Used as a salmon-netting station until 1992, it lies just upstream from old Berwick’s bustling town centre and the spectacular Tweed estuary. As well as enchanting river views, Whitesand Shiel provides uninterrupted vistas of Robert Stephenson’s handsome Royal Border Bridge – a Grade I listed railway viaduct opened by Queen Victoria in 1850.
Downstairs, its open-plan living area is a winning blend of earthy colours and organic materials. Wooden floorboards, sumptuous leather sofas, cosy tweeds and solid oak furniture create an air of understated luxury which suits those memorable surroundings. The fully-equipped kitchen sits snugly in one corner, complete with cheery white fittings, and a log-burning stove in the stone fireplace stands ready for service on chillier days. A dining table is also found here, and two sofas face the small, Sky-equipped TV.
One floor up is the superb, glass-fronted sitting room, its slanted floor-to-ceiling windows offering a captivating view of the Tweed. Aided by free-to-use binoculars, this makes a fabulous spot to sit and watch the river and its many inhabitants – including salmon, otters, an extraordinary array of birdlife and even seals. Otherwise, laze on the corner sofa or large beanbag, enjoying a selection of books and games. To one side, the cosy adjacent bedroom features attractive exposed beams. You’ll find a bathroom below, complete with a walk-in rainfall shower.
The owner’s passion for the renovation project is reflected by charming details which reference Whitesand Shiel’s history. Former fish crates have been reborn as a wooden coffee table, while original fishing nets top the bed. Old oars are now coat hooks and an upturned fishing boat was ingeniously converted into sheltered outdoor seating. Continuing that nautical theme, the Royal Border Bridge is visible through a sitting-room porthole window.
That boat-turned-bench is part of a grassy garden with a pizza oven where you can eat al-fresco on sunny days — and use the provided telescope to stargaze at night. Look out for the house’s vintage weather vane, too.
Connecting to Edinburgh, York and London, Berwick’s station is a ten-minute walk away past the walled town’s castle remains. Just beyond are plenty of independent shops and galleries, plus a host of good restaurant options. Fourteen miles south, across Berwick’s other two great bridges, is Holy Island. The iconic Bamburgh Castle and namesake beach below aren’t much further on, with sandy shores at Cheswick or Eyemouth even closer. Explore inland, meanwhile, and you can visit ruined, romantic abbeys or Walter Scott locations amid the Scottish Borders or hike up beautiful, crowd-free Cheviot Hills.
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