Horseshoe Cottage & Ruby

Two stays in one — a stone cottage and a genuine Romany Gypsy caravan, side by side in a Scots Pine woodland garden in the heart of the Scottish Borders.

Horseshoe Cottage & Ruby sit within Roulotte Retreat, facing out over a wildflower meadow toward the legendary Eildon Hills. The cottage is warm, well-equipped, and grounded — wood stove, central heating, a proper galley kitchen, twin and double bedrooms. Ruby is something else entirely: a beautifully preserved Bowtop caravan for two, tucked beneath the pines, where waking up feels more like a story than a holiday. Together, they make a combination that genuinely suits friends or family travelling at different speeds — one who wants a hot shower and a dishwasher, one who wants to fall asleep to owls.

The newest addition to the retreat is a wood-fired eco sauna with a full panoramic window — wildlife, sunset, and star-gazing all from the steam. It’s available for exclusive use at an additional fee and, frankly, earns its place.

Up to two dogs are welcome in the cottage (not Ruby), and the meadow setting is all open fields and birdsong — though leads are essential given the free-roaming chickens and geese on site.