Pear Cottage - Priorwood Garden

Truly enjoyed Pear Cottage - a delightful little "snug" for two people.

Melrose is an engaging little town, great for walks, and of course, Melrose Abbey is a wonder. Alexander at the Abbey is a great speaker delivering a most interesting talk on the origins of the Abbey and St Cuthbert. And Helen, the abbess of Pear Cottage, is helpful and a delight to speak with.

Excellent cottage, really loved everything about this place.

As described, cosy, comfortable, compact.

..roomy kitchen very well equipped. Bed large and great mattress and pillows. Had a retro feel with good quality brown and other furniture. Powerful, easy to operate shower over and fast wi fi. Extreamley well located and an off road parking space was a boon in busy Melrose which had lots of attractions, eateries, hotels etc and a magnificent ice cream parlour 50 yards away. Would definately return.

Great accommodation.

Very spacious for a one bedroomed apartment. Well decorated and great location. Would recommend unreservedly. We would have no hesitation in booking again. Thank you. Elaine

Perfect place for a couple exploring the Borders

A beautifully presented cottage in an excellent location.

It has a real cosey and homely feel. The housekeeping staff do an excellent job of leaving it pristine for each new booking. With regards to maintenance I would suggest that the stained duvet requires professional laundering or replacing, the worn and tatty pillow protectors also need replacing and the musty smell in the bathroom requires investigation. Despite the above I would happily return to Pear cottage again as it is a very special place.

We were really impressed with the very high standard of this apartment and it made for a wonderful week long break in a stunning location.

We would not hesitate to rebook!

Pear Cottage was very clean, comfortable and tidy.

Very well appointed and cared for. A real home from home, with a great location in the centre of Melrose.

The cottage is in the perfect location for exploring the Scottish Borders.

Everything was spotlessly clean, the cottage is well equipped and very homely. Lovely paintings on the walls and pottery items throughout. It is well maintained. The only downside is that the bed was very uncomfortable, the mattress could do with being replaced. Also, 5pm is too late for a checkin. Having said this, I would definitely recommend the cottage and will stay here again.

A lovely cottage with parking.

All very clean throughout and stocked with a very good collection of everything you need for your stay. Great location for shops and eating out or heading out for walks. My only criticism would be the bed, all the furniture throughout is fairly new and comfortable but the bed was lumpy and uncomfortable and you can see a visible ridge in the middle and two hollows either side. Overall I do love this place and would recommend it but please renew the mattress.

The cottage has been fully redecorated and has new furniture and flooring since we last stayed.

The kitchen and bathroom have also been re-done. Everything has been done beautifully. It's always been cosy and there are lots of lovely paintings and bits and pieces all over the place! Just a delight to stay in! Our only objection is the fact we are not allowed entry until 5.00. We understand that the property has to be cleaned etc., and obviously not everyone leaves it as clean and tidy as we do!!!! A cloth or duster would be appreciated and also a roll of kitchen paper.

Very well equipped accommodation in a perfect location in Melrose.

In the centre of town means all amenities are so close.Really comfortable with a lovely aspect all round from its first floor position.

Ideally located in Melrose.

Very comfortable and well appointed flat. Kitchen has everything you need, lovely bathroom and great shower. Beautiful views over Priory Garden and the Abbey. Ideal base for walking and exploring the Borders.

Pear Cottage ticks every holiday box for us.

We love Melrose and the apartment’s attractive central location is great, especially with the convenience of a designated parking space. The apartment itself is full of character and tradition, very comfortable and extremely well equipped. The small park almost directly behind the apartment was a useful green space for Barley, our dog. We’ll be back; can’t wait!

Pear Cottage was the perfect spot for our holiday in Melrose.

The cottage did not disappoint, it was beautifully decorated, extremely clean and had everything we needed to feel at home for the week. The kitchen was fully equipped with top quality items and I really appreciated the tabs for the washer. The views from every window were stunning and we honestly didn't want to leave, not even our dog. We loved coming back to this beautiful property at the end of the day. I look forward to the day we can stay again.

Great compact and comfortably furnished apartment.

few minor comments - the toilet seat was not screwed in tight so moved in use which was not ideal. Whilst the radiators did come on the temperature was tepid (not an issue for us in late September) But when the weather gets colder temp would need to be increased. The supplied electric radiator in main room was not operational. These issues were all fed back to Sykes Holidays. There was only 1 tea towel and no flat foam or cloth wipes in the kitchen so take your own and spare toilet rolls. Otherwise kitchen well supplied.

Excellent accommodation in a brilliant location to enjoy all the benefits of Melrose and the Scottish Borders.

The flat is well resourced, immaculately clean with wonderful views of the Abbey and Priorwood Gardens. It was a treat to purchase fruit and vegetables from the gardens using their honesty box. We really loved our week in the cottage and would love to make a return visit. Excellent shops and restaurants in the local area. We particularly enjoyed the Hoebridge Inn and Provendor restaurants.

A beautiful cottage in a beautiful setting.

The accommodation was immaculately presented, every detail had been thought out carefully , and every room was equipped and furnished to a very high standard with absolutely everything we needed to make our stay really comfortable and enjoyable. Views from every window were stunning and the location within the town was perfect, with lovely walks from the doorstep and lots of history in the area to explore nearby.

We'd first had the idea of staying at Pear Cottage a year ago when visiting Priorwood Garden and chatting to a member of the National Trust for Scotland team, so were delighted to be able to book for this year.

Provided you can climb up the steps, and if you aren't looking for somewhere in splendid rural isolation - and you want to stay in the Scottish Borders, of course! - this is about as ideal a holiday cottage for two people as it would be possible to find. The cottage itself is great, cosy but spacious, very well-appointed and well-equipped, and with great views across to Melrose Abbey and overlooking Priorwood Garden. And the location is superb - right in the heart of Melrose, only a few minutes away from all the shops & cafes, and Melrose is right in the heart of the Borders with so much to see within an hour's drive or less. And there's a dedicated off-road parking space. We only stayed for 3 days this time, but I'm sure we'll be back and for a longer visit in the future.

The property was finished to a high standard whilst embracing the history and location of the property.

It is a very comfortable property and very well equipped. We had everything we needed for our short break and wished that we had booked for a longer stay.

Cottage was lovely with everything you could need In a brilliant location.

Would definitely book again

The apartment was lovely.

Location great Melrose is a beautiful place with lots of walks from the doorstep. Ideal if like us you holiday with your dog. The kitchen is very well equipped if you enjoying cooking. Would definitely recommend and book again.

This is Our 4th Visit to Pear Cottage, We love the Property, Location, Facilities, Friendly Shops, Eating Places, The Property itself cannot be Faulted, Which is why We keep returning, We were Truly in Awe as the Property had been totally refurbished to an Incredibly High Standard, Whilst keeping & maintaining it's Charm & Traditional appeal, So much so, We have Booked it again for 2026 and will continue to do so in future, Well Done to both Sykes & The Scottish National Trust.

This was our second holiday in Pear Cottage (the first holiday was in November 2016 and we always planned to return as there is such a lot of historical interest in the area).

Pear Cottage itself is a joy to stay in- cosy, bright and beautifully decorated with a garden theme. The views from the windows of Melrose Abbey and the Eildon hills are lovely and the paintings on the walls are delightful. We appreciated the comfortable bed. Everything was spotlessly clean and we had everything we needed. Many thanks.

Very comfortable stay once again.

Travelling on my own means that Pear Tree is highly suitable for my needs. I am informed that a major refurbishment is planned for next year, so it should be even more appealing after that. Highly recommended accommodation.

On our arrival at five pm we started to unpack the car.

I was carrying two small coats up the stone steps when I caught my index finger on my left hand on the railing, a piece of rusty flake of painted metal went under my fingernail and caused me to fall backwards down the steps. I split my head open, broke my collarbone, took a piece of flesh from my right arm and right ankle. I was taken to Melrose hospital by ambulance had a ct scan and spent the next twenty four hours there getting treated for the injuries. I would suggest that you remove the rose bush from the railings, strip the rusty flakes of metal and paint then repaint the railing. Also fit a further rail to the building side of the steps.

A lovely little cottage in a perfect spot for exploring the borders.

Easy access and parking just outside the door are a bonus. All the appliances and utensils you could require for your trip are provided. Just watch out for the shower screen that leaks and the loose toilet seat. Melrose has everything you need for breakfast, lunch, dinner, treats, walks and attractions. The next village over has a rail link with free parking and access straight into Edinburgh, well worth the trip.

Beautiful location next to Priorwood Garden & the Abbey, sweet apartment with a location it’s great to wake up to, everything so adjacent in Melrose, lovely walks from the door with rivers & hills on hand.

That’s all folks!

A comfortable first floor flat set between Melrose Abbey and Priorwood Garden with views of the Eildon Hills.

Convenient for everything in Melrose and the many attractions in the surrounding area. Trains run to Edinburgh from nearby Tweedbank. Access from the kitchen to the new staircase into Priorwood Garden would be a unique asset!

Lovely property, lots of character and a great location.

This is Our Second Visit to Pear Cottage, So Impressed with Our First Holiday, We Booked a Second & will be looking to book again for 2025, Location, Amenities, Surroundings, All exceptional, As with The Cottage, Very Well Presented, Clean, Tidy, Everything You would need, Perfect.

We were fortunate on this Visit to meet The Owners, Who were without doubt, Friendly, Sincere, Helpful and an Absolute Credit to Sykes Owners, As it was Easter, They surprised Us with a Gift of An Easter Egg. We are now looking forward to Our Third Visit , Many Thanks...

Better fridge in terms of size and able to maintain a low temperature would be a good improvement.

Perhaps a washer/dryer might be useful , particularly in poorer weather periods.

A cosy flat providing us with very good accomodation for our holiday.

We were grateful for the warmth of the flat when we arrived on a wet afternoon following a wet walk; milk and shortbread ready for the essential cup of tea. Thank you.

The cottage were absolutely lovely could not fault it in any way.

Clean comfy well equipped for all your needs. Garden was lovely to walk around and just sit and talk. Can’t wait to come back next year for longer than a week. Any one staying here will not be disappointed well worth the money you pay and a very enjoyable stay….. loads to see and do lots of places just a few miles down the road to visit . Thank you The National Trust for allowing us to spend time in your cottage

A lovely apartment in central Melrose.

The location is excellent. Pear cottage has a really nice ‘feel’ to it. The bed was comfortable, there is a new sofa and a replacement new dishwasher was delivered while we were staying. Gordon the NTS manager was very friendly. A few points need to be addressed. There is No under lighting in the kitchen. A single ceiling light is insufficient when working and in my view is a Health & Safety Issue, as the surfaces are dark and you cast your own shadow. The fridge is tiny and the door brackets are too small to hold many cartons/bottles. Finally we agree that installing a grab rail to assist in getting in and out of the bath, having used the shower, again would be a Health & Safety improvement. In conclusion we would certainly recommend Pear Cottage and if the improvements are carried out they would enhance the quality of the stay.

We left the cottage cleaner than we found it.

The bedroom needed dusting and the dishwasher wasn’t working properly. The water didn’t heat up to a sufficient temperature to clean the dishes. There were dirty dishes in the dishwasher when we arrived, possibly put on but not checked. The most distressing was the workmen who arrived at 07.30 on the day of our departure and asked us to move our car. They told us they had work to do for the National Trust. It was raining heavily so my husband offered to move it as long as we could bring it back to pack at 09.00 They said this was no good as they needed time to set up their equipment. They stood and waited at the bottom of the steps until we left. This was unpleasant, unnecessary and stressful. We had understood we had access to the Priory garden but it ruend out this was only during opening hours 10-5pm the same as any member of the public. It would have been lovely to sit there in the evening as there was nowhere else. I am truly sorry if this is all gloom, we have stayed in lots of National Trust Properties in York, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and this was such a disappointment.

We enjoyed a truly first class stay at Pear Cottage.

The facilities provided are excellent value for money. We appreciated very much the nice touch offered by the shortbread 'gift' left on the dining room table. A very nice 'welcome' to the cottage. Excellent location, excellent facilities. The parking space available was a further bonus. Thank you very much.

no salt or kitchen towels available.

Door entrance rather difficult. Welcome information in a rather poor place. Tickety poo shop needs it's door repaired. Possible visit details not all in the one place.

Pear cottage is in a good position in Melrose and having a dedicated parking bay is advantageous.

Negative is not having hanging space in the wardrobe and only drawers and the fridge is very small. The couch in the lounge was hard not sure whether the cushions were missing.

Lovely cosy cottage in excellent location.

Generally well equipped but there are a few things we would suggest could make it even better. The bathroom window does not open. It would be good to get that eased as you need the ventilation for the shower. It would be good to have a grab rail on the bathroom wall so showers would be less daunting for the less well abled who might not have perfect balance. Please get a couple of bowls for serving salad or veg in the kitchen. The fridge is really quite small. It would be a good idea to replace the dishwasher with a bigger fridge. These are suggestions. We really enjoyed our stay. It's a lovely cottage .

ideal base for exploring the area, roses at top of stair case could do with a trim

We had a wonderful week, the property had everything we needed, the apple orchard was in bloom, the birds were singing.

Melrose has good facilities and was a delight. We travelled by train and bus and that worked out well.

Pear Cottage was everything it was described as, Quaint, Exceptionally well furnished & presented, Clean, Beautiful Decor, Quiet, Ideal location for all amenities, We were so impressed, We booked it again for the following year.

Excellent stay enjoyed it very much Regards John Kerr

This was a lovely cottage and we had a fantastic stay the only problem we had was that the electric cooker seemed to have a fault and would turn itself off but we left a not for the owners so hopefully it will be fixed.

Wonderful location in central Melrose.

The comfortable apartment had everything we needed and wanted. Facilities were a bit dated but that wasn’t a problem. Would happily hire the flat again

The dishwasher stopped working mid break, but didn’t affect our break.

Really enjoyed our stay at PearCottage

We loved this cottage.

And the beautiful little Christmas tree was a wonderful surprise.

Pear Cottage is warm and cosy and is situated in an excellent position for walks from the doorstep as well as being in the centre of town.

The views from the windows are lovely, next time we hope to have a walk in the gardens which were closed for the winter. We found the sofa in the lounge to be too low for us to sit on without struggling to get up again but we managed with the two other chairs in the room. The kitchen was well stocked with equipment for cooking a meal when not eating out although the overhead light was too dim, I would suggest LED lights which are much brighter and also low energy. Also, another set of cutlery and plates would remove the need to do the washing up so often, saving more energy. The bed was very comfortable, in fact, the whole bedroom is a lovely place to sit and relax. The switch for turning off the cooker jammed on the last day and would not switch off, I'm sure the cleaners will have reported that though. All in all, we had a lovely week's holiday and hope to return again in the summer.

We enjoyed our week at Pear Cottage and were pleased to note some improvements in the bedroom and living room since our stay last year.

We found the cottage very clean. A couple of suggestions would be to get rid of the very large shelved cupboard in the bedroom and replace with normal size wardrobe with hanging space and drawers. The bathroom remains dated and substandard for the price being charged for this accommodation .

Pear cottage was lovely and we had a great break.

Views into the National Trust garden out of one window and views of the Abbey out of the other. We did have an issue with the current cleaning policy though. Check in is not until after 1700 with check out 0900 the following Saturday so in effect we lost a day (which we had obviously paid for) for cleaning. This would be understandable if the cottage was thoroughly sanitised but we found greasy fingerprints on the shaving mirror and human nose marks on the windows. Not entirely convinced the 8 hours for the deep clean due to covid was necessary considering these obvious areas not being cleaned. The check out for 0900 also requires you to strip the bedding and towels to bag up for the cleaning staff so plan an early start on the day you leave, you'll need it!

Very much enjoyed staying at Pear Cottage.

Melrose and surrounding area very interesting and beautiful. Lots of local restaurants to try out when not cooking in.

Well equipped and very comfortable cottage in great location.

There was a problem.with the tap in the bathroom which was sorted out by the Wednesday of our stay.

Sykes and National Trust Scotland were very helpful and gave all the information requested re the parking problem.

Fortunately there were no problems with the parking during our stay. We didn't find the holiday information until Thursday night, it could have been visible on arrival not tucked away in a drawer. Our train trip to Edinburgh was superb but some information about how easy it is at Tweedbank with free parking would have been useful. The bed is particularly comfortable, well equipped kitchen and cottage is in a very good central position. We had an excellent holiday, thank you.

Pear Cottage was situated in a beautiful setting with the Abbey and gardens nearby.

Restaurants and stores were within walking distance and there was good access to local buses and hiking trails. The apartment was comfortable, charming, peaceful and well stocked with all the essentials. There was good communication from the rental agency before during and after my stay. I would definitely recommend this lovely spot to anyone who is looking for a short or long term holiday rental.

At very short notice we were informed by email that building work was being carried out and therefore parking at the property was no longer available.

At no point did anyone have the courtesy to let us know that the former parking place immediately adjacent to Pear Tree cottage was going to be used for loading building materials into two skips. The noise started on Monday morning at 8am. After we contacted the NTS office to ask for information we did receive a prompt reply and apology. However, we were told that the use of the skips would finish probably by Tuesday and definitely by Wednesday. We were also told that builders had been asked not to load rubble into skips until 10am, or create undue noise. In fact the work continued until the end of the week and on the Tuesday morning the first skip was collected at 8am. We understood that the repair work was important and necessary but we felt that it would have been courteous to let us know in advance that such building work would be taking place and to have kept us informed of the continued loading of rubble by dumper trucks into skips throughout our stay. The loss of parking was inconvenient and difficult because there are almost no parking spaces in Abbey Street readily available and the nearest car park is often full since it is regularly used by visitors to the abbey and town, and cyclists who arrive by car to ride the 4 Abbeys route, as well as parking lots for overnight motor homes. Pear Tree cottage is lovely but our holiday was marred by the fact that the promised parking became unavailable at short notice. In addition one had the courtesy to inform us that the building work would create noise and dust immediately outside our entrance. This holiday was to celebrate our joint 70th birthdays and we are disappointed that neither care nor consideration was given to informing us fully of the impact of the building work.

Lovely well equipped property with great views of Abbey and Priorwood Gardens.

The new bed is very comfortable and enjoyed the new sofa which was delivered during our stay.

Great place and fabulous location.

A lovely property overlooking Melrose Abbey.

Quiet and comfortable. Nice and bright in the lounge with having three windows. Good size kitchen/diner. Actually all rooms were a good size for two people. Hope to return in the future.

We had a great stay at Pear Cottage but there were two things that should be looked into: 1.

The heating was strange and difficult to understand but luckily there was an electric heater which was fine in the lounge. 2. The sofa in the lounge was very uncomfortable and needs replacing. Everything else was first class and we loved our break in Melrose.

Interesting period property with a great location right in the centre of Melrose.

The cottage was clean & had all mod.cons.needed. It was really cozy & we had full control of the heating.The view of the illuminated abbey at night was stunning. The only downside was the seating which was fairly uncomfortable- everything else was great.

Very comfortable bed, good size and well equipped kitchen.

The only problem I found was a sort of unpleasant smell in the sitting room but soon reported it to the NT office. In village centre, a few steps away from all amenities.

During the current situation with Covid, we feel that with over 7 hours to clean the cottage it was not as clean as it should have been.

Bits on carpets indicating little vacuuming. Dust on kitchen and bathroom floors, crumbs on kitchen countertops, odd splashes on tiles. Kitchen sink gritty. No washing up bowl. No wooden spoons. Broken lower shelf front in fridge. No shelf in bathroom, obviously broken and not replaced. Shelf below sink in bathroom dusty. Sink not 100% clean. Only one bedside table and lamp. Oversized wardrobe with no hanging space. Only four hangers on hooks. Bed had been moved from position looking out of window - why?! Despite this we will be booking to go again! We stayed there for many years when it was first available to rent.

We had a lovely holiday at Pear Cottage in October.

It's in a great location between the ruined abbey & the gardens.The cottage was well equipped with a comfortable bed and no traffic noise to disturb our sleep and the heating was easy to control. My only real criticism is that the bedroom lacks a mirror in a well lit location with a plug socket nearby (this might be an issue if you're trying to style your hair). All infall it was very good value.

Perfectly situation and very comfortable stay.

Lots to do and see around the area, Galashiels home of the Great Scottish Tapestry opened this year and well worth a trip. Comfortable bed, and plenty warm enough cottage with great views into the garden and out to the monastry. I'd love to stay again. Would be perfect if a hoover could be provided (especially if bringing a dog) as its difficult to leave it as you found it when you only are provided with a broom.

Centrally situated in Melrose and overlooking the Abbey, beautiful pear cottage.

A wonderful place to stay away from home to explore the Scottish boarders . We'll worth a visit, will come again

Quaint little property in great location, but several issues, all easily fixed took away from our enjoyment.

Apart from the bathroom, there is not a mirror anywhere in the property for hair and makeup etc. this is an essential which has been commented before but no action taken. In the bedroom there is no facility to hang clothes on hangers, again mentioned before and unacceptable and even a free standing rail would suffice. In the kitchen the grill pan was thick with grease and both grill and oven require proper cleaning. There are two new oven trays supplied which are in great condition which is not surprising as they are too big for the oven. We were not about to clean the cooker, so did not use it. Other than a small hand brush and dustpan there is no floorbrush to maintain the property, and if the Henry vaccum is used it emits such a stench that it literally makes you gag. Needs replaced or properly sanitised. What should have been an enjoyable break was spoiled by the above issues which have been ignored by Sykes and The National Trust. Totally unacceptable.

Very well positioned cottage in a lovely town, parking space is a bonus, NT staff helpful and pleasant.

Bathroom ready for upgrade but perfectly functional. Great position for exploring the East of Scotland..

Melrose is a beautiful little town in a glorious area of countryside.

The flat is centrally situated and very quiet. Quite basic in terms of equipment and comfort.

A lovely little flat, handy for everything.

Bus stop across the road. Bathroom needs upgrading, and windows were single glazed, with 2 damaged panes. Flat was very clean, and we enjoyed the box of shortbread

A clean, tidy flat in a lovely location with a spacious well equipped kitchen.

We found heating and hot water working well. We did feel that the accommodation could be improved with the addition of somewhere to hang clothes ( we were forewarned by a previous review , and so brought clothes hangers) . This seems like a easy fix as there is space for a small freestanding hanging rail in the bedroom. More importantly , the bathroom does need refurbishment .

There was confusion over where the key safe was located - it’s on the front door and the instructions said Harmony House.

The location is absolutely perfect. WiFi is not secure. Niggly little thing but no one collects rubbish from the bin store on a Thursday - maybe this is Covid related? It’s a beautiful little place which we would definitely go back to. Thank you

The cottage is very pretty and in a great part of Melrose.

The views over the garden are beautiful. Whilst we enjoyed the heritage aspects of the cottage there are items that could be improved. The bathroom really needs to be completely upgraded. Even in an historic setting it's good to have modern sanitary facilities. The bedroom needs to be re-considered as the layout is impractical. For example, there's nowhere to stand and dry your hair with a mirror. In addition, there is no wardrobe or even clothes hangers. Instead there's a rather large cupboard with shelves. This made it difficult to hang anything and we had to go out to buy some hangers and use hooks in the kitchen. Finally, the living room seating, particularly the sofa is small and not very comfortable. In addition, we were unlucky with the weather and the living room was very cold. This is probably due to the three windows, which could benefit from secondary glazing. The key collection instructions from the vendor need to be updated as we were all over the place trying to get the keys and it turned out they were actually adjacent to the front door of the cottage.