Horseshoe Cottage and Vardo

The best of both worlds – enjoy the comforts of Horseshoe Cottage and the romance of Ruby, the Romany caravan (vardo), in their own woodland garden. Let us delight you with the magic and tranquility of this special combination to offer space and timelessness where you can enjoy sleeping under the stars and travel without traveling….

Children are very welcome in the cottage but the vardo is unsuitable for children. Up to two well behaved dogs are welcome in the cottage but they are not allowed in the vardo.

Horseshoe Cottage

Originally stables for the horses used to plough the surrounding farmland Horseshoe Cottage is now converted into a colourful, romantic hideaway. This delightful cottage is now freshly decorated in beautiful jewel like shades. Eco-friendly paint brings a healthy glow to the cottage walls and reflects the authentic colours of the vardo beneath the pine trees in the woodland garden.

Offering a spacious, bright sitting room with a view of the Eildon Hills, the accommodation also comprises galley kitchen, bathroom with shower, double and twin bedroom. There is extra space for surprise overnight guests in the sitting room on the comfortable leather sofa bed.

The cottage is warm and cosy with oil fired central heating as well as the ambience of the open fire with wood burning stove.

The cottage is well equipped with dishwasher, washing machine, tv and dvd, cd player and radio. Games, books and toys are there for your pleasure.

There is a spacious wild woodland garden in front and a colourful ‘pot plant’ entrance, Provencal style at the back. There is private car parking for two cars.

Children are very welcome in Horseshoe Cottage and a travel cot is available.

Up to two dogs are welcome in the cottage. (Please see notes in Terms and Conditions for Horseshoe Cottage).

Suitable for 4 people.

Ruby, the Vardo

In the woodland garden in the front of the cottage is a secret hideaway…. beneath the trees, as if time stood still, rests an authentic 1930’s Romany Caravan or Vardo. Ruby is a Bow Top and is also known as a living wagon or caravan.

Experience the romance of sleeping under the stars in a lovingly restored Bow Top caravan, originally painted by the famous Master Vardo Painter, Jim Berry (also a distant relative of Avril). An original Queenie stove keeps both you and the kettle warm as the twilight turns to darkness and all that can be seen is the ember glow of the fire.

Step up into bed and immerse yourselves in the maroon and deep pink lace which cascades around you as you enter another world. We can let you into a little secret……… the beautiful lace adorning Ruby is actually “lingerie lace” – which seems just perfect!

With room for two, escape into the magic of the nomadic life and recapture the essence of being free and living amongst nature.

Location

Further Reading...

Our caravan is known as a Bow Top, and there are many other types, including, Brush, Reading, Ledger, Bowtop, Open Lot and Burton.

In the original Bow Top caravan the space was small but well utilized, with a bed at the far end of the living space, which could be pulled out a little more to create more space. Underneath the bed was a huge ventilated cupboard which was used as a bedroom space for children. Older children could sleep under the wagon, where drapes were sometimes hung around.

Cupboards were plentiful inside and seating with cupboard space underneath made good use of all available space.

Heating was in the form of the Queenie Stove, which was always placed on the left hand side as you enter. The reason for this is because of the position of the chimney so it wouldn’t touch the trees as the horse and vardo meandered along the road. Incidentally in France, the stoves are on the right hand side for the very same reason. Food preparation, cooking and washing up all took place outside as was personal cleaning and washing clothes. Although all eiderdowns, blankets and clothes were kept inside, kitchen utensils however were stored outside.

With a hay rack for the horse at the back and a box underneath for the pots and pans, the caravan was both a home, a form of transport and a sacred place for living.