5 nights............90% of weekly price

PRICES INCLUDE:

freshly laundered bedlinen on beds

all towels except bath towels

an initial supply of kindling and logs

oil and electricity

broadband access

welcome pack of eggs, bread and milk

TO BOOK:

E-mail (oldtearoom@btinternet.com)

or telephone (01450 860275)

or use the enquiry form on www.independentcottages.co.uk (search for: The Old Tearoom)

to check if the dates you would like are available.

We will hold a provisional booking for five days, by which time we require full booking details and £100 deposit per week from you. We will then confirm your booking.

By full booking details we mean:

1. full name
2. full mailing address
3. e-mail address
4. contact telephone number
5. number of adults
6. number of children/dogs, as agreed
7. start date of holiday
8. number of nights

The balance must be paid within 28 days of the start of your holiday. If you book within four weeks of your stay, we require the full amount from you at that stage. We accept payment by cheque, made payable to The Workhouse, or by Paypal to oldtearoom@btinternet.com

If you have to cancel we will endeavour to re-let the cottage for the entire period (in which case your money will be refunded in full) but if we fail, the whole sum is forfeit. We recommend you take out cancellation insurance.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Once your booking is confirmed, we have a binding contract
• If you cancel your holiday before you pay the balance due, the full amount is still payable and will be refunded in the event that we re-let the property
• We expect you to leave the cottage as you found it. Please ensure that you leave the fire cleaned out, dishes washed, shower room clean and floors cleaned
• The cottage is NON SMOKING throughout - that includes the porches
• Check-in time is 4.00pm and we ask that you vacate the cottage by 10.30am on your departure date
• Bedlinen, hand towels, dish towels and bath mat are all provided
• Washing up liquid, clothes wash liquid and dishwasher powder are all provided
• Bath towels are available at £5 each per week or part thereof
• We generally do not let the cottage to parties including children
• If you have any complaints or problems in the course of your holiday, please raise them with us immediately so that we can address them if at all possible
• In the event of breakages or damage please let us know immediately. You are responsible for the property and contents during your stay but we appreciate that accidents do happen. We'll do all we can to minimise cost and inconvenience to you
• Up to two dogs are accepted by prior arrangement, and on the understanding that
• They are kept under control at all times
• They are kept off all furniture
• They are kept out of both bedrooms and are never left on their own in the cottage
• You clean up after your dog in the house and the garden and in the village
• Not all our guests are dog lovers and we ask you to ensure no trace is left of their presence. We will do our best to supply 'dog towels' but nonetheless we expect you to ensure your dogs are clean before they come back into the house after exercise.