Praise be! A handsome ex-minister’s residence just inside the Scottish border, Church House offers enchanting views across rolling Berwickshire farmland as far as the Cheviot Hills.
Better yet, its old stone building overlooks an enormous south-facing garden. A veritable suntrap during summer months, this has various shady trees along the perimeter and lawns providing plenty of space for game-playing.
Inside, a deliberately-uncluttered aesthetic champions the manse’s delightful original features: stripped wood floors, a sweeping staircase and its time-worn patina, working shutters and open fireplaces. Amid woodland-green wallpaper, the snug dining room is furnished with repurposed antique pieces; a large, vintage red rug adorns the slumberous lounge, meanwhile, as binoculars allow birdwatchers to scrutinise that garden.
Mustard-yellow fixtures accompany a two-oven AGA in the spacious, Shaker-style kitchen, where a wonderfully casual vibe permeates. Recipe books top the crammed crockery dresser and an island-counter table and side-settee both allow guests to chat to the day’s designated cook. An original, ceiling-mounted pulley offers another pleasing echo of yesteryear.
Along with a trio of high-quality bathrooms – one memorably containing retro checkerboard flooring – all six bedrooms share the two floors above. Inside them await original Victorian beds, more floorboards and walls in rich colour palettes. Bedroom one throws in an antique, window-side desk, while, ideal for children, the fourth chamber pairs two twin units with an additional daybed. A further floor up, the final two bedrooms might suit teens wanting a little extra privacy; one also has ample floor space ready for toys.
Next door to Foulden Parish Church, the home is exceptionally well-placed for exploring both Northumberland and the Scottish Borders’ many attractions, including a chain of impressive castles recalling this area’s turbulent past. Unspoilt beaches and rugged coves tempt a little to the east; alternatively, head west for a hike in the Lammermuir Hills, a genuinely-wild UK pocket far from the humdrum of everyday life. Also close are arty Berwick-upon-Tweed and the charming, Tweed-side market towns of Kelso and Melrose with their ruined abbeys.
There are also renowned links and parkland golf courses close by, along with myriad opportunities for cycling, and even Edinburgh is within reach.
