Birch Cottage

Set within the celebrated 5,000-acre Dunglass Estate, Birch is one of a trio of cottages that make up the stylishly restored former stables. Fronted by a striking arched entrance, the Courtyard Cottages form the remaining three sides of a square around the tranquil courtyard that has housed the Usher family’s horses, carriages and motorcars over the generations.

Since catching the eye of Robert Burns in 1787, when he described Dunglass as “the most romantic sweet place I ever saw”, the estate’s beautiful parkland, woodland and landscaped gardens have been nurtured while part of its acreage has been transformed into a sustainable farm. Ideally located for strolls down to the beach, rounds on East Lothian’s famous golf courses, day trips to nearby historic towns and even visits to Edinburgh (the city is under an hour’s drive away), the Dunglass Estate has it all.

The front door of Birch cottage, the only two-storey property in the courtyard, leads into a cosy country kitchen complete with Rangemaster oven, rustic wooden dining table and chairs and sweeping views over the Dunglass parklands. Also on the ground floor, there’s an inviting sitting room, framed by a pretty arched window and offering the choice of a large Chesterfield sofa and double sofa, as well as an attractive family bathroom with a claw-foot bath and separate shower. Moving upstairs, two double bedrooms and a twin bedroom share access to a snug with additional sofa for two.

For larger parties able to holiday together, Birch cottage can be let with two other three-bedroom cottages in the courtyard, Willow and Laurel, while Seaview House (four bedrooms) and the captivating Treehouse (one bedroom) sit just a few hundred yards away.