Roulotte Retreat

About this listing

Roulotte Retreat – where Scottish and French Romany boho chic meets the luxurious Orient Express with delicately hand-crafted and hand carved French Romany roulottes.

In the heart of the Scottish Borders there is a gorgeously grown up collection of seven romantic Roulottes (French style Gypsy caravans), each secluded around wildlife ponds in the wild flower meadow.  In the woodland garden next door is the charming Horseshoe Cottage, complete with authentic 1930’s Ruby Bowtop and additional eco sauna beneath the Scots Pine trees.

These adult only roulottes offer wellbeing additions of eco hot tub, outdoor wood fired copper bath tubs and wood fired eco saunas with panorama windows looking towards sunset.

Six of the roulottes sleep 2 adults and one (Rosa Bella sleeps 2-4 adults), in double or queen sized beds. Horseshoe Cottage sleeps up to 6, with 4 in a double bedroom and twin bedroom in the Cottage and 2 in Ruby Bowtop.

Guests leave their stresses far behind them when they enter Roulotte Retreat where the location offers the perfect place to relax, re-connect and revitalise the soul in the re-wilded meadow and woodland. Enhance your stay in the peaceful meadow listening to birdsong, watching wildlife, walking in nature, swimming in open water nearby,  star gazing from the eco hot tubs, practising yoga or enjoy a massage.  Switch off from the busy-ness of life whilst being mindful of the surrounding natural environment.

Cosy in by the wood-burning stove, switch off your phone, watch the dancing flames or dine al fresco and listen to the nature channel outside – just bliss!

The Roulotte Retreat

Each roulotte includes salon sitting area, kitchen facilities, bedroom, shower and washroom/toilet.  Heating by wood burning stove and electric radiators. Kitchen includes fridge, small oven with two rings and grill, kettle, cafetière, kitchen utensils, crockery, cutlery and glassware. Mains water, suitable for drinking and powerful showers.  Outside garden furniture for alfresco dining.

Bedlinen and towels, eco hand soap, eco washing up liquid, olive oil, salt and pepper are included.  Eco logs for the inside wood burning stove and firelighters are provided.

All roulottes are two night minimum stay.

Karlotta (sleeps 2) Magnificently carved in art deco style with Celtic knot work designs, entwined Celtic horses, wildflowers and foliage.  Wood of wild cherry and chestnut, oak and pine. Colourful rich purples, reds and golds with the essence of Morocco are the colours of the sari curtains, bed linen and throws. Colourful red and blue stained glass windows offer beautiful reflections.

Shivanni (sleeps 2) Our Himalayan roulotte is adorned with carvings of ancient India and resplendent in shades of blue, ochre and gold. Himalayan in influence she will delight you with her beautiful salon, complete with Indian daybed and quirky portholes to the east and west. She is suitable for two with a queen size bed. Situated in the far corner of the meadow with a wooden deck facing out towards the beautiful sunset where you can hear the gurgling of a nearby waterfall and stream.

Rosa Bella (sleeps 2-4 & dog friendly) Enjoy the deep jewel colours of lapis lazuli, turquoise, ruby, garnet and gold in this spacious Dutch Roulotte, reminiscent of the Orient Express. Rosa Bella offers room for two to four guests with a double bedroom and a romantic alcove bed complete with colourful drapes. Relax in the Bohemian salon bedecked with colourful fabrics in front of the wood-burning stove. Rosa Bella is our quirkiest and most spacious roulotte which offers more room for two or can accommodate up to four in two double beds.

We welcome guests with one well behaved dog for an additional fee of £10.00 per night.  A raised wooden deck offers outside space for al fresco dining.

Please note due to free roaming chickens nearby we ask guests to kindly keep their dogs on the lead at all times, when at Roulotte Retreat. There are some beautiful walks through woodlands and up the Eildon Hills nearby.

Roulottes with additional wellbeing features of hot tub, copper tubs and wood fired sauna

Devanna (sleeps 2)  Indian style ‘peacock and paisley design’ with carvings of peacocks as well as delightful paisley pattern carvings of ancient henna designs, in wild cherry, chestnut, oak and pine wood. The interior of Devanna reflects the rich natural shades of blues, greens, purples and gold of the peacock’s rich plumage.

A secret sunset spot with eco hot tub is hidden behind Devanna and at the front is a wooden deck with views towards the meadow.

Eco hot tub is £100.00 for two nights exclusive use and £15.00 for each additional night.

Gitana (sleeps 2) Enchanting with carvings in walnut of wild strawberries spiralling around, hidden fairies creating spells, butterflies and leaping hares. Beautiful butterfly windows with stained glass windows and doors filter the morning and evening light so colours abound in this magical space. Gitana is bedecked in reds and greens of the wild strawberry plant. The eco copper bath tub is tucked away at the side of Gitana offering privacy for star gazing whilst lounging in the tub. Decks around Gitana offer space for al fresco dining.

Wood-fired copper bath tub is £100.00 for two nights exclusive use and £15.00 for each additional night.

Zenaya (sleeps 2) Oriental style, in reds and shades of gold, the colours of Zenaya create a beautiful palette throughout. Beaded lights create whimsical shadows in her beautiful salon, complete with Indian daybed and wood burning stove.  Bedroom with queen size bed entered through a wooden ‘temple entrance’ is complete with sunrise porthole, and the washroom area with sunset portholes.

Zenaya has her own secluded outdoor wood fired copper bath tub for private star gazing and a deck at the front for al fresco dining beneath the willow trees.

Wood-fired copper bath tub is £100.00 for two nights exclusive use and £15.00 for each additional night.

Maharani  (sleeps 2) offers relaxation in a Rajasthani inspired Roulotte Retreat version of the ‘Palace on Wheels’. Ornate carvings of elephants and lotus ponds create the ambience of an Indian Palace. Beautifully painted in rich purple and greens with silk sari curtains and velvet throws, Maharani and her elephants await you. The sustainable walnut interior gleams with hand carvings, whilst the textures and colours envelop you in luxury. Elephant ear shaped windows with pale green ripples echo the lotus-filled ponds of India.

Relax in the Maharani wood fired eco sauna, where guests can watch sunset and wildlife whilst relaxing and benefitting from the warmth of the eco sauna.

Wood fired Eco Sauna is £100.00 for two nights exclusive use and £15.00 for each additional night.

Hot Tubs

There are three Roulottes with wood fired tubs suitable for two people – Devanna, Gitana and Zenaya.  For an additional surcharge the eco hot tub is fired up ready for your arrival and you will be shown how to operate for the next day, plus extra eco fuel for your stay, additional towels and bathrobes to relax in.

These roulottes with eco tubs are for guests who would like to bathe under the stars for the duration of their stay. If you don’t wish to book the hot tub then it is best to choose another roulotte to allow others the chance to enjoy this elemental experience.

Being Cosy and Cooking in the Roulottes

It’s always cosy in our wooden Roulottes, due to insulation in the walls, floor and roof with heating in each Roulotte by wood-burning stove and electric radiators.

Roulotte Retreat is self catering and all roulottes have kitchen utensils, pots and pans for cooking, crockery, cutlery, cafetiere, champagne flutes, wine glasses and bottle opener, as well as Baby Belling cooker with oven, grill and two electric rings, fridge, kettle and toaster – all you need for the hygge ambience, wining and dining.

Horseshoe Cottage and Ruby (the authentic 1930’s Bowtop Romany Caravan) – 3 night minimum stay.

For larger parties or groups with children, there is Horseshoe Cottage (sleeping 4) and the romance of Ruby sleeping 2 (the Bowtop Romany caravan), in the woodland garden. Decorated in beautiful jewel like shades, reflecting the authentic colours of Ruby beneath the Scots pine trees in the woodland garden. Offering a bright spacious sitting room with views of the meadow and Eildon Hills, the cottage comprises of a galley kitchen, bathroom with shower, double and twin bedroom. The cottage is warm and cosy with oil fired central heating as well as the ambience of the wood burning stove.  It is well equipped with cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher, washing machine, small tv/dvd and cd/radio player.

In Ruby you can experience the romance of sleeping under the stars in this lovingly restored Bowtop Caravan. We can let you into a little secret, the beautiful lace adorning Ruby is “lingerie lace”.

There is a spacious wild woodland garden in front with garden furniture and beautiful west facing view for sunset drinks beneath the Scots Pines. Woodland car parking for two cars. Children are very welcome in Horseshoe Cottage although Ruby the Bowtop is an adult only stay. Up to two dogs are welcome in Horseshoe Cottage only, for a surcharge of £10.00 per dog per day.

To book Horseshoe Cottage and Ruby get in touch with us directly, either by email or phone to organise. Follow the website link in red at the top of the page to reach our website.

Horseshoe Cottage has an eco sauna with panorama window offering exquisite views to the west across the fields towards sunset in the woodland garden – £115.00 for three nights exclusive use and £15.00 for each additional night.

Local activities

The Eildon Hills and River Tweed surrounding Roulotte Retreat offer great hikes and strolls, with St Cuthbert’s Way which starts in Melrose and ends at Lindisfarne meandering by the meadow. The Yarrow and Ettrick Valleys offer resplendent territory for exploring the wildness of the area. Great mountain biking terrain nearby as well as the perfect walking base for your stay whether a gentle stroll or more strenuous hike.  Make a day of it and visit Scotland’s capital, the city of Edinburgh, only 55 mins by train or visit the historic abbey town of Melrose, home to the famous Melrose Rugby Sevens in April and for book lovers, there’s the Borders Book Festival in June.

Visit the many stately homes and houses, forts, towers and castles that are in abundance all over the Scottish Borders. Traquair House is the oldest inhabited and most romantic house in Scotland. Other attractions include: Thirlestane, Floors, Niedpath, Fatlips, Hume and Ayton castles, Abbotsford, Mellerstain, Manderston, Bowhill and Paxton House, Smailholm and Hume Towers.

Visit William Wallace up in the woodlands, a gigantic red sandstone monument towering above the River Tweed. The Tweed and other Borders rivers are also the mainstay of the traditional weaving, textile and paper industries. Famous names in knitwear, cashmere and tartan all hail from the Borders, centring on the towns of Selkirk, Hawick, Melrose and Galashiels.

Bring your own or hire bicycles or electric bikes and explore the countryside on two wheels and for the more adventurous there’s Glentress Mountain Biking trails and 7Stanes only 30 minutes away at Innerleithen.

The Scottish Borders is home to the many Common Riding Festivals where gatherings of up to several hundred horses and riders, ride the ‘marches’ checking the boundaries are still intact, the most famous being Selkirk, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Lauder amongst others. A spectacular sight where you can join in with all the local activities – June-August. Many horse riding centres offering hacks up the hills and lessons are nearby.

Your base at Roulotte Retreat is a walker’s paradise, with wildlife and nature, woodland and tranquillity. There’s low level walks for all abilities as well as gentle strolls along the River Tweed. You will find a great selection of eating out options from fine dining, bistro style, cafes, hotels and quirky watering holes. Your hosts can also arrange local caterers for special events on request.

Getting Married at Roulotte Retreat and Celebrate in Style

Tying the knot and arranging an exquisite elopement stay or small wedding can be arranged at Roulotte Retreat. A Humanist Celebrant or Registrar can be booked in advance and your hosts are only too happy to help you plan your Special Day, with all the best of local suppliers.  Escape and runaway to get married … its just magical!

Groups, Events, Workshops at Roulotte Retreat

We can offer accommodation up to 22 staying on site and sharing space for family get togethers, groups and workshops with our 1930’s wooden Studio being the Group Space.  We occasionally offer events – Yoga, Wellbeing, Creative Writing, Photography, Art, Foraging, Gin Tasting, Music, etc. We also offer Roulotte Retreat as a venue for Group Facilitators and Teachers wishing to bring their students so please get in touch if you’d like to host an event, workshop or retreat.

Getting to Roulotte Retreat

Roulotte Retreat lies beneath the Eildon Hills, near Melrose in the heart of the Scottish Borders.  Travel by car, bus or train and pick up taxi to bring you the last couple of miles of your journey.  If you are travelling by public transport, bicycles can be hired locally so that you can explore the countryside during your stay.  Precise directions will be given upon booking.

Rates 

Please see the availability link for current rates as prices vary according to mid week or weekend, low, mid or high season, duration of stay and whether in a two person or four person roulotte.  Additional fees apply for wellbeing facilities of tubs and saunas.

Reviews: 

“We were given this Roulotte experience as a gift a few years ago and we loved it so much we have been back many times now. This has become our “go to place” for rest, relaxation and together time. We stay mostly in Zenaya because of the hot tub which is just utterly wonderful. Everything about Roulotte Retreat is happiness making, from the natural, beautiful and wild meadow, to the peace, the sounds, the sky at night, the ambience…. I could go on forever!!
The Roulotte has a shower that is better than ours at home, and we love the wood burner, all the quirky features and especially the most comfortable bed. We always sleep so deeply and so well when we are here…indeed it is one of the things we look forward to when we arrange our next visit. We always go back feeling rested and ready to take on the world again.
Avril and Alan are so warm, welcoming, helpful and fun to be around…. just like being with good old friends and we value that hugely.
Writing this just makes us long to be back. Highly recommended if you want a complete escape from the pressures of work and life and you yearn for a rest and a thoroughly good sleep!!”

“Having seen the retreat many moons ago on a Scottish travel programme we had always wanted to visit – at last we got there!
What an amazing place so quiet and relaxing and the hot tub was just brilliant. The roulotte was comfortable and cosy best sleep I’ve had in a long time. It’s not the cheapest of places to stay but for something entirely different I’d definitely recommend.
Watching a shooting star from the hot tub and listening to all the birds and nature all around you was just that wee bit special.”

“Avril is wonderful in communicating. Alan is wonderful also. everybody working there is so too. We had the most wonderful (is 3 times wonderful) adventurous stay for three days there. All Roulottes have their individual charm. I can’t express in words the silence, the songs of the birds, the baby sheep in a field nearby, the bliss and the magic. We took the very well served hamper for 2 days which largely served us for the 3 days and nights. A most amazing experience. Thank you so Avril. You are the best and most kind and gentle host I ever encountered.”

“Our wedding day was perfect in every way! Avril and Alan (the owners of Roulotte Retreat) are kind, thoughtful and totally laid-back. They create a very relaxed atmosphere in their unique, and outstandingly beautiful home and surroundings. It was our choice to elope and have the wedding that WE wanted. We stayed in the cottage at Roulotte Retreat, which was perfect for us. It was very spacious, well equipped, a lovely log-burner in the lounge, beams and very nice soft furnishings. If you’d like to be totally at one with nature, peace and tranquility and the darkest starry night skies then this is the place. We had the most memorable day. Jane the registrar from the Scottish Borders arrived half an hour before the wedding to meet with us. We had decided to include the Hand-Fasting ritual as part of our ceremony, this requires a piece of tartan material which is wrapped around both bride and groom’s hands in such a way that when you are pronounced Husband and Wife and let go of your hands a knot is tied in the tartan – hence the term Tying the Knot. Photographer Phil was just fabulous. He was extremely patient and a lot of fun. He didn’t miss any opportunities to capture the photo-bombing hens or Bear the dog who had wandered over to have a nosey at what was going on. Love, Happiness, Kindness, Nature, Animals and Fun!”