Luxurious Grade II flat in the heart of Kelso

East Wing is a private flat which forms part of Maxwell Place, a Grade II listed mansion dating back to (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) in the centre of the historic market town of Kelso. Enjoy lush green views across the River Tweed valley, and stunning sunsets framing the ruins of Kelso Abbey. Renovated in (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) and accessed through a private entrance, you'll find a spacious and comfortable first floor 2 bedroom flat with separate kitchen and living room, an office space, and a stunning bathroom with free standing tub. In a nutshell- - Private flat with own front door - sleeps 4 adults/teens - well behaved dogs welcome - flexible check-in - welcome basket - 2 spacious bedrooms (1 king, 1 double), and travel cot available for infants - ample free private parking - Washing machine - Fast free wifi - Own garden - Close to town centre and supermarkets - Close to the River Tweed and Junction Pool After many years as the office for my publishing business, and even more years sitting empty, my daughter and her husband lovingly brought East Wing back to life in late (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) The flat is where they stay when not living overseas on a boat, so you'll find lots of cosy personal touches, and a commitment to sustainable living. Art and colour are laid over a natural, soothing base to create a home which is unique but not cluttered. More about the house East Wing is a self-contained flat which forms part of my home, Maxwell Place. On land which once belonged to Kelso Abbey, and later forming the gardens where Sir Walter Scott played as a boy, the oldest parts of the house date back to the early (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) s, and this flat is a mixture of Regency and mid-Victorian extensions and changes to the property. Parking/Entrance There is ample private parking, both near the front door of the flat and in the main courtyard for the house, including sufficient space for an RV or caravan. You enter the flat through a private courtyard (with seating) and door, into a charming and spacious porch which is ideal for slipping out of hiking boots and storing bikes, buggies or fishing gear. Up the stairs (5 steps, a small landing, and a further 13 steps), you'll find the flat laid out along a long, bright hallway. Bedrooms The flat has two bedrooms. The master bedroom is a very generous space with a king-sized bed (with memory foam mattress), sofa, full wardrobe, full-length mirror, wireless charging on bedside tables and south-facing views over a quiet private garden which retains some original Victorian features. This room reflects a love of the sea and the Western Isles of Scotland, with a calming blue palette and art depicting the beautiful Isle of Iona. The window has a blind for those bright summer mornings, as well as working shutters behind the curtains should you prefer a dark room at night. The Second Bedroom faces east and is a cosy and welcoming space with a double bed. This room retains retro features such as the vintage textured wallpaper, and is furnished using reclaimed furniture (from generations of our families) including a (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) s bedroom suite. The room may be vintage but has a new memory foam mattress, a USB charging point and a blackout blind to ensure modern comfort. We also have a travel cot which can be used for infants if needed. Kitchen Blending modern functionality and a quirky cottage vibe, and built using reclaimed items including solid oak worktops for a "not needing new" feel, the full kitchen has everything you may need. Brightly lit with a large American-style fridge freezer (providing filtered, chilled water and ice), an electric oven and hob, microwave, dishwasher, kettle, toaster, and a Nespresso coffee machine (pods provided), this room is a dreamy spot to watch the birds as you brew your morning cuppa. Bathroom We've turned the smallest room into a place you want to hang out - its the jewel in the crown of this flat. A spacious room with a vintage, dual-ended claw foot tub, raised on a platform, to make you feel like royalty. With a traditional shower-over bath, generous basin and storage space, heated towel rail, extra seating for dressing, lit vanity mirror, and a comfortable Victorian style "throne", you may not want to leave! Living Room Formerly a photographic studio, the living room is a cosy, eclectic space, with rich colours balanced out with the original floorboards and a Scandinavian feel. The woodburning stove will keep you extra warm in winter, and the sunsets behind the Abbey will provide a memorable end to many days. With a 40" 4k TV (with Netflix and Amazon Prime of course), the layout is great for movie-watching, but equally we've designed the space to be social, and there's an extendible dining table for game nights. Whether you want to gather round and play one of the board games provided, chill out listening to music on the Bluetooth speaker, or read a book on an armchair as the sun sets, this space can be whatever you want it to be. Office Set up as a home office for Covid-era working, this former bedroom has two desks and power points should you need to interupt your stay with some work, or if the kids have homework to catch up on. It can also provide another quiet reading space, or additional sleeping space with a cot and using the blackout blinds. Elsewhere The flat has its own washing machine should you need to keep up with laundry, and we have an indoor drying rack or an outdoor line available in fine weather. It also has lockable storage should you wish for some added peace of mind, and a small chest freezer if you've been out on the Junction Pool and need somewhere to store the catch of the day. The freezer cupboard also has very high ceilings making it perfect for rod-storage. Most of the art in the property has a connection to our family, and is not for sale, but the photographs of Kelso and the Borders in the stairs and hallway are my own work and are to buy a keepsake of your time in Kelso. As well as a small courtyard with seating by the entrance, the flat has an enclosed private garden beside the property with bench seating to catch the morning sun. Note that many of the images of the property have been taken while my daughter is resident, so some things, like the black cat, IT equipment and copious amounts of wine, will not be there when you stay! Sustainability In renovating the flat and preparing for your stay, we've tried to keep sustainability and eco-friendly approaches in mind. The renovation used reclaimed and upcycled furniture and fittings, and the products we use are from sustainable and ethical brands and sourced locally where possible. I provide Grind organic and compostable coffee capsules, Faith in Nature toiletries, laundry and dishwasher products by Smol, bamboo loo roll from Who Gives a Crap, and period products by Hey Girls, and use cleaning products by Ecover, Method and similar brands. In the kitchen bin you'll find a compartment for recyclable waste. Where possible, lighting is LED, and the house has added insulation to avoid heat-loss. I keep chickens in my garden and grow my own produce, and when the ladies are laying I aim to provide fresh eggs. Guests have exclusive use of East Wing, with private entrance, courtyard and garden. Guests will have their own dedicated parking area which will accommodate an RV/motorhome, but can also share my larger courtyard if needed. If you need to charge an electric vehicle the nearest charge point is 100m away. I'm David, your host, and I live in the main part of Maxwell Place, so am close by should you need me, but at the same time with your own entrance you'll have privacy should you prefer it. I'm always happy to talk about the history of the building, the town, and local sights, or to introduce you to the local folk club scene. Because I live on the property, I can be flexible on arrival/departure times (other bookings and Covid-measures allowing). My co-hosts Ailsa and Colin live overseas most of the time but they have lived in the flat and managed the renovation and listing, and will help out by answering questions and looking after your needs before you visit when I'm unavailable. I may be new to AirBnB, but Ailsa and Colin have been AirBnB hosts in the past, as well as having 15+ years of managing bookings for Colin's family holiday home on Iona, Grianan. They have also travelled widely using the AirBnB and other platforms, and can recommend other places to stay in Scotland based on their travel experiences if you're plannig to travel around. Kelso is a beautiful historic market town, and East Wing is ideally situated in a quiet neighbourhood as close to the bustling town square as it is to the peaceful walk along the River Tweed. A level 400m to the town centre, East Wing is under a mile from Borders Events Centre, Kelso Race Course, golf club and rugby ground. There are also a number of private golf clubs in the area, including the famous Roxburghe Golf Club around 3 miles away. The range of shops is the best in a small town in the Borders, with gift shops, crafting shops, high-end clothing and even a craft beer shop alongside functional, family-run shops that have been here for decades. Some of our favourites are Moonstone (natural and ethical home and beauty products, and where we source our cleaning products and soaps), 20 Storey (funky gifts and books), Kelso Wholefoods (which has a fantastic selection of local cheeses), W J Blair Watchmakers & Jewellers which has served the town since (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) , and Flowers by McKenzie (beautiful floral arrangements, and if you're lucky you'll catch Jamie playing the piano). We have a Lidl supermarket a 3 minute walk away, as well as a Coop in the town centre and larger Sainsbury’s half a mile away. Kelso has a fantastic range of cafes, pubs, restaurants and takeaways. Our top picks are The Cobbles, which combines amazing food and locally-brewed beers by Tempest Brewery with (when Covid-restrictions allow it) weekly Friday night folk and live music sessions, the Cream Chimneys (try the brownies, you won't regret it), Lemon and Thyme for a romantic meal, and on Thursday's the visiting Mackays of Eyemouth fish and chip van. The Mayfield Garden Centre is a firm favourite combining shopping (including an excellent range of crafting supplies) and eating, and does the best lunches in town. At the Garden Centre you'll also find Julian's, which sells the most incredible selection of fresh fruit and veg. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to visit Luca at Becatelli Artisan Gelato just off the Square, and The Dessert Diva near the town hall which does amazing brownies and milkshakes. If you visit at certain time of the month or year, you'll find Kelso has a number of local events to enjoy, including the annual Civic Week and Common Ridings in early-July, the monthly town market in the square, St James' Fair in September, the Ram Sales and Border Union Show, dog shows, and events in the horse racing and rugby calendars. No matter what your outdoor pursuit, Kelso has it! We're ideally located for the 4 Abbeys Way cycle route and Border Abbeys Way walking route along with a number of other routes (favourites include the walk to Sprouston, and the abbeys walk to Jedburgh). For children, Shedden Park has a fantastic and recently upgraded accessible play park, and a very popular skate park. We are minutes away from the famous Junction Pool, one of the most lauded salmon fishing spots in Scotland. Whether you're a keen angler, a walker, or a cyclist, Kelso's range of shops provides specialist stores for all. For indoor pursuits, there is a gym a few minutes’ walk away, and the swimming pool is only a 10 minute walk. For historians, we're a short drive from a number of sites, including Melrose, Jedbugh and Dryburgh Abbeys, Mellerstain House, Smailholm Tower, Abbotsford House, and Floors Castle (which is a pleasant walk away with extensive grounds). Further afield, there are numerous hill-walking, sightseeing and active opportunities - family favourites include the coastal walk at St Abb's Head (where seals can be seen at the right time of year), the Eildon Hills, the Glentress Forest (where there is a Go Ape as well as mountain biking facilities), Traquair House, and the Grey Mare's Tail. Kelso itself is very walkable (though the town centre is cobbled so if you wear heels be warned!) and you'll find most things you need and plenty to do on foot. The town itself has a one-way system around the square, and a 20-MPH speed limit within town boundaries making it very safe. Maxwell Lane is also one-way, and should be accessed from Abbotsford Grove only. If you're in an RV or have a caravan you may prefer to avoid Rennie's Bridge (also known as Kelso Bridge) - it's a two lane bridge but very narrow so can be nerve-wracking! The quickest way to reach the town square is to walk across the Knowes car park and cross the kirkyard ( (Hidden by Airbnb) doesn't seem to think this route exists, but it does!). Parking in Kelso is free, subject to time limits. There are electric vehicle charging points including one 100m away in the Knowes car park. There's a bus station in town and other towns can be reached by bus, but the provision is rural and not very frequent so you need to plan ahead. We're a 20-minute drive from Tweedbank Railway Station, and buses to the station which take around 50 minutes are roughly hourly. You’ll also find a taxi rank in the town square served by Cook’s Taxis (who also take bookings), a long-standing and reliable business. Kelso is around an hour south of Edinburgh - you can leave the car at Tweedbank and take the train in if you aren't a fan of city driving, but reaching St John's Hill car park in Edinburgh is straightforward. Getting to Edinburgh by public transport is possible but takes a long time! The nearest train station if you're coming from down south is Berwick-upon-Tweed, a ~40-minute drive, and there are local car hire options available there. As we prefer that guests leave outdoor shoes in the porch, you may want to bring your favourite pair of slippers or some cosy socks with you, though we find the house warm enough to be barefoot, especially with the fire lit.