Local Area
Doorpool Farm House is ideally placed for those who like exploring, with good road connections making a remarkably wide area accessible for day trips. Favourites include the charming Border’s towns of Kelso, Jedburgh, Hawick, Melrose, Peebles, the stunning Berwickshire coast with its beautiful beaches and postcard villages or a quick hop south to the magnificent Kielder Forest and pretty market towns of Hexham and Corbridge. The new railway network from Galashiels to Edinburgh city centre runs every 30 minutes, enjoy the 50 minute breath-taking journey for a day out in Scotland’s capital.
Think of the Scottish Borders and think of big spaces: heather-clad hills, hundreds of square miles of forests and woodland, lochs and rivers. Wherever trees and hills abound, cyclists and mountain bikers won‘t be far away; some of the best cycling routes in Scotland can be found here in the Borders.
For fishing fanatics the farmhouse in convenient for the famous River Tweed and underestimated River Teviot. Shooting, both walked up and driven are available within 10 minutes of the property and can be arranged. The house is well equipped for sporting parties with a large garage, boot room and drying area. Well-behaved dogs (max 3) are welcome with prior consent of the owner and must be kept on the ground floor, there is also an onsite kennel. There are golf courses at nearby Jedburgh, Minto and The Roxburgh and the renowned Scottish Links courses are within an easy day trip.
Things to Do
KIELDER WATER AND FOREST PARK (Approx 25 min drive)- Kielder Water & Forest Park brings you nature on a grander scale. It’s home to the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe and, at over 250 square miles, the largest working forest in England. There are many activities available at Kielder –
· Cycling
· Mountain Biking
· Horse Riding
· Water Activities inc Canoeing, sailing, water skiing
· Adventure activiites including Archery, Crossbows, Fencing, Water Walkerz, Sea Scooters, Panna Soccer, Body Zorbs, Crazy Carts, Crazy Trikes, GO Quest plus a variety of GO Junior activities.
· Fell Running
· Walking
· Art and architecture and much more…
PAINTBALLING – Reload Paintball, Bonchester Bridge (5 min drive) – 07917 703425
BISLEY AT BRAIDWOOD (25 mins drive)– Bisley at Braidwood is Scotland’s largest clay pigeon shooting venue. www.bisleyshooting.co.uk
RULE VALLEY SIMULATED GAME – simulated high pheasant, partridge and grouse. www.rulevalley.com
HARESTANES COUNTRYSIDE VISITOR CENTRE (20 mins drive) – lies on St Cuthbert’s Way, one of Scotland’s most popular long distance paths. There is a large newly opened (2019) state of the art play park and the opportunity to enjoy a range of countryside walks for all ages and abilities. There are regular events, exhibitions and activities. www.liveborders.org.uk/harestanes
HORSE RIDING – Ian Stark Equestrian Centre – lessons, expansive hacking and trekking for all abilities. www.ianstarkequestriancentre.co.uk
CYCLING / MOUNTAIN BIKING
Glentress Mounting Biking (Approx 1 hours drive) – Glentress Forest is a mountain biking Mecca deep in the heart of the stunning Tweed Valley. The biking experience here includes Green, Blue, Red or Black graded trails, as well as a magnificent multi-graded free-ride area. www.glentressforest.com
7 Stanes Mounatin Biking – Newcastleton (approx. 30 min drive) www.scotland.forestry.gov.uk
Borderloop – Doorpool sits directly on the route of the Borderloop a 250 mile cycle route around the Scottish Borders – www.cyclescottishborders.com
Cycle Scottish Borders – A fantastic website highlighting all the best cycling routes and activities within the local area – www.cyclescottishborders.com
WALKING
There are many walks locally and with Scotlands ‘Right to roam’ policy the options are endless.
However here are a few popular local walks;
BORDERS ABBEY WAY – 68 miles incorporating the towns and villages of Bedrule, Clintmains, Denholm, Dryburgh, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Makerstoun, Melrose, Newtown St Boswells, Tweedbank www.scotborders.gov.uk/bordersabbeysway/
ST CUTHBERTS WAY – 100km walk between Melrose and Holy Island. www.stcuthbertsway.info
PATHS AROUND TOWNS – The Scottish Borders Council offer an indepth list of walking routes around the local towns – www.scotborders.gov.uk