Crabtree & Crabtree invites you to reimagine self-catering and define your own luxury with our exclusive portfolio of holiday cottages, set in the very best spots of some of Great Britain’s wildest regions: the North of England and South of Scotland.

Your go-to pad for discovering the beaches, golf courses and gardens of East Lothian Set within the celebrated 5,000-acre Dunglass Estate, Birch is one of a trio of cottages that make up the stylishly restored former stables. Fronted by a striking arched entrance, the Courtyard Cottages form the remaining three sides of a square around the tranquil courtyard that has housed the Usher family’s horses, carriages and motorcars over the generations. Since catching the eye of Robert Burns in 1787, when he described Dunglass as “the most romantic sweet place I ever saw”, the estate’s beautiful parkland, woodland and landscaped gardens have been nurtured while part of its acreage has been transformed into a sustainable farm. Ideally located for strolls down to the beach, rounds on East Lothian’s famous golf courses, day trips to nearby historic towns and even visits to Edinburgh (the city is under an hour’s drive away), the Dunglass Estate has it all. The front door of Birch cottage, the only two-storey property in the courtyard, leads into a cosy country kitchen complete with Rangemaster oven, rustic wooden dining table and chairs and sweeping views over the Dunglass parklands. Also on the ground floor, there’s an inviting sitting room, framed by a pretty arched window and offering the choice of a large Chesterfield sofa and double sofa, as well as an attractive family bathroom with a claw-foot bath and separate shower. Moving upstairs, two double bedrooms and a twin bedroom share access to a snug with additional sofa for two. For larger parties able to holiday together, Birch cottage can be let with two other three-bedroom cottages in the courtyard, Willow and Laurel, while Seaview House (four bedrooms) and the captivating Treehouse (one bedroom) sit just a few hundred yards away.

Belhaven Smokehouse in Dunbar (9 miles) offer a super range of smoked fish, meat, cheese and local produce, and there are a number of quality butchers in the area selling locally sourced meat as well as game. Andersons Butchers in North Berwick (19 miles) come highly recommended, selling pork from the locally reared Mangalica or ‘hairy pigs ‘(a Hungarian cross between domestic breeds and wild boar). There is also a traditional fishmonger in Dunbar High Street. Larger supermarket shopping can all be found in Dunbar, Haddington and North Berwick. For eating out, there are a wide range of dining options in the area but try The Creel in Dunbar for warm, informal dining and locally sourced food and seafood, or the Rocks Hotel for their excellent seasonal menu. Further afield, the Waterside Bistro in Haddington is a super choice for lunch or evening dining, along with plenty of lovely coffee stops along the way.