A beautiful Dower House

Top rated by guests

9.8Outstanding

(23 Ratings)

"The house was a great space for our family group of 13. There was a lot of space to spread out, outdoor space for the kids to run around and a great dining room for us to all eat together. I would def..."

Patricia M.

Don't miss out! Price and availability may change

9.8 / 10.0

Outstanding(23 Ratings)

House in Scotland

14 guests · 6 bedrooms · 4 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating

Top-tier experienceA high end property in this area

Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental

About this house rental

Cranstoun Riddel in the grounds of Oxenfoord Castle and Estate have been owned by the same family for nearly five hundred years. The house is set in beautiful scenic grounds and is situated in the depth of the countryside while at same time being only 12 miles from the centre of Edinburgh. There is not another property in sight of the house or the garden there - though you will see deer; hares; birds of all sorts from black birds to owls and birds of prey.

At the same time as being very secluded we are ideally placed for travel to and from other areas. Being so near to Edinburgh we are close to both rail and airport and on a good road system for travel to all parts of Scotland. We are with 15 mins of the beautiful coastlines on East Lothian and at the same time equally close to the wonderful Pentland Hills if sights from on high and hill walking are one of your passions.

We have the culture and history of Edinburgh on our doorstep combined with shopping and all the city activities that appeal to the young.

Cranstoun Riddel is a very happy and characterful house. Ideal for family or group holidays for any reason; suitable for all ages with a bedroom and its own bathroom on the ground floor for those who may not be so agile on the stair.

The views over the parks are spectacular and the surrounding trees appear to protect the house. There is a towering Wellingtonia very close to the house with its huge trunk is seem from the drawing room window.

Amenities at A beautiful Dower House

Non-smoking

No pets allowed

Family friendly

Map of Scotland

Nearby attractions

Queen Elizabeth Forest Park

59.9 mi

The Scottish Crannog Centre

62.1 mi

$$$$

Top rated by guests

9.8Outstanding

(23 Ratings)

Patricia M.

Don't miss out! Price and availability may change

$$$$

9.8 / 10.0

Outstanding(23 Ratings)

House in Scotland

14 guests · 6 bedrooms · 4 baths

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating

Top-tier experienceA high end property in this area

Book with confidenceWe partner with the top travel sites so you know you're getting a great deal on the perfect rental

Map of Scotland

Nearby attractions

Queen Elizabeth Forest Park

59.9 mi

The Scottish Crannog Centre

62.1 mi

About this house rental

Amenities

Non-smoking

No pets allowed

Family friendly

Ratings and reviews

9.8 / 10.0

Outstanding(23 Ratings)

10.0 / 10.0

The house was a great space for our family group of 13. There was a lot of space to spread out, outdoor space for the kids to run around and a great dining room for us to all eat together. I would definitely recommend this place for a large group. The kids were very happy to see deer, squirrels and lots of birds in the gardens. We had our own transport so it was easy to get around thankfully.

6.0 / 10.0

I'm sad to write a negative review but I wish someone had mentioned some things in their reviews or I wouldn’t have chosen to stay here. The night we arrived and went into our bedroom there were two black spiders of a good size on the wall. As we got looking around the home we noticed all kinds of cobwebs with spiders. There were dead spiders in the windows. There were live spiders in the corner of the kitchen. Worst of all, when I pulled down my bed covers a spider was inside our bed! Everyone in our party of 9 had spiders in their bedrooms and some in their beds too. The house doesn't get thoroughly cleaned - light fixtures, windows, walls, etc. had cobwebs. When mentioned to the owner they simply said “We're in the country and there are spiders - but they don’t bite”. Even if that's true, they’re spiders! The hot water was yellow. The carpets have stains. Even the exterior has webs and spiders in the doorways. Most of the house needs updating, paint, etc. the bathroom on the main floor has no window covering so my husband improvised and made his own window covering. There's also some kind of water leakage.On a positive note, the beds were very comfortable and the bedspreads were comfy and warm. Bathrooms & bedrooms were clean except for spiders. Owners are kind.For the money we paid for this house, and by all of the high reviews it has, we had no clue what we were walking into. It was very disheartening! Had I known, we would have never booked the house.

10.0 / 10.0

The place is located in a peaceful area outside of Edinburgh. Its an easy drive into Edinburgh but public transportation options are limited. The house and grounds are charming and very delightful. The house is very spacious with multiple large common areas. This place is ideal for large families who want privacy. The host was very responsive and accommodating.

10.0 / 10.0

This was such a wonderful experience for our family. Harriet was a great host who always communicated promptly. Very comforting.We felt appreciated and we enjoyed the cosy home. She made us feel like part of her family.Such a classy place. We very much appreciated the stay. We definitely would return.

10.0 / 10.0

Absolutely ideal venue for our family! The location, grounds, house and host were all wonderful!

10.0 / 10.0

We had a great time and what a gorgeous house and grounds. Harriet (host) was so helpful and available when needed. Her tip on getting into Edinburgh by train was worth its weight in gold! Her restaurant recommendation was spot on and great….. we all loved it! Nick

10.0 / 10.0

We had a large family gathering and the house and grounds are beautiful. Kitchen was well equipped. The outdoor area was beautiful and fun for the younger kids to stretch their legs. The furnishing was elegant but very comfortable. Everyone loved it and would stay here again.

10.0 / 10.0

We had the absolute pleasure of celebrating our first Christmas together at the stunning and charming Dower House. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that Harriet is an exceptional host—she went above and beyond by thoughtfully providing beautiful Christmas decorations that made the house feel even more magical.The house itself is incredibly spacious—we're pretty sure we didn’t even explore every room! The two stoves were a lifesaver for our family of enthusiastic cooks, allowing us to prepare our holiday feasts with ease. The dining room was simply perfect, both in size and decor, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for all of us to gather.One of the best things about the Dower House was being able to make all the noise and laughter we wanted without worrying about neighbors—a rare treat! The expansive garden was an absolute highlight, giving us the space to play traditional games and create lasting memories.The abundance of bathrooms was another fantastic feature, making everything so much easier for a large group like ours. It’s safe to say the Dower House has stolen a piece of our hearts.Thank you, Harriet and Michael, for going above and beyond to host us so beautifully. This was a Christmas we’ll cherish forever!

10.0 / 10.0

Everything about the house was superb. It was spacious yet cosy and you felt at home as soon as you walked in. The house is well equipped. The beds were very comfortable with cosy duvets and crisp linen. The grounds were peaceful, all topped off by deer in the garden wandering up to the house. There is nothing vaguely critical to say.

10.0 / 10.0

Wonderful bucolic location, 10 minutes from the train station. 5 minutes from town for coffee and groceries. HUGE back lawn that our toddler had to walk across every day which was also great for playing frisbee. Wonderful estate, church and older graveyard a short walk away. Kitchen was well supplied, and there was a giant refrigerator and freezer. But I'm glad we had a local with us to explain the fantastic stove! Also puzzled by the tray of water needed to be emptied from the dryer. Difficult to pull out of the driveway onto fast street with limited view of traffic. Thank you Harriet!

10.0 / 10.0

Being a lover of history I was thrilled to walk the grounds and stay in the Dower House! An American with a Downton fetish (I’ve even styled my business after it) I realized there were servants’ rooms as part of the house and the call bell system still in place though not functional was a stamp of authenticity. I honestly could have stayed the entire vacation and reveled in the place! I will definitely return when in Scotland and Edinburgh!

10.0 / 10.0

I absolutely gorgeous property.. The children and adults enjoyed the large yard. Everything was perfect. I would highly recommend.

10.0 / 10.0

We stayed at the Dower House with a large group of 11 and LOVED our time there. The house and estate grounds were beautiful and peaceful. The house was a quick drive into Edinburgh. It was nice having so much land that the kids could run around in. The owners were so kind and welcoming. Couldn't recommend this place enough.

10.0 / 10.0

We loved our stay here! The property was everything we had hoped for. Loads of space for us all - 11 adults and a toddler. The house has real character and we had everything we needed. The owners were easy to communicate with, and responded very quickly when we had a minor issue. And the letting and location are beautiful too - we saw deer, hare and buzzards from the garden!

10.0 / 10.0

We had such a lovely time in a beautiful house. Set in a castle’s grounds you couldn’t ask for a better place to stay. The proximity to Edinburgh allowed us to explore the city and come back and relax. The host was very helpful and we had such a lovely time! Thank you!

10.0 / 10.0

It was a great Scotland get away. Host was wonderful at communication. Bus location was close. Great experience.

10.0 / 10.0

We really enjoyed our stay at Harriet’s place and especially enjoyed the extensive outdoor space and sense of privacy the location gives. Easy to access Edinburgh and lots of good local walks. Would definitely recommend.

10.0 / 10.0

Property very well kept with traditional style. Beds were very comfy with very clean crisp bed linens. Lovely

10.0 / 10.0

Beautiful & stylish house on very nice castle grounds. Well setup & equipped and very comfortable and spacious

8.0 / 10.0

A nice spacious place, you feel isolated but yet close to nearby town and Edinburgh. Convenient for a family gathering

10.0 / 10.0

Great location, beautiful home, well equipped kitchen. Lots of towels and bedrooms were comfortable with loads of room. Nice efficient wood burner in the sitting room - needs some fire irons but lovely and cosy. Garden space is enormous - almost cricket pitch size! Fabulous for energetic children.

10.0 / 10.0

perfect for larger groups.

FAQs

Is parking included with this house?

Parking is not specified as an available amenity at A beautiful Dower House. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is A beautiful Dower House pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at A beautiful Dower House?

We found 3 amenities for this rental. This includes non-smoking, no pets allowed, and family friendly.

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A beautiful Dower House

House in Scotland

Reasons to book

About this house rental

Amenities at A beautiful Dower House

Map of Scotland

Nearby attractions

House in Scotland

Reasons to book

Map of Scotland

Nearby attractions

About this house rental

Amenities

Ratings and reviews

FAQs

Is parking included with this house?

Is there a pool at this house?

Is A beautiful Dower House pet friendly?

What amenities are available at A beautiful Dower House?

Explore similar stays in Scotland

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