Holiday Retreats
Luxury accommodation in the south east of Scotland
Papple Steading is a beautifully restored farm and winner of a 2023 RIAS best building award. Make this your base to explore East Lothian, the Borders and Edinburgh…or just chill.
Your home from home
The spacious layout of Papple is ideal for family get-togethers or for groups of friends who want to holiday together without compromising on space.
There’s a wonderful mix of classic contemporary rooms ideal for dining and entertaining combined with a colourful cosy lounge and TV snug, perfect for rest and relaxation. Within the grounds there’s an array of fun activities to choose from, and we recommend taking time to visit the pretty quaint coastal towns nearby.
For smaller groups, the properties can be booked individually with Papple Farmhouse sleeping 8, Grieve’s Cottage sleeping 8, Shepherd’s Bothy sleeping 2 and Ploughman’s Bothy sleeping 2.
Papple at a glance
- Location – East Lothian, 20 miles east of Edinburgh
- Nearest airport – Edinburgh, 60 minutes drive
- Nearest mainline railway station – Dunbar
- Drive time from Edinburgh city centre – 45 minutes
- Number of bedrooms – 10 with 10 bath/showers, mostly ensuite over 4 adjoining properties. 9 of the 10 bedrooms can be set at twins, giving a total of 19 beds
- Connectivity – 1 Gigabit leased digital line with service distributed to all rooms
- Recreation facilities – library, exercise studio, TV lounge, table tennis, table football and croquet
- Activities – walking, rambling in Papple Wood, our forest garden and in our wildflower meadow. Area suits cycling, hill walking, climbing, water sports and golf
- Children and dog friendly
Eat, sleep and relax
Papple has been restored with meticulous attention to detail, breathing new life into the original buildings and features, creating a perfect alliance of rich historical heritage with fresh, contemporary design.
The bedrooms are all of the same exquisite quality and comfort, furnished with Harrison Spinks’ beds, vegan duvets and pillows, and pure cotton sheets. Many of the room furnishings are handcrafted locally and produced responsibly, chosen for their exquisite craftsmanship.
The Farmhouse is the social hub of Papple where guests gather to eat, drink and entertain. We have the ultimate tech companion for streaming movies and gaming – superfast broadband delivered to each room via a direct dedicated fibre line.
Every aspect of your stay is covered.
Fun for family and friends
Papple Steading has six acres of beautiful green space encompassing a perfectly manicured lawn abundant with floral borders, a foraging garden, a paddock and an ancient woodland with a hidden Celtic maze. The perfect playground to spend time with loved ones to reconnect and make memories.
There’s a myriad of fun activities available. Start the day with a mindful yoga session on the lawn or venture into Papana wood to discover bridges, boardwalks and follies, and incredible animal sculptures handcrafted by Rosie Watson. Enjoy a game of croquet or rounders in the paddock followed by a picnic lunch. Inside the cart shed are table football and table tennis.
The firepit and log seats by the mystical ruins of Papple Convent are a fabulous setting for marshmallow toasting, relaxation and conversation. The wider grounds extend by 18 acres of wildflower meadow and woodland, perfect for hiking and exploration.
We provide a superior, understated service that’s personalised and proactive. Our guests are discerning and value our discretion, they’re well travelled, they appreciate glamour and the familiar spirit of comfort.
Discover the Lammermuir Hills and natural beauty of East Lothian
Papple sits in the foothills of the wondrous Lammermuir Hills, the perfect escape for a hike in the rolling moors and heather slopes that stretch as far as the Scottish Borders.
East Lothian spans over 40 miles of magnificent coastline. Home to the world’s finest links golf courses, golden beaches, enchanting small towns and pretty harbours, as well as a superb selection of local food and drink offerings. Canoeing, kayaking and wakeboarding can be enjoyed close by, and there are miles of scenic country paths ideal for walking and cycling.
We encourage guests to explore the John Muir Way and the beautiful beaches enroute. Visit nearby gin and whisky distilleries, discover historic locations and castles and step onboard Concorde at the National Museum of Flight.
Here to help
The estate office is adjacent to The Farmhouse and the Papple team are on hand to assist guests with any queries during weekdays from 9am to 5pm but also fully respect guest privacy.