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Old Smiddy Cottage

(Ref. 1024136)

Haddington, Scottish Borders Show on map

4.7

Sykes rating

  • 4 Guests

  • 2 Bedrooms

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Ground floor accommodation
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (27)
  • lovely (17)
  • location (16)
  • garden (16)
  • well (15)
  • no (15)

33 Customer Reviews

  • "The location was spot on for us."

    The WiFi was slow but we managed. Wood was dearest, suggest ordering in before you go for the fire.

    Reviewed by Timothy3.8Oct 2024

  • "Lovely accommodation with breathtaking scenery."

    The plumbing could do with some maintenance, though

    Reviewed by Philip4.7Jun 2024

  • "An absolutely gorgeous property."

    Do follow the owners directions, as it is tucked away. Very quiet, with sheep and cows as your neighbours. Well equipped and lots of space. The garden was lovely, and we enjoyed sitting out with a drink while listening to the wildlife or reading. Within easy reach of beaches (by car) and lots of walking routes. Would definitely recommend

    Reviewed by Valerie4.4Jun 2024

  • "We loved the cottage feel and it had so much character."

    It was a great cottage to come home to after a day exploring. The area was outstanding and we will definitely return in the future. The location couldn't have been better for a walking holiday along the North Berwick coastline. The milk and packet of biscuits were a nice touch, but we could've done with some washing up liquid/dishcloth and hand soap for our first evening. Some firelighters for the fire would've helped as well. Access after 5pm meant, after 200 miles travelling, we weren't in the mood go to the nearest shop over 5 miles away. Wifi was very good. There was so much positive about the cottage we are reluctant to say anything negative but would like to make a couple of points so the owners can address them if the feel they would like to. The bathroom could do with some attention - the toilet makes a very loud 'singing' noise when flushed, which kept waking people up in the night. The shower screen is broken to such an extent that the floor floods each time you have a shower. The garden is a fantastic size and was very secure for the dogs. Unfortunately it is very overgrown - to such an extent that the sun is blocked by trees and shrubs late afternoon. The views from the house could be wonderful if a little garden maintenance was carried out. The garden furniture could do with updating - the existing furniture is rusty/mouldy/broken. It is such a shame because the setting is so peaceful and would've added to a wonderful holiday if we could've sat out when we returned in the afternoon/evening. Overall the cottage is very well equipped but some pint glasses would've been handy.

    Reviewed by Julie4.1Jun 2024

  • "Lovely old cottage."

    Very peaceful but central to everything. Garden fantastic for the dogs and fully enclosed. Very comfortable super king-size bed. Only minor criticism is the TV is very small especially for us oldies and bathroom would benefit a renovation. Good wifi and well equipped.

    Reviewed by Suzanne4.4Sep 2023

  • "Delightful cottage with everything we needed- we would love to return to this cottage"

    Reviewed by Clare5.0Sep 2023

  • "Absolutely idyllic location and cottage if you want peace and quiet."

    Tastefully decorated with old shabby chic charm with everything you need to hand and lots of things to do and see within a few miles drive. Would highly recommend and can see us returning to this beautiful part of Scotland. We did fall a bit in love with it!

    Reviewed by Elaine5.0Aug 2023

  • "It was fabulous."

    What a gorgeous hidden away cottage in a gorgeous location. We loved it, great walks, helpful host, lovely place to stay with tons to do within a 30 minute car journey. we walked 90k that week, hidden castles, small reservoirs, high hill tops, we loved the whole experience

    Reviewed by Pete5.0Aug 2023

  • "This property is lovely."

    Owners smashing. Don’t hesitate to book

    Reviewed by Clare5.0Aug 2023

  • "An amazing cottage really felt we were at home !"

    We so enjoyed the real peace and quiet of the area too.

    Reviewed by Madeleine5.0Jul 2023

  • "The beautiful cottage is a absolute jem, quiet apart the close neighbours being cow, who were not at all bothered about my 2 large breed dogs, unfortunately June is renowned for field fly's which were out in full force."

    Which us town folk found problematic. The real wood burning fire was a real treat. And was well used by us, a really nice week enjoyed by us.

    Reviewed by Angela5.0Jun 2023

  • "A lovely cottage and garden in the heart of the countryside."

    Everything we needed was provided and we has a fabulous week. The weather was very kind to us also. Would definitely recommend this cottage.

    Reviewed by Tessa5.0Jun 2023

  • "A lovely cottage in a beautiful location"

    Reviewed by Richard5.0Jun 2023

  • "Amazing location, lovely cottage, well equipped apart from no hairdryer."

    I bought one and left it for future guests. Gorgeous garden and surrounding countryside. We would definitely stay again. Thank you

    Reviewed by Karen4.7May 2023

  • "What a beautiful cottage in a lovely peaceful location."

    We liked that it felt homely with things like lego and a few toys for our toddler. Conveniently located to explore different parts of the coast by car eg North Berwick and Dunbar, or a day trip to Edinburgh.

    Reviewed by Richard5.0Apr 2023

  • "Stayed here at old smiddy cottage for a week during Easter."

    Such a beautiful cottage in the middle of nowhere which was perfect and the views stunning.Our only neighbours were the cows. Would love to know about the history of the cottage so maybe a little piece in the welcome book. Arrived to some shortbread biscuits which were delicious, some milk and daffodils which were lovely . The cottage is very comfortable and well equipped with all you need including dishwasher and washing machine . Wi-Fi was excellent in the cottage. Beds comfy but we found the pillows too soft for us but still slept well. Our 6 yr old son slept all night and said his room was lovely he didn’t want to get out of bed in the mornings. The garden is lovely and secluded, we didn’t really get a chance to sit out as was a bit chilly still but I bet in the summer it’s amazing. The cottage is about 25 mins to north Berwick which was lovely and Edinburgh was 40 mins. We did lots of day trips including Stirling castle, Edinburgh and the zoo, museum of flight, Preston mill and Dunbar. We had an amazing week and was lovely coming back to the peaceful cottage after busy days. We hardly saw any cars pass the cottage. We would definetly recommend and would come back here. Our son cried because we had to leave and said he didn’t want to go because he had the best time. Thank you, we will be back. Mel, Dave and Finley x

    Reviewed by Melanie4.7Apr 2023

  • "Very comfortable and peaceful - close to Dunbar and North Berwick."

    Reviewed by Daniel4.7Aug 2022

  • "What a beautiful cottage in almost the middle of nowhere!"

    We had such a lovely time. The cottage is well equipped and very clean and comfortable. The garden is lovely and large and plenty of room for safely playing ball with my dog as it was fenced in sufficiently high for her. We loved the local villages and towns for wandering around and coffees, lunches etc. Also for essential and non essential shopping! I would definitely stay at Old Smiddy Cottage again.

    Reviewed by Sue5.0Jul 2022

  • "Fantastic cottage in beautiful countryside."

    Reviewed by Lynne5.0Jul 2022

  • "The cottage is in a beautiful location it’s clean and as everything you need ..."

    The cottage is in a beautiful location it’s clean and as everything you need the garden is great for dogs secure and safe the only problem was you couldn’t open the windows this could be a safety issue I found it peculiar there was no wardrobe to hang your clothes

    Reviewed by Elizabeth4.4Jun 2022

  • "Well equipped rural cottage within a well run farm setting that has everything you’ll need to be at home away from home."

    The nearest building is a field away if you don’t count the cute old outbuildings in the garden. Booking and dealing with the owners was a cinch and the welcome of some milk and biscuits with fresh flowers on arrival was a nice touch. Kitchen is well equipped and although I brought tea and coffee there was already some there along with a range of condiments. Central heating plus log burners meant it never had to get cold and the large garden is a nice spot to sit when the sun’s out. A comprehensive welcome book sits in the kitchen for details of nearby attractions and services. WiFi covers the main living areas of kitchen and lounge with 5MBits down and 1.5 up (for those that care because the main thing about this house is the retreat away from the noise and distractions of home). I had work to do during the day and my video calls were uninterrupted. No mobile signal due to the location but calls and messages over wifi worked a treat. There’s a landline for emergencies. Some great walks to nearby Stenton and Garvald. The cottage is in a spot from where you can walk for a few miles in different directions and loop back round without returning the way you came. Bedding and towels were provided and the place was very clean. Loads of books and board games etc if you need them along with a TV if the weather turns bad. It’s an old cottage and not a city centre new build apartment … expect the old. It’s been two cottages turned into one and extended to create a large social space in the kitchen … you can see the quirk of where the old second front door must have been. Large dishwasher and a good working washing machine made the stay easier and there are clothes horses plus a washing line you can tie up if you want to. Haddington and Dunbar are short drives away for anything you’ve forgotten or need; and are well worth a visit anyway. I’d buy it if I could!

    Reviewed by Fraser5.0Jun 2022

  • "We had a lovely stay at the cottage, beautiful quiet location and huge garden for the dogs, so quiet all we could hear were the birds singing."

    Very nice cottage with a relaxing homely feel, would highly recommend. Thank you.

    Reviewed by Joanne5.0May 2022

  • "When we arrived at the cottage the peace and quiet was deafening - it was like someone had "switched off the world"."

    If you are looking for a cottage away from the hustle and bustle of busy life - this is it. It's beautiful location was only matched by the loveliness inside. The large kitchen/dinning room became the centre of activities during the day and the lounge became our cosy retreat at night. The two bedrooms provided plenty of room for our family of four. This cottage is so well equipped. We had intended to use it as a base to explore the surrounding area, but found ourselves returning earlier than planned most days. Every window seemed to frame a view of rolling hills and farm animals. We would have no hesitation in recommending this cottage and would return in a heart beat.

    Reviewed by Jonathan5.0Oct 2021

  • "We understood that holiday cottages should provide a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher."

    these were not evident at Smiddy Cottage. As the locks on both the outer doors could be tricky to open this could be a safety hazard The garden was large which was fine for the dogs, but the flower borders were really overgrown. Apart from the above the cottage was fine.

    Reviewed by Maurice3.8Sep 2021

  • "A really lovely cottage in a nice, peaceful and quiet location."

    Reviewed by Ian5.0Aug 2021

  • "Fabulous holiday cottage, well equipped and lovely location."

    Cakes, tea, coffee and milk were a much needed welcome after a long journey. Ideal location for exploring beaches, towns, good golf course at Dunbar and close to Edinburgh for a visit. Lots of walks from the door step make this an ideal spot for our two dogs, thoroughly recommend the “Old Smiddy” for a holiday Francis family Hereford

    Reviewed by Gregory5.0May 2021

  • "A very comfortable and well equipped cottage in beautiful surroundings."

    We enjoyed our Autumn getaway very much.

    Reviewed by Jackie5.0Oct 2020

  • "The cottage wasnt the easiest to find and we got lost up a farm track then found it eventually!"

    The cottage is in a good location but, despite having electric heating and wood burning stoves it was still very cold! Their welcome pack seemed to be a pint of milk and some shortbread fingers! Have been to a lot of cottages where they really spoiled you! They had some basics like tea, coffee etc but to leave you a few grains of salt in the grinder seemed really mean! They advertised Old Smiddy Cottage as having basic wifi but the wifi was non existent and had no mobile signal, which I knew about, but I couldnt keep in touch with my Business due to this, which was annoying to be feeling cut off. If I hadnt found a landline in the cottage there would have no contact at all, which isnt ideal. The garden was lovely and very safe for my 2 dogs. Was glad to get home though to get warm again.

    Thank you for your comments, we provide a landline because there is no mobile signal. The broadband issues was a one off network issue. This is now working. Sorry you found the property old. However, There is central heating along with three log burning stoves and a large oil radiator available for your use. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Morag3.8Oct 2020

  • "Old Smiddy Cottage is an attractive, spacious cottage with an enclosed garden in beautiful countryside."

    It is exceptionally well equipped and very clean and comfortable. It is well located for the coastal walks in and around Dunbar and visiting Edinburgh. There are also local woodland walks. There are no immediate shops, but with a large freezer and separate fridge, you can stock up with a large shop from ASDA near to Dunbar, Tesco at Haddington or various other supermarkets in the region. I recommend taking extra warm clothes during the cooler seasons because we found it quite cool until the log burners kicked in.

    Reviewed by Wendy5.0Sep 2020

  • "This is a beautiful cottage set in very peaceful surroundings."

    We loved everything about the cottage. It is furnished tastefully and very well equipped. The garden is lovely and fully secure for dogs. The large supply of logs was gratefully appreciated and even though it was August my wife lit the fire at any opportunity. The area is picturesque and very close to beautiful beaches. Thank you very much and we would definitely recommend this cottage.

    Reviewed by Terry5.0Aug 2020

  • "The personal touches were exceptional."

    Flowers, biscuits, spices and wood for fire. The location is beautiful with Highland calves in the field behind the house. The garden is great for the dogs. Local walks are on the track only, as the fields have livestock, this was fine as the track has very little traffic and was enjoyable, even in the rain.

    Reviewed by Gina4.7Mar 2020

  • "Beautiful, clean cottage with a lovely, spacious, well-appointed kitchen area and cosy, comfortable living room."

    There are log burners in both these rooms plus another one in the large, airy master bedroom- all of which were very welcome during a very cold and blustery week in February! Lovely touches including milk, biscuits, daffodils and a lit fire on arrival all of which were very much appreciated. The location was great for us as we like to 'get away from it all' yet the cottage is not too far from numerous villages and towns, so it's easy enough to nip out for supplies. Lots of lovely rolling countryside all around and a short drive gets you to the coast where there are some great beaches and lovely seaside towns- North Berwick is well worth a visit. Great that it's dog- friendly, with a spacious garden (enclosed, but bordering farm land with animals) and lots of walking along quiet lanes/ in nearby woodland. A lovely place to spend a week, thank you!

    Reviewed by Zoe5.0Feb 2020

  • "Ideal for those who love the countryside,seclusion,privacy and scenic views."

    Friendly and helpful owners. Very spacious and well equipped kitchen Lot's of places to visit on the coast. Essential skill required in setting fires. Clean and cosy cottage would recommend to friends. Nicola and Witold Sawin.

    Reviewed by Nicola4.1Feb 2020

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Summary

  • All ground floor
  • Two bedrooms: 1 x double with woodburning stove, 1 x zip/link twin
  • Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
  • Kitchen/diner with woodburning stove
  • Sitting room with woodburning stove
  • Electric central heating with woodburning stoves
  • Electric range oven and hob, microwave, fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, TV, WiFi
  • 1 x highchair and 1 x cot provided
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Starter pack for fire inc. in rent
  • Roadside parking for two cars (in lay-by)
  • Enclosed lawned garden
  • Two well-behaved dogs welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop 5.5 miles, pub 3 miles
  • Note: No mobile reception and WiFi is basic
  • Note: Dogs must be kept away from livestock in surrounding farms

The property

This lovely red sandstone cottage is 7 miles from the county town of Haddington and 8 miles from the coastal town of Dunbar in South East Scotland.

Hidden along a winding lane and surrounded by idyllic countryside, this cottage feels remote despite being only 45 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh, making it perfect for anyone looking to escape from everyday life and enjoy exploring this beautiful part of Scotland.

Make your way into the spacious open plan kitchen/diner, equipped with everything you could need to rustle up a hearty feast and including a dining table for everyone to gather round.

Look forward to unwinding in the sitting room with a large wood burning stove to keep you all toasty on chillier evenings, where there are two plush sofas waiting for you to sink into them.

Going back past the kitchen, there is a hallway which leads into the bedrooms, including a double and zip/link twin for flexible sleeping arrangements, followed by a family bathroom with bath and shower over.

Outside there is a large enclosed garden, which is completely lawned, offering plenty of space to play and ideal for those with children and pets.

From the doorstep, there are a number of walks which cut through the delicate countryside and into the Lammermuirs - perfect for a morning stroll or a sunset walk.

A short drive away is the village of East Linton with an independent bakery, a great butcher, post office and pubs - also close to historic Preston Mill or Concorde at the Museum of Flight.

Preston Mill was a filming location for Outlander and there are many other filming locations in the county.

Haddington, Dunbar and North Berwick are the three main towns in East Lothian and each have their own historic buildings to explore, all within 25 minutes of Old Smiddy Cottage and each offering a different vibe.

The medieval market town of Haddington has a good mix of independent shops including cafes, pubs and restaurants and a farmers market on the last Saturday of the month.

Tantallon Castle sits on the edge of cliffs looking out to the Bass Rock while the ruin of Hailes Castle is hidden on the banks of the River Tyne near Haddington.

Don’t miss nearby sunny Dunbar on East Lothian’s coast with its stunning beaches, where you can try wakeboarding as well as sinking your teeth into the fascinating history of this charming town.

East Lothian with its rolling hills, stunning beaches, world-class golf courses and high quality food and drink scene is a fantastic part of Scotland to explore, as well as offering relaxing spas to really help you unwind.

Although easily accessible through good transport links you can quickly escape into the countryside for a taste of rural living.

Exploring from your base in East Lothian you can find wonderful woodland walks at Pressmennan Wood, Binning Wood or Byres Hill and nothing beats a breathtaking beach - why not try pony trekking at Seacliff?

Or a good walk along Tyninghame, Gullane or Belhaven Bay before heading to North Berwick for a boat visit to the Bass Rock or the Scottish Seabird Centre.

For a change of pace, visit Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city which is full of things to see and do before returning to your peaceful base at Old Smiddy Cottage.

EPC Rating: Band G

EPC Rating: Band G

Short-term Holiday Let Licence No: EL-00448-F

View on map

About the location

HADDINGTON

Gullane 8 miles; North Berwick 9.5 miles; Dunbar 11 miles; Edinburgh 18.7 miles

Twenty miles east of Edinburgh is the small town of Haddington, which has long been the cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian, and sits on the north-east bank of the River Tyne. Once famous for its mills, it was also the fourth-largest town in Scotland during the Middle-Ages, and went on to be the centre of the Scottish Agricultural Revolution.
The medieval layout of the town has been little altered since then, and to preserve the historic buildings the government rehabilitated many of Haddington's structures to ensure their preservation. Nowadays, Haddington is a beautiful market town, rich in history and with many attractions. Travel over to Lennoxlove House, one of Scotland’s most ancient and notable houses, in the middle of an extensive estate, or roam about the Butterdean Wood amongst the rich selection of flora and fauna, where Roe deer graze and the birdlife is vast. Play some holes at the long-established Haddington Golf Club where visiting parties are welcome, and you can relax in the clubhouse afterwards. Haddington will serve you as the perfect location to explore this gorgeous county of East Lothian.