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15 Guests
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8 Bedrooms
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3 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
23 Customer Reviews
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"Best house for a large group we have stayed in with regards to space, number of towels and amount of crockery, glasses and cutlery."
One suggestion would be a reactive light at the back door would help with access to the key safe and safety in the courtyard. Check in of 5pm was quite late to get in and organised and prepare a meal for 15. Check out at 9.30 is also early to prepare breakfast and tidy up for 15 folk, strip beds and wash everything up. We had a fantastic time however, great location and have already recommended to friends.
Many thanks for your feedback and that you enjoyed your stay. As you can probably appreciate the house is quite a large one for the team to prepare for the next guests to an excellent standard and they do need the time allowed. Property Owner
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"We (10 people) have had a weekend stay at Harmony House for the last 16 years (Covid year excepted) The rooms are large and very comfortable and even more so with the re-decoration this year."
We do our own cooking so the revamp of the kitchen was much appreciated (problem with one oven but understand this is to be repaired). We are particularly fond of sitting in the very large garden but felt it could do with a tidy-up. There are only 3 gardeners(if I lived closer I would happily volunteer to help). I will be making a booking for next year
Many thanks for your feedback. Glad to read that you appreciate the work that our team has put into refurbishing the house. It is a large garden to maintain, with all the rain we have had this year it is a challenge to look after. We do value the help we get from our volunteers as they are an integral part of keeping all the National Trust for Scotland properties operating. Property Owner
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"We had a family trip to Harmony house to celebrate my Dad's 85th birthday."
The house is superb with quality furniture, decoration and fittings. The kitchen and dining room are very well equipped with everything you could need. The only problem we had is that there are no toilets on the ground floor which made it a bit tricky for anyone who is elderly or infirm. We all managed though but just a wee warning to anyone else planning a stay there. The grounds are beautiful with a lovely private garden which can be used when the rest of the gardens are open to the public.
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"Excellent stay at Harmony House for a friend's surprise 60th weekend away."
We used the house to full capacity (15 adults) and found everything to be very comfortable. Facilities were excellent. We self catered on the first night and found the kitchen and dining room to have everything required. The house was immaculate and the beds were super comfy. The 3 showers and 4 toilets in the house was ample between us all so no complaints there either. All in all a great time had by everyone and we're already talking about returning. Thank you!
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"We love our annual family weekend at Harmony House."
We were advised on Friday that the oven wasn't working. All efforts were made to fix it, but the part couldn't be secured until Tuesday. A discount was immediately offered and paid- very much appreciated. They thought the right hand oven had been fixed, but it only worked to some extent. The main reason for raising this is that the oven has been a problem every year. The dishwasher also doesn't work well. These are essentials when self catering for 15. Otherwise, the improvements to the house are tremendous. Including the well kitted out kitchen which is now really well provided with pans, serving dishes, crockery etc. One final thing, we brought table cloths but it would be great if that was provided at the house as its such a huge table! Thanks.
Thank you very much for the positive feedback on how we dealt with the oven failure and great to read that you liked the recent refurbishment. Unfortunately the fault on the oven was only reported by the previous guests on the morning of their check out and your arrival. Giving us very little opportunity to sort out the problem on the day. The local property team have had contractors on-site to investigate the equipment problems. National Trust for Scotland Holidays Dept Property Owner
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"We had a wonderful time over Christmas and New Year at Harmony House."
The two beautifully decorated Christmas Trees and welcome gifts of Mulled wine and mince pies set the mood for our stay. It was a privilege to stay in such a beautifull example of Georgian architecture and the perfect setting for our family to be under the same roof at such a special time of the year. The only drawback was the oven, it was very unreliable and made cooking for 12 on Christmas Day a challenge. That being said, we would recommend Harmony House and the charming town of Melrose to anyone looking for a special family holiday.
Thank you very much for your very lovely comments about your stay at Harmony House. You will be pleased to read that the refurbishment started the day after you checked out. We have had the interior repainted, new kitchen fitted, new soft furnishings, some new furniture, new carpets and beds. Property Owner
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"An enjoyable stay for a group of 6 fishermen."
Areas which would improve any subsequent stay: 1. Parking for 4 cars in the rear courtyard is cramped. The whole Harmony House experience would be greatly improved by allowing guests to park at the front with a key for the main entrance gate, requesting that guests keep the gate locked outside public access hours. 2. I'm sure a larger TV would be appreciated by the size of groups typically occupying Harmony House. 3. The creation of a downstairs cloakroom, ideally with a drying room, on the ground or basement floor would enhance the property, as would the conversion of the 2 single bedrooms into bathrooms. 4. Photos of the floor plans would assist potential guests in understanding what is a complex accommodation layout.
Many thanks for your feedback. Just to clarify about parking - The front of the house cannot be opened for parking to ensure safety of the visitors to the gardens. The drive and garden is in scheduled monument area which needs to be protected. St Mary’s Road, directly at the entry point to the courtyard, is free parking too. The idea of a drying room is a good one but unfortunately all the downstairs are in use at the moment. There are individual floor plans in all rooms, plus a full property plan in the downstairs rear corridor available for guests. We can also provide a floor plan prior to arrival if guests contact NTS Holidays direct. Property Owner
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"We have stayed at Harmony House for 12 years."
The garden and house are both beautiful and comfortable. Unfortunately there is no toilet at the basement or ground floor level so you have to climb a flight of stairs - not ideal for elderly or children or anyone with a mobility issue
Thank you for your feedback. Harmony House is a B listed building so we do have to take care with any structural changes. Property Owner
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"Positives-clean, spacious, most facilities good, lovely area, great public garden in evening Negatives-Oven not functioning well, very small short double beds, curtains in one room very poor and most importantly security."
( Room in also used by a business) Could not secure door into hall and lock on front door not working.
Thank you very much for the feedback. The house is receiving a refurbishment in Winter 23/24, we are planning a new kitchen, new soft furnishings and curtains, new beds. Please do not hesitate to report anything like the problem with the door lock during your stay, the staff would have been more than happy to have it sorted out if they had known. Property Owner
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"Fantastic unique place to stay."
Great facilities, well stocked kitchen. We could have easily stayed a lot longer. Only downside were the beds were small especially for my 6ft husband.
Many thanks for the feedback, we are planning some refurbishment Winter 23/24 and are planning to replace the beds. Property Owner
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"A really enjoyable Diamond Wedding celebration in a stunning property, highly recommended."
And great croquet lawn if you have a croquet set!
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"On the plus side: The house is beautiful and has a well stocked kitchen with two fridges."
There is artwork and elegance throughout. The gardens are lovely and it's very quick to walk into Melrose but you feel as if you are in the countryside. on the downside: There are several cafetieres for coffee. Unfortunately when I enquired about what coffee facilities there were, first i got no reply and then got told there weren't any. Also, the listing indicated garden furniture but there was none. There is only one key which, when you have a group of people means it is easy to get locked out. The beds are mediocre especially for how expensive the house is. The water coming out of the sinks is VERY hot! Sadly, the showers did not get so hot. I probably would not come back given the cost of the place.
Thank you very much for your feedback. Unfortunately the garden furniture had been removed during the Book Festival and we had omitted to put it back but we understand that the team did put the furniture back out when you mentioned it. We have noted your comments about the water and will look into it. We do have plans to refurbish Harmony House over the next Winter/Spring. Property Owner
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"We’ve stayed at this house many times."
The bathroom improvements are excellent. Generally the house was as good as ever. A few door and cupboard handles broken here and there. Some of the beds need to be upgraded and less heavy duvets available. Otherwise the house was a joy as ever. Thank you.
Thank you for your feedback. We are currently working on plans for some refurbishment for Harmony House and beds are definitely part of the scheme. Holidays Team NTS Property Owner
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"This is our second time at Harmony house the first being 14 yrs ago."
It's a fantastic property for a family gathering. The showers and bathroom facilities have been upgraded which was great but otherwise the property is the same. The only complaint is the beds. They are horrendous. The doubles are small doubles at best, some with end boards which is challenging for the 6foot plus amongst us. All of us where keen to return to normal sized beds!
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"We had a lovely time at Harmony House."
The house is beautiful and the views from every window are stunning. We will be coming back
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"The house is wonderful for a large family gathering, with plenty of bedrooms and communal space, not to mention the free access to Harmony Garden after opening hours."
The only drawbacks were the poor bathroom facilities (which we understand are being updated shortly) - only one shower for 12 people was definitely not enough and the ‘shower over bath’ was merely a tube you stuck onto the taps - for rinsing hair after having a bath, I think; the poor WiFi (which we were warned about) and the self-closing doors which banged very loudly each time they closed. All in all, we had a wonderful week there.
Thank you very much for your feedback and good to read that you found it a good place for a family gathering. We have just recently upgraded the water infrastructure in the house in preparation for work on the bathrooms in 2023. We are looking at solutions with our IT dept to improve the wifi signal. Property Owner
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"Beautiful and spacious accommodation."
Really comfortable and peaceful property for holiday. A home away from home. Beautiful garden surrounding, a beautiful town. Thank you Sykes cottage team. We will be back again.
Thank you very much for your positive feedback, we hope to welcome you again at the NTS. Property Owner
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"Everything was clean and tidy."
Directions to the property was precise. Everyone in my party was delighted.
Thank you very much for your positive feedback, we hope to welcome you back to Harmony or one of our other National Trust for Scotland houses. Property Owner
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"We booked Harmony House and Gardens in Melrose for our wedding reception and it was absolutely stunning."
The bridal party all stayed together in the house and we had the best week together. The house is absolutely stunning as is the garden, the views of the Eildons and the Abby are an added bonus. Gordon and Jo, the managers there are just a dream to work with, so kind, helpful and supportive. The house has perfect facilities and enough room for everyone, we loved the Library for cosy nights and the grand sitting room is perfect for game nights. We will definitely be booking again and we can't wait. The Sykes team were also so helpful with our booking process. We would highly recommend this venue and company! Thank you for helping us achieve our dream wedding!
Hello Roxy, many thanks for your lovely comments after your wedding reception. It is great to hear that you had the best week. All our best wishes for your married life together. Property Owner
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"Can’t thank you enough for our wonderful Christmas holiday at your house."
From the moment we arrived the house was warm and welcoming, two lovely trees were decorated for us and all the rooms were cosy, immaculate and with quality bed linens and towels. Honestly it felt like a home from home. Your kitchen was well equipped with plenty of crockery and cutlery, took us a bit of time to work out the range ovens - that was down to us and not the cooker ! Location of the house was perfect for us as shops and cafes were literally 5 minutes away also we had a clear view of Melrose Abbey and the grounds of the house itself we’re lovely. All the family are looking forward to a return visit. Once again a big thank you to you. All the best.
Thank you very much for your feedback, we are really pleased that you enjoyed Christmas at Harmony. We look forward to welcoming you back to Melrose. Property Owner
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"Ten from 12 were here, and we all had a great time."
Harmony house was a great venue and everything was spotleddly clean and the shortbread thoroughly enjoyed. Located ideally for a quick pop into Melrose and surrounding areas. Thoroughly recommended.
Many thanks for your kind words, we are glad you enjoyed your stay in Harmony House. We would love to welcome you back at Harmony House or one of our other NTS properties throughout Scotland. Property Owner
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"A beautiful house in a lovely garden."
It has its own private garden but out of visiting hours the whole of Harmony Garden was ours. It’s a wonderful area with loads to see and do. Lots of lovely walks nearby. And houses and gardens aplenty. Go to Carolside gardens if you can - they’re beautiful ( only open weekends) The house is comfortable and as one would expect, old fashioned. Facilities ok but a few things need attention: the television had no signal and the dishwasher needs a new lower basket. For a large party some bigger cooking pots/ casserole dishes would be good ( plus a grater and a sieve)
We are glad that you enjoyed your stay at the house and the surrounding area. Unfortunately the TV required a qualified engineer to fix and re-tune so there was a delay. We have noted your comment re the dishwasher and the utensils. Property Owner
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"We really loved staying at Harmony."
The house is full of character the furniture pieces are really excellent. The garden is awesome and worth staying here just to enjoy the garden! We’ll like to suggest upgrade to the bathrooms as they look really tired and the house definitely needs WiFi that works consistently. The hosts/caretaker generously offered us an Ethernet cable so we could get some connections.
Thank you for your commenst and we are glad that you loved staying at Harmony House. We are currently looking at plans for renewals and replacements for the property . Property Owner
Summary
- Over three floors
- Eight bedrooms: 1 x double with en-suite, 1 x double, 1 x second-floor double, 2 x twin, 2 x second-floor twin, 1 x single
- Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
- Shower room with shower, basin and WC
- Cloakroom with basin and WC
- Kitchen
- External utility and drying room
- Dining room
- Sitting room/library
- Drawing room
- Gas central heating
- Electric range cooker with gas hob, grill, one main oven compartment and side warming oven
- Microwave, fridge, washer/dryer, dishwasher
- TV, DVD player, CD player and WiFi
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Travel cot and highchair available
- Off-road parking for four cars
- Enclosed private garden with table and chairs and use of Harmony Garden after it is closed to the public
- Two well-behaved dogs welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shop and pub 0.2 miles
- When travelling between Harmony House and the guests' private garden dogs must be kept on a lead
- Sunday arrivals are not permitted
- The opening times, visitor facilities and entry prices of all National Trust for Scotland properties and attractions can be viewed on their website here
The property
An eclectic mix of period detail with contemporary comfort, Harmony House is a 19th century eight-bedroom dwelling, lying within the peaceful National Trust for Scotland-owned Harmony Garden in Melrose.
This elegant abode is perfect for bringing everyone together for a trip to the Scottish Borders, with plenty of country walks, riverside rambles and local history to delight in.
Seek comfort within the opulent drawing room, taking a seat on one of the beautiful sofas and turning on the CD player for some ambience while you admire the original features, such as the feature open fire.
For a family celebration, make use of the impressive dining room, the long table offering a seat for every guest, with food being prepared in the kitchen with the use of the excellent range of appliances.
Enjoy a relaxing afternoon within the sitting room/library, with a wondrous choice of books to choose from, as well as a TV in here.
An external outbuilding holds the laundry facilities and a drying area, as well as the house having its own private garden and patio area reserved just for guests.
Feature fireplaces, ornate furnishings, wrought-iron bed frames and polished floorboards all feature throughout the eight elegant bedrooms, set over the first and second floors, reached via the beautiful spiral staircase.
On the first floor you can choose from two double bedrooms, with one boasting en-suite facilities, two twin rooms and a single bedroom, whilst up on the second floor lies two double rooms with smaller double beds, one is 6x4ft and the other is 5ft 8” x 3ft 10” and two more twin rooms, providing everyone with a tranquil place to rest.
On waking, you can step into a refreshing shower within the shower room, or take a relaxing soak in the tub in the bathroom.
Delight in picturesque views from the large windows of Harmony Garden below, as well as being within strolling distance of the amenities of Melrose.
Bring the whole family together in the beautiful Harmony House for a Scottish Borders adventure.
This property can be booked with Refs. 1060385, 1060394, together sleeping 21 guests.
EPC Rating: Band F
Short-term Holiday Let Licence No: SB-00050-F
Harmony Cottages
A collection of three wondrous properties resting in the Scottish Borders' town of Melrose, centred around the beautiful Harmony Garden, owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Comprising three separate properties, including Harmony House, nestled within the walls of Harmony Garden; Harmony Cottage, positioned adjacent to Melrose Abbey; and finally Pear Cottage, above a local craft shop and overlooking National Trust for Scotland’s Priorwood Garden. Each property offers its own unique outlook, with equally impressive interiors, as well as being within a stone's throw of each other, making a great choice for an escape with all of your loved ones. Harmony Garden itself is a tranquil setting comprising lawns, herbaceous and mixed borders, vegetable and fruit plots, and a rich display of spring bulbs, creating a wonderful aura to enjoy all year round. Enjoy exploring this idyllic setting and delight in purchasing fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables from Harmony Garden itself when available, great for adding to the ingredients of your self-catered cooking, with lots more to be found in the heart of Melrose. Visit the Country Kitchen in Market Square, offering a deli, bakery and winery stocking a great range of local produce, or visit the farmer's market in Kelso, around 15 miles away, on the last Saturday morning of every month. The St Cuthbert's Way begins in Melrose and spans 62 miles all the way to Lindisfarne, while the Eildon Hills are accessible right from the town centre, and a pleasant riverside stroll along the River Tweed is always a delightful choice. Visit the stunning ruins of Melrose Abbey, dating back to the 14th century and now home to a museum, as well as the National Trust for Scotland’s Priorwood Garden, where you can find beautiful flora and fauna, and even 90 different types of apples. Venture out of town to the imposing Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, who was a playwright, novelist and poet. A trip to the charming and historic town of Jedburgh is a must too, with its own abbey, or find even more National Trust for Scotland wonder at Robert Smail's Printing Works in Innerleithen, a living museum of Victorian history boasting plenty of excitement and an educational day out for all of the family, with the oldest working commercial letterpress printers in the UK. Relish in a scenic and elegant stay with your loved ones in the Scottish Borders at Harmony Cottages.
About the location
MELROSE
St Boswells 4.6 miles; Lauder 11.5 miles; Kelso 14.2 miles; Bonchester Bridge 19.3 miles
The quaint and idyllic town of Melrose can be found perched on the banks of the beautiful River Tweed right on the border where Scotland meets England. Surrounded by beautiful open fields, this charming town offers a beautiful base from which to explore the true delights of Scotland. Filled with all the essential amenities for a smooth-sailing self-catering stay, such as a large supermarket, a charming café and a small selection of quintessential country pubs and restaurants, it's little wonder this picturesque town has become a firm favourite amongst many holidaymakers. Visitors can delight in tours of The Trimontium Museum Trust and the medieval ruins of Melrose Abbey, as well as the beautifully-kept lawns of Priorwood Garden right from your doorstep! A pleasant drive away lies the historical town of Jedburgh and the Royal Burgh of Peebles, whilst further afield the picturesque town of Eyemouth makes for a wonderful day by the coast. Other local attractions include Dryburgh Abbey, Smailholm Tower and the former home of Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford. Fun is to be had at Go Wild Scotland, and outdoor enthusiasts should be sure to embark on a scenic hike through Tweed Valley Forest park. With something for everyone to enjoy, Melrose is the ultimate choice for any type of holiday to Scotland.
Sunday arrivals are not permitted.
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas