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Mercat Cottage

(Ref. 951087)

Cockenzie and Port Seton near Edinburgh, Scottish Borders Show on map

4.5

Sykes rating

  • 6 Guests

  • 2 Bedrooms

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Ground floor accommodation
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Garden / Patio
  • Highchair available
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Seaside
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (51)
  • lovely (30)
  • our (27)
  • stay (26)
  • great (25)
  • location (19)

79 Customer Reviews

  • "The cottage was lovely very clean and great if you’re not in a wheelchair, our daughter can’t do anything for herself, couldn’t get her in the shower or toilet, had to sort her in the bedroom, aparking place was saved for us but people parked behind us which made it difficult to get out."

    We were surprised there wasn’t a cupboard to put groceries in apart from fridge, we would definitely recommend the cottage to able bodied as long as able to walk inside, Thankyou for letting us stay in your cottage.

    Reviewed by Anthony4.1Sep 2024

  • "The photos do not do the cottage justice, the open plan living area is much bigger than it looks, excellent crawling arena for an 8 month old and room for pre bed zoomies for a staffy!"

    Everything was lovely, super clean, well maintained, beautiful gardens, great outdoor area for breakfast (weather dependent), peaceful, so near to the sea and public transport. The quirky decor was inspiring. The art studios, shops and gardens are great for an at home day. I am definitely coming back soon.

    Reviewed by Matildamay5.0Sep 2024

  • "The property was dirty."

    I cleaned the wash hand basin which at first glance i thought was just worn but had thick grey mould around the plug and the plug hole was full of it and required lots of unspeakable debris and hair pulling out of it. The sofa bed is broken anddid not open and looked very thin and probably not sleepable on as per previous reviews. The cooker had a spillage which set the main alarm off. We stood outside for a.xonsiderable time while someone cam to cancel it. They did not investigate the cause. we did not eat the first night and had takeaway the second The housekeeper arrived on Monday to clean it. We subsequently threw away most of our food and left on Wednesday after realising that the grime was also on the bottom of a baking tray we had removed from the oven and which caused it to smoke when we tried to use it again on the Wednesday. This caused us to have to open all of the doors as therw are no opening windowa in the kitchen living area and no cooker extractor fan. The emergency phone number was not answered. The oven in my opinion being narrow, having only one shelf and no separate grill is not fit for six people. The cottage is not for six people. Had the sofa bed been functional it was impossible to sleep in that room due to two very bright emergency exit lights. The gardens are accessible by the public 24/7 and children walked in on one occasion. This is not in the listing nor the events where there is no privacy to be had. Overall it is tired and dated with the kitchen area and electric cooker sited on carpet. There is no draining rack for dishes and the tiny ice box was full of ice. The double bed sheets had old stains on them which was unpleasant although all bedding was clean.The beeping smoke alrm which i reported was taken away as they did not have a battery. I intend to seek financial compensation. We went home on Wednesday which should speak for itself.

    We are so sorry that you were so dissatisfied with your stay at the Mercat Cottage. We have analysed your feedback and have the following comments: 1. Cleanliness. If there was something that was not to your liking, you could have contacted us to make amends. You had our email address and telephone numbers and you did receive extremely prompt responses to the fire alarm issue 2. Spillage in the oven causing fire alarm activation. We received two separate calls regarding your issues. For both events you received three responses, one from a manager, two from our Maintenance Manager, including on a Sunday, all within 50 minutes. We apologise that your call was not answered on the Sunday but your emails were. We corresponded on the Monday morning and you allowed our Housekeeper to visit the property and clean the oven. She also tested the oven before she left around midday on the Monday to ensure that everything was working normally. It was. The hob and microwave were working so you were not without cooking facilities 3. We were unaware of your departure on Wednesday. Perhaps you could have let us know so that we could secure the building as most other guests do if they have to leave earlier than planned. 4. Thank you for the feedback regarding the sofa bed, we will check this out. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Jane1.3Aug 2024

  • "Fifth year staying hear and another wonderful visit."

    Lovely central location in a very quiet freindly village. Just across the village road to a lovely beach cove and harbour.

    Reviewed by Carol5.0Jun 2024

  • "A wonderful cottage, really comfortable and lovely and clean."

    The master bedroom was lovely and bit and the twin room was well presented. Plenty of space for 2 cars and it was nice to have a cone to be able to save the space when we went out for the day. Having the vintage/retro fayte on the first Saturday of the month and the one we went to was followed by the ABBA tribute concert making for an enjoyable day! The only thing that could be changed in this cottage is the curtain in the toilet to something that can not be seen through, but other than that, a brilliant cottage!

    Reviewed by Jessie5.0May 2024

  • "Lovely cottage, very central to places we wished to visit."

    Cafe on site excellent for breakfast and lunch. It would have been nice to have had some refreshments eg milk, tea and coffee as we had a horrendous journey getting stuck in long ques of traffic because of accidents and road works and we wanted refreshments before unpacking the car.

    Reviewed by Neil4.4May 2024

  • "Attached to the historical Cockenzie House, Mercat Cottage is an ideal holiday cottage."

    Convenietly close to the sea shore, it also offers full access to the grounds and garden of Cockenzie House, including a lovely cafe. We've enjoyed a number of holidays at the house and highly recommend it as a holiday retreat. Housekeeping staff are usually nearby if needed and are pleasant and helpful. Some of the house furnishings reflect the fact that Cockenzie House is also home to a number of art & craft artisans. Our only criticism would be the bedding arrangements. At present, the property is presented as being able to sleep 6 persons. The two unfortunates allocated to the lounge sofa bed would by all accounts have a rough night. We found it an unpleasant sofa just to sit on and other reviews have noted that a good night's sleep is well nigh impossible. I hope this is a problem the owner's can address in the near future.

    Reviewed by Eddie3.8May 2024

  • "Hi There was not enough tissue roll in the toilet."

    The sofa bed is not sleep able. The mattress is too thin and difficult to sleep on. Rest was all Okay. Thanks

    Reviewed by Mohammed Junaid Y4.1Apr 2024

  • "Location of the cottage is beautiful, able to walk and bike along the waters edge, beautiful little seafront parks, all amenities close at hand."

    Bus service is amazing, bus stop almost right outside cockenzie house and takes you into Edinburgh for £2 amazing. The cottage itself was a little shabby chic ( more shabby than chic) the sofas were hideously uncomfortable, and the rooms were a little cold even with the radiators ( especially the bedroom) the bed however was magnificent really big and incredibly comfortable. Would definitely stay at cockenzie again but probably not at Mercat cottage.

    Reviewed by Jan3.4Apr 2024

  • "Lovely cottage which is well situated to explore the area."

    5 minute drive to get to main road to get to so many different areas of Scotland and Northumberland. Train station is also nearby to get an easy stress free trip in to Edinburgh. Cockenzie House itself is is worth a good look around and then to end up at the cafe is such a bonus. Food is freshly cooked and lots of cake to go with your cuppa. It takes less than a 5 minute walk to get to the shoreline of the Firth of Forth, so lots of great walks with the dog. The cottage had lots of space and well equipped. Will hopefully come back soon. Thank you

    Reviewed by Diane5.0Apr 2024

  • "Felt a little basic compared to other Sykes cottages we have stayed in."

    No welcome pack due to ‘Covid’ was disappointing. Location great, easy to get into Edinburgh on the train. Cafe 2 mins away was excellent.

    Reviewed by Georgina4.4Mar 2024

  • "The accomodation was fine."

    However, in your listing it says two off road parking spaces. The reality was this is a very busy community arts, studio centre and very busy cafe making parking almost impossible if you return to the accomodation before 5pm! We booked the accommodation after carefully studying your description of the property as we are both disabled and need parking close to accommodation. Instead, we had to park several times on the main road a reasonable walk for a disabled person away. Then had to go back get the car and park it in the evening! Ideally at a centre with accommodation it would have been useful to mark a bay for accommodation guests only. We also feel you should modify the description on your website and make it more obvious parking is not always available for other disabled users.

    Hello. Thank you for your feedback. If you had let us know that you needed to have the care right next to your accommodation, we would have been able to reserve a space. We have done this for other visitors. We do provide a telephone number and email address to all our visitors and encourage them to use it if they have any issues during their stay. Our Housekeeper is also always on the go in the cobbled courtyard, if she did not manage to say hello (depending on the time of your arrival). She was another route for you to communicate your issue with us. Thanks again and we hope to have you back. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Paul4.7Feb 2024

  • "Fantastic cottage."

    .. such a friendly team welcomed us and a lovely place - great value for the price. Even in winter the cottage was lovely and warm and had everything we needed. Just across the road from the sea there is a lovely walk along the front between the two harbours and of course the house gardens/grounds themselves. The main house next door also has a Cafe with fantastic food and gift / craft shops in the main building. I highly recommend getting the Scottish House coffee from the gift shop known I think as "Number 22" and using the Bodum coffee pot in the cottage - a great start to the day. There is also a large LIDL store just a mile away and a newsagents/general store right next door to the site so easy to get shoppi

    Reviewed by Matt5.0Dec 2023

  • "We had a wonderful stay."

    Perfect base for exploring. Free parking at Prestonpans train station car park which gets you into Edinburgh in 15 minutes. Temperatures dropped to -5 during our stay and the cottage was super cosy. Nice costal walk over the road which was perfect for walking the dog. Highly recommend and would love to stay again. Thank you.

    Reviewed by Emma5.0Nov 2023

  • "Use the cottage twice a year for several years now home from home"

    Reviewed by Pauline5.0Nov 2023

  • "Lovely cottage and a very warm welcome."

    Love the large comfortable bed in the main bedroom and large Living Room and Diner. The housekeeper welcomed us and was really friendly and gave us all the information we needed. We liked the place that much we have booked again for December already. Matt & Julie.

    Reviewed by Matt4.7Oct 2023

  • "Excellent facilities in a superb setting."

    No hesitation in recommending this property. Staff were very helpful without being intrusive.

    Reviewed by Harry5.0Oct 2023

  • "Great place to have a holiday."

    Great place to stay. Great cottage facilities suites us. Our dog says it’s the best place to stay. I’ve only been twice a year so far but I’m going to try for three times in 2025.

    Reviewed by Joseph4.1Aug 2023

  • "Needs improvement for money charged."

    Ill fitting doors, no heating in bathrooms, wash basin in shower room would be handy,Rubbish internet asked for it to be sorted as it went down and my step daughter relies on it as she is autistic/adhd, (this is a big deal for her) The location is as good as any, on bus route straight into the city. Cafe very good better if it opened earlier for breakfast, other eateries all within walking distance,Seaglass Inn very good meals and service. Just my opinion at time of visit,

    We would like to respond to this feedback, particularly about the 'rubbish internet'. The guest did email us mid way through their stay to tell us that the internet had gone down. We made changes and asked if there had been improvement. We invited the guest to pop into the Main House if they had not seen any change. The guest did not do this so we were unaware that he and his family were still having problems. If we had known this, we would have phoned our IT Manager. Interestingly, when we discovered the internet was still down after the guests left, we called our IT Manager who came within the hour. He had to reset the hub which had forcibly been set back to factory settings. This resetting to factory meant that the changes we had originally made (the fault had been caused by an overcautious person in the Main House turning off a socket) could not work. We do provide a telephone number and email address for guests so that we can help during their stay. These are manned 24 hours and the details are pointed out to guests on arrival. In terms of redecoration, our kitchen and living area was redecorated by a professional decorator at the beginning of July. We are sorry that we were not able help this guest on this occasion. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Andrew3.1Aug 2023

  • "No point in having a washing machine when there was nowhere to dry washing, the ..."

    No point in having a washing machine when there was nowhere to dry washing, the site was lovely and the local pub The Thorntree was excellent and Bene’s fish n chip was great, sadly we were cold in the cottage, even though there were heaters the cottage didn’t feel warm

    Hello. Yes, there is a washing machine and we have provided a drying rack which is folded up with pegs in the downstairs bedroom. Current guests are using this now, we see. We also provide an information pack and numbers and emails to contact us if guests have any problems. We would have been happy to direct the guest so that they could find the drying rack. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Anthony3.8Aug 2023

  • "We as a family loved everything about this holiday home."

    like to return one day.location and locals also made it a fantastic week.

    Reviewed by Andrew5.0Jul 2023

  • "A fantastic suite in a great setting."

    We should have allocated more time to spend right at gardens and facilities, and in the nearby community. A wonderful stop on our journey.

    Reviewed by Randy5.0May 2023

  • "A superb cottage with fascinating Jacobite history."

    Excellent cafe in the building and lovely gardens. Near the old harbour. Great Italian and Chinese takeaways minutes away. Only half an hour the Edinburgh and North Berwick. We are coming back later this year.

    Reviewed by Peter5.0Apr 2023

  • "A purfect cottage for a purfect restful holiday."

    Reviewed by Joseph5.0Mar 2023

  • "Fantastic break ."

    Everything you needed and more for a comfortable holiday. Staff were first class and nothing was a bother. We will return again this year

    Reviewed by Catherine5.0Feb 2023

  • "We had a great week at this fantastic location."

    The staff and the locals were very friendly.

    Reviewed by Ian5.0Jan 2023

  • "Mercat Cottage is our home away from home when coming to see our son and his family."

    This is the second time we have been in the last 3 months. We love using this cottage and it is an excellent base for going places

    Reviewed by Maria5.0Jan 2023

  • "The only problem is sometimes you are unable to park near cottage as hubby is ..."

    The only problem is sometimes you are unable to park near cottage as hubby is not able to walk far and uses a walking frame and it's a cobbled parking area so not good for abled bodies to walk on saying that it won't stop us going back we have already booked for April

    Reviewed by Pauline5.0Nov 2022

  • "We had a lovely stay at the cottage."

    It was comfortable and a great base for going to visit our Son and his family. The only complaint I had as there was no hoover to clean the carpets. With habing a dog it needed doing regularly. However we contacted Cockenzie House and they brought us one over to use. If possible it would be handy to have storage space fir groceries. We will certainly booking to book on a regular basis

    Reviewed by Maria4.1Nov 2022

  • "Lovely, quirky cottage yards from the coast."

    We had a great, peaceful stay in Cockenzie, Our dog loved the coast walks along the John Muir Way. The cottage is quite basic with lots of unusual touches, very spacious and comfy. It could do with some upgrading, especially the TV. Also, there are no condiments such as salt and pepper, so a small welcome pack would be useful. Despite this we would definitely come back again.

    Reviewed by Brian4.7Oct 2022

  • "We enjoyed our holiday at Mercat Cottage."

    We appreciated the ground floor accommodation, the space and the locality particularly the close proximity of the Firth of Forth. The lounge and bedrooms are quite spacious and comfortable. We particularly enjoyed having direct access to the grounds of Cockenzie House and Cafe Filly is absolutely great, we had several meal there and they were all excellent. The cottage is slightly different to many, in some cases furnished in a very simple way but were quite happy with that. Our only reservation is that it is quite dark but there are lights!! All the people we met were pleasant and very helpful and made us and our dog most welcome. We may well return next year.

    Reviewed by David5.0Sep 2022

  • "We absolutely loved the cottage, proximity, grounds, how close all the amenities were, the onsite cafe, the free live music and all the staff and volunteers."

    Wish we could have stayed for 2 weeks. Would definitely come again. Fabulous bus service right on the doorstep too. Even bought some beautiful plants from the allotment. Loved every minute and the weather was perfect too.

    Reviewed by Susan5.0Aug 2022

  • "Mercat Cottage and Cockenzie is a wonderful and perfect location for a holiday."

    The people are extremely friendly and welcoming as well. Mercat cottage is very spacious and has everything you could need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. Just 20 minutes drive to explore Edinburgh and there are endless lovely beaches right on your doorstep, which we virtually had to ourselves most of the time - and this is in the 2nd week of July when we had outstanding sunny weather every day with temperatures in the mid 20's. We will certainly wish to return here again when we visit the east coast of Scotland and highly recommend Mercat Cottage and the other holiday cottages in Cockenzie.

    Reviewed by Steve5.0Jul 2022

  • "Very spacious and comfortable living areas, very comfortable beds in a quiet area."

    The property is less than a two minute walk from the nearest beach and Cockenzie house grounds are very pleasant to walk in too.

    Reviewed by David5.0Jun 2022

  • "Very friendly staff and beautiful gardens."

    Reviewed by Carol5.0Jun 2022

  • "Lovely cottage and so close to the sea we enjoyed our stay"

    Reviewed by Paul5.0May 2022

  • "We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Cockenzie and Mercat Cottage!"

    Reviewed by Gary5.0May 2022

  • "This was a charming place to stay for a few days."

    We enjoyed our stay in Mercat cottage and it was lovely being a part of Cockenzie House.

    Reviewed by Gillian4.7May 2022

  • "Hi there. We had a really great stay at Mercat cottage over Easter."

    Everything was just as we expected and extremely clean. All the staff and housekeeping were very friendly and helpful. The gardens are lovely and we enjoyed popping in to the main building to see the artwork, museum and shop. Parking was not an issue at all. Despite the fire alarm incident early one morning, we had a great time and thank you for the reassurances and gift. My brother lives in Edinburgh now, so we will definitely come and stay again!

    Reviewed by Catherine4.7Apr 2022

  • "Quaint cottage beautifully clean and well equipped."

    The sea is directly across the road. Edinburgh can be reached by train in 15 mins. Only 5 min drive to train station. There is a lidl and B&m only 2 min drive away so you can stock up on food. I went with 4 kids and a dog and had a wonderful time. Would definitely recommend.

    Reviewed by Helen5.0Apr 2022

  • "Thoroughly enjoyed our stay yet again it's only 10 minutes away from our son and family they are always made welcome when they come to the cottage."

    Lisa the house keeper always cheerful very helpful if we need any thing and always makes time for a chat with us all we have had numerous holidays there and will be hoping to go again later in the year

    Reviewed by Pauline5.0Mar 2022

  • "This is a regular destination for us as we love the location."

    Contained in a walled garden beside the large house and only 5mins away from the beach. All the staff are so friendly and helpful.

    Reviewed by Keith3.8Feb 2022

  • "I enjoyed staying at Mercat Cottage."

    My only minor quibble about the listing is that it says there is parking for 2 vehicles. This implies that the parking is exclusive. This is not so, it is very much on a first come basis. Everything else was lovely. Warm and comfortable.

    Reviewed by Angela4.7Feb 2022

  • "The listing says that WiFi is intermittent however we had no issues whatsoever, and the owners were kind enough to let us know that when I asked them - and also offer a plan B for me for a remote interview that I was having during my stay if needed."

    The cottage was everything we could have wished for. Clean and well-equipped. Communication was timely and helpful.

    Reviewed by Nikki4.4Jan 2022

  • "Loved it, have a lively time."

    Very warm and cosy and great location :) We’d definitely come back again!!!

    Reviewed by Alexander5.0Dec 2021

  • "Fantastic place to stay, lovely grounds would recommend to anyone,"

    Reviewed by Frankie5.0Nov 2021

  • "Very enjoyable stay at Mercat."

    Reviewed by Joseph5.0Nov 2021

  • "We find everyone so friendly nothing is too much trouble if we need anything"

    Reviewed by Pauline5.0Oct 2021

  • "Great location Accomodation old fashioned but quirky Very clean and everything we needed Enjoyable stay"

    Reviewed by Diane3.4Oct 2021

  • "Absolutely beautiful cottage, very well laid out with lovely decor."

    Cooking for 2 adults, 4 children and a dog is never easy but the lovely people from Cockenzie House made it a whole lot easier after I was after bigger pans! Nothing was too much trouble, and they stopped to chat and tell us what was happening at the house each day. The small cove over the road was like hitting the jackpot and the kids and dog swam and had fun. Definitely recommend this cottage as we couldn't have felt more comfortable or welcomed, thank you for a lovely week

    Reviewed by Kirstie5.0Aug 2021

  • "For us the only issue was that the master bed was quite soft."

    But that’s personal preference. Overall a lovely stay in a beautiful location with friendly hosts in a lovely cottage in picturesque surroundings. Would definitely stay again.

    Reviewed by Stuart4.7Jul 2021

  • "We just a lovely week in Mercat Cottage."

    The accomodation was vey comfortable and very clean. The bed was really comfortable and we slept very well. It was nice to have information about the history of the place which is reflected in the decor of the various rooms. The garden and the cafe were lovely and we enjoyed every minute of our stay. Would love to go back

    Reviewed by Ursula5.0May 2021

  • "Really enjoyed are stay we will be going back there when we can."

    It was a lovely cottage in a nice area the people lovely and helpful just waiting for this covid-19 to disappear and we'll be going back

    Reviewed by James4.7Oct 2020

  • "PARKING WAS A PROBLEM."

    UNTIL THE CARETAKER PROVIDED TWO TRAFFIC CONES WE HAD TO PARK WELL AWAY FROM THE COTTAGE AND ON ONE OCCASION WE HAD TO LEAVE THE COBBLED YARD AND COME BACK LATER BECAUSE ALL THE SPACES WERE TAKEN BY CARS AND VANS.

    We are sorry to see this feedback given the nice note that the guest left thanking us for the lovely cottage. Having taken advice from Sykes, we believe that our listing is accurate. We do provide safe "off road parking" which is in an enclosed courtyard. This courtyard is used by other visitors to and businesses within the Cockenzie House & Gardens complex particularly during the hours of 10am until 4pm. Outwith these hours there is plenty space for parking close to the Mercat Cottage. We also add that we responded very quickly when the guest had a parking problem, as we do whenever any of our guests have an issue. We are on site and available 24/7 for all our guests Property Owner

    Reviewed by Roger G2.8Sep 2020

  • "The cottage is a perfect location if you have a course at Cockenzie House, also v close to the shore line of the Forth."

    The cottage is very over priced for the state of the accommodation, which is basic. Heating and hot water is good; TV signal poor; sofas not comfortable; chairs a bit wonky; nails in the carpet that we got caught by; no windows in loo and shower room; no dish washer... we had to ask for shower to be cleaned & we had to wash all crockery before using. Note due to Covid no cleaning products are provided. We did get more than 1 loo roll and cleaner when requested. Food at Cockenzie house is excellent but v average in the local area.

    Reviewed by Deanne2.5Aug 2020

  • "They stated that there was a small enclosed area belonging to the cottage ."

    That is not correct there was direct access into the main gardens no gates or fencing and in the main garden there was an open gate onto a main road . This could be a serious problem for anyone who’s dog runs off .Other than that the cottage was just as described

    Reviewed by Jean4.4Aug 2020

  • "Great place to stop over for a couple of nights on our way up to Northern Scotland."

    Lovely gardens, beach nearby, friendly staff and a great cafe on site too. Our 1 year old and 5 year old had a great time running around exploring the allotment, wildlife garden and nearby beach.

    Reviewed by Tom4.1Aug 2020

  • "We had a lovely stay at mercat cottage."

    The grounds are lovely, and particularly useful when there are children in your party. The cottage was spacious, and was equipped with everything we needed. The tunnocks teacakes were a lovely surprise on arrival! The surrounding area was blissful and quiet...exactly what we were hoping for from our break. The only criticism was the windows in the blooming room. There was alot of cobwebs around the frames, which was disappointing. However, apart from this, everything was perfect! Thankyou for a lovely stay, and we will definitely visit again!

    Reviewed by Linda4.1Aug 2020

  • "The holiday cottage was perfect for us."

    The setting and access to gardens just right, our dog loved it. The distance to sea in a few minutes just across road and walk along part of John Muir Way. There was some interesting information about the history of the house and area. Its great that the charity are keeping the venue for community. I thought the allotments and opportunity to buy plants there made you feel you were helping positively, for the volunteers who keep the gardens in order. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. A couple of chippys just a ten min walk away and small coop. We didn't try the local pubs as went to Edinburgh (only 30 mins. drive and the beautiful North Berwick. We enjoyed our stay

    Reviewed by Julie4.7Mar 2020

  • "Excellent cottage, great location."

    very clean and the host was very welcoming.

    Reviewed by Maria5.0Jan 2020

  • "A well maintained, comfortable and unusual cottage."

    It was important that it was right as it was our first Christmas away from home with our children. A holiday let is not your home and there are always bound to be one or two compromises but we had everything we needed for a great family Christmas. The location right next to the Firth of Forth is a birders and walkers paradise and the proximity to local shops and pubs convenient. You get the best of both worlds by being able to use is as a base for visiting Edinburgh.

    Reviewed by Marc4.7Dec 2019

  • "The cottage was very nice and everything was as expected."

    We had a very enjoyable holiday with no problems.

    Reviewed by Paul5.0Dec 2019

  • "Everyone so friendly nothing too much trouble such a relaxing atmosphere"

    Reviewed by Pauline5.0Nov 2019

  • "It was her homely and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay."

    Strongly recommend.

    Reviewed by Nischay5.0Nov 2019

  • "The cottage really exceeded our expectations."

    It was spacious and warm and very clean. The people from Cockenzie House were very welcoming and someone was on hand at the office in the house if we needed anything. Access to the Cockenzie House was an added bonus as it had lots to offer as well as a really lovely coffee shop and gift shop. Would definitely recommend this cottage.

    Reviewed by Keith5.0Oct 2019

  • "The bed mattress was too soft and the settes were uncomfortable."

    Great place for visiting places of interest. Quite a quirky and idiosyncratic.

    Reviewed by Janice3.4Jul 2019

  • "The welcome was warm and friendly and the location was great - 3 minutes walk to a small cove and lovely views across the Forth."

    Bus stop almost outside to get to Edinburgh, North Berwick, Haddington and places en route.

    Reviewed by Gillian3.8Jun 2019

  • "Mercat cottage is a little gem."

    An excellent location for both exploring Edinburgh and exploring rock pools and harbours along the coast. The cottage itself is charming and well equipped. It is clean and the beds are very comfortable. Everyone we met had time to chat and pass the time. What more could you ask for? We had problems with the Internet connection the first couple of days until we unplugged the hub and plugged it in again! We didn’t have any problem after that! ;)

    Reviewed by Carole5.0Jun 2019

  • "Everything was perfect apart from the internet we never had any all week but this did not affect our holiday in any way and would certainly recommend mercat cottage for a fantastic place to stay."

    Reviewed by Adrian4.7May 2019

  • "Really spacious, I would be back !"

    Reviewed by Coen5.0Apr 2019

  • "Our second visit this year and, as always, the staff couldn’t be more helpful."

    The welcome pack on both occasions exceeded our expectations. Access to the grounds of Cockenzie House for dog and owner alike is a real bonus, as is ready access to the John Muir Coastal Walk.

    Reviewed by Brian5.0Dec 2018

  • "The cottage exceeded our expectations & was ideal for us."

    We did not realise how close to the beach it was. The staff were welcoming & helpful even when we arrived & somehow the booking had not got through to them.They got the cottage ready quickly & left a super welcome breakfast pack which was much appreciated. They accomodated our needs with our dogs & we will definately be back as this is an ideal base to visit elderly parents which was the purpose of our stay.The cottage was spacious & light & had all you need to be comfortable.

    Reviewed by Angela4.4Nov 2018

  • "Lovely cottage with the friendliest people."

    Comfortable and warm (it went very cold outside!!). In a great location. So easy to get in and out of Edinburgh on the bus as well as driving a little further to the Forth Bridge, Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel. Loved it!!

    Reviewed by Sara4.4Oct 2018

  • "The staff from the big house were great Lisa the house keeper welcomed us with milk bread butter jam and some chocolate tea cakes mmmmmm."

    Thankyou Lisa. And thankyou to Marietta we had a lovely time as it was our 39th wedding anniversary. This is a cottage we will be going to for a long time to come.

    Reviewed by Joseph5.0Aug 2018

  • "The first cottage we visited, Merewood Cottage in the Lake District, was very fine."

    The second one, Mercat, was a disappointment. It was not well cleaned, the kitchen hardly deserves the description, WiFi (needed nowadays) was very bad. I was lucky that I decided not to work during my stay (which I usually do a little with the help of email etc.), otherwise it would have been a disaster. People were friendly and I think that they are proud of their community achievement for which the commercialization of the cottage is a part of, but Sykes should not connect its service to it untill they reach a certain level.

    Reviewed by Jos1.9Jul 2018

  • "The location was ideal for someone visiting Edinburgh."

    The accommodation was homely and comfortable. With its large main living room, we were easily able to entertain our family (who live in Edinburgh) for Boxing Day. A total of 15 people.

    Reviewed by Richard4.6Dec 2017

  • "Staff were very helpful and greeted us with warmth and friendliness."

    They gave us a welcome starter pack of bread, milk, eggs and jam, they advised us of all the local eateries and were always at hand to ensure that our stay was memorable.

    Reviewed by Margaret5.0Nov 2017

  • "Lovely cottage in a great location."

    Next to the sea but can get bus to Edinburgh from bus stop outside cottage. Had a lovely relaxing holiday here, the tea shop in cockenzie house is well worth a visit.

    Reviewed by Deborah5.0Oct 2017

  • "Cockenzie House is a fantastic place to stay, with fantastic staff."

    Reviewed by Lindsay5.0Apr 2017

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Summary

  • All-ground-floor
  • Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size double, 1 x twin
  • Shower room with shower
  • Basin and WC
  • Open plan living area with kitchenette, dining area and sitting area with sofa bed and electric fire
  • Electric portable radiators and electric fire
  • Electric oven and hob, fridge, washing machine, TV with Freeview, DVD, WiFi (signal is intermittent at the property), selection of books, games and DVDs
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Highchair
  • Off road parking for 2 cars
  • Shared use of estate grounds with formal garden
  • Private patio area with furniture
  • One well-behaved dog welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop 0.1 miles, pub 0.3 miles
  • Please note, this property has a minimum night stay of x3 nights

The property

This characterful and unique ground floor cottage is part of 17th century Cockenzie House and Gardens in the unified town of Cockenzie and Port Seton, just a thirty minute drive from Edinburgh.

The house and gardens show fantastic exhibitions with a traditional tea room and studio space for local artists who have refurbished some of the furniture used in Mercat Cottage.

The main open plan living space is a colourful area with a kitchenette with a washing machine and basin set into an alcove to one side.

There is a comfortable sitting area with a sofa bed, an electric fire and a dining area with more than enough space for the whole group to enjoy meals together.

The bedrooms each have their own individual style with both having names linked to the history of the area.

'The Blooming Room' is named after the award-winning Ladies in Bloom group, has a double bed and is decorated in a shabby chic style.

'The Power Station Room' commemorates the decommissioned Cockenzie power station and features quirky framed facts.

Completing the accommodation is the separate shower room 'Seton Sands' and the toilet room 'The Boat Shore Bog'.

Outside guests have access to the shared formal gardens and lawns and there is a private patio seating area.

The cottage is in a fantastic location just a short walk from the shores of the Firth of Forth and you can visit the nearby galleries, shops and cafés.

Just twelve miles away is Edinburgh with a host of activities and places of interest.

You could easily fill your days and still not see everything that is on offer in this area.

Note: This property can be booked with Ref. 951097, together sleeping up to 10 people.

EPC Rating: Band E

EPC Rating: Band E

Short-term Holiday Let Licence No: EL-00346-F

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About the location

COCKENZIE AND PORT SETON

Edinburgh 12.7 miles; North Berwick 13.7 miles; Dunbar 18.9 miles

The coastal town of Cockenzie and Port Seaton is just a short drive from Edinburgh and is home to some of its own fantastic amenities. Visit the galleries, tea rooms and gardens or walk a stretch of the John Muir Way which runs along the shore; the perfect way to admire the breath-taking views out to sea. There are a number of golf courses within easy reach where you can test your swing and trips to Edinburgh are a must. The country’s capital boasts an impressive castle offering spectacular views over the city, The Royal Mile which is lined with quaint shops and eateries, as well as Holyrood Palace and the new Scottish Parliament. The New Town part of the city offers elegant Georgian buildings and streets with a wealth of shopping, eating and drinking to suit all tastes; perfect for guests looking for something more vibrant. The accessibility of the surrounding countryside, hills, beautiful seaside resorts and beaches make Cockenzie and Port Seaton the perfect base to explore Scotland.

Please note, this property has a minimum night stay of x3 nights.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas