Garden Cottage is in Coldstream, an attractive small town in the Scottish Borders. It is easily accessible from Edinburgh and from the South via the main east coast route, A1.
Getting here by car:
From the South East: Travel north up the A1 to Berwick-Upon-Tweed. Take the first exit at the Berwick roundabout, signed Coldstream. Follow this road (A697) directly to Coldstream (approx. 15 miles). Drive through the town until you reach a bridge. Take the left turn immediately after the bridge and then the right turn immediately after that. Continue straight down a dirt road and take the right fork. You will see a stable block with a tower over the entrance; Garden Cottage is the only house outside of the stable block.
From the South West: Travel up the M6 to Carlisle, then take the A7 eastwards. At Hawick (pronounced Hoik!) take the A698 to Kelso, follow the bypass, then take a right at the mini-roundabout and follow signs to Coldstream. On the approach to Coldstream you will pass the Health Centre and Hirsel Craft Centre/Golf Course entrances on your left hand side, then you will see a bridge ahead. Turn right immediately before the bridge, and then right again immediately after that. Continue straight down a dirt road and take the right fork. You will see a stable block with a tower over the entrance; Garden Cottage is the only house outside of the stable block.
From Edinburgh and the North: Take the Edinburgh Bypass; at Sheriffhall roundabout take the A720 (new Dalkeith bypass), then take to first sliproad signed to Jedburgh (A68). Follow the A68 southbound to Carfraemill roundabout, there take the first exit onto the A697. Continue through Greenlaw, following signposts to Coldstream. You will pass the Health Centre and Hirsel Craft Centre/Golf Course entrances on your left hand side as you reach the town, then see a bridge ahead. Turn right immediately before the bridge, and then right again immediately after that. Continue straight down a dirt road and take the right fork. You will see a stable block with a tower over the entrance; Garden Cottage is the only house outside of the stable block.
You can also take the A1 south from Edinburgh to Berwick-Upon-Tweed and follow the directions listed ‘from the south’ above.
Google Maps and Google Streetview can also help you find your way!
Getting here by public transport:
Take the train to Berwick-Upon-Tweed Station. (This stretch of railway, between Newcastle and Edinburgh, was voted the most scenic in Britain!) Outside of the station there is a bus stop. Take the 67 Bus (which will say Galashiels on the front), to Coldstream. (Approx 45 mins, £2.50 single adult fare). You can check times on www.perrymansbuses.co.uk.
When you reach Coldstream, stay on the bus at the first stop (opposite the Besom Inn). When you have passed the Co-op on your left, press the call button for the driver to stop, he should do so at the stop after the bridge. Take the turning on your side of the road directly after the bridge, then the right turn immediately after that. (Do not go into Lees Mill Drive) Continue to walk straight, down the dirt track alongside the high stone wall, and turn right at the fork. You will see a stable block with a tower over the entrance; Garden Cottage is the only house outside of the stable block, facing the roundabout.
If coming from the West, You can also catch the 67 Bus in Galashiels, St. Boswells and Kelso, to bring you to Coldstream (check times and fares at the Perryman’s site, linked above).
Press the call button as the bus passes the Hirsel Craft Centre entrance (on your left) and the driver should stop before or on the bridge. Cross the road and take the turning directly before the bridge, then the right turn directly after that. Continue to walk down the dirt track and turn right at the fork. You will see a stable block with a tower over the entrance; Garden Cottage is the only house outside of the stable block.
(Again, if you are worried about missing the stop, stay on the bus until you reach the Besom Inn and walk back through town to the bridge.)
There are bus services from Newcastle to Berwick/Kelso and Edinburgh to Galashiels (where you can then board the 67 to Coldstream) but they are infrequent and take a long time. However, trains we know are expensive, so if the bus is preferable, a well-phrased Google search should bring up times and fares!
The most helpful website for public transport in Scotland is: