In the sleepy village of Wark, this converted home offers six en-suite bedrooms and elegant living spaces. Accompanying it are extensive grounds, including a large lawn and separate fenced paddock – ideal for energetic children – feeding down to the River Tweed. Scotland begins over on the far bank.
The waters in-between support some of Britain’s best angling. South Wark’s beat hosted a one-day salmon record for many years, and a stretch on the Scottish side is similarly prolific. Booking either includes the use of a comfortable hut overlooking Wark’s ruined, motte-and-bailey castle.
Just off the entrance hallway, whose rich red rug and map of the meandering Tweed immediately establish an agreeable country tone, is a large open-plan kitchen. The cooking area is easily sufficient for big groups, incorporating as it does a large, American-style fridge/freezer, a six-hob Rangemaster oven, two full-size dishwashers and a large island unit with shelves containing cookbooks. Just off the rear entrance, you’ll find a boot room with plenty of space for outdoor gear and a separate boiler room which is a perfectly warm spot for mucky canines too.
For informal dining, a round table in the kitchen can seat up to eight guests, but you may prefer the more formal dining room seating up to fourteen, where showpiece ceramics and carved chairs instil a patrician air.
When it’s time to relax, make for the elegant, log stove-heated drawing room and its Smart TV or – perhaps detouring via a small bar or the wine racks – head outside to enjoy some evening sunshine in the large, enclosed garden.
All the bedrooms are upstairs, off a large hall. Each is elegant and comfortable; two can be reconfigured as twin rooms if it suits children or for sharing guests, and one of those features its own 43-inch Smart TV. The en-suites offer a mixture of walk-in showers or bathtubs boasting shower mixer taps, as well as heated towel rails as an added luxury touch.
Head outdoors and you’re within a stroll of the River Tweed and those limited 12th-century castle ruins. Cornhill-on-Tweed, five minutes by car, has a village shop and dining in the Collingwood Arms inn.
Further afield, but not much further, are Kelso’s medieval abbey and market square, independent shops in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Cheswick Sands’ glorious beach, Holy Island and dramatic Bamburgh Castle. If you’re a hiker, venture south into the empty Cheviot Hills and stride off towards beautiful College Valley. None of these outings are more than a 30-minute drive away.
FISHING ON SITE
The South Wark beat is situated approximately 2 miles up-stream of Coldstream Bridge on the English side of the Tweed between Cornhill and Carham. The beat performs particularly well at medium and high water levels.
The Lower North Wark beat is situated approximately 2 miles up-stream of Coldstream Bridge on the Scottish side of the Tweed between Birgham and Coldstream. The beat has been a solid performer over very many years. Currently top catches come from the Annaside, Ferrystream and North Willows pools. At high water the Wall and the North Temple fish well. The beat performs at all river heights but particularly well at medium and low water levels.
Guests have the use of a comfortable fishing hut overlooking the Ferrystream pool and the ruins of Wark Castle. Typically guests take whole or half weeks but individual and daily lets will be considered on enquiry. Please contact us for more details.
Getting availability
