Intro

The Scottish Borders is a rewarding region to choose as a base for touring around – whether for visiting its abbeys, historic country houses, the charming towns of Kelso, Jedburgh and Melrose, for fishing on the Tweed, walking, horse-riding, or relaxing amidst peaceful rurality of it all. And Edinburgh is just an hour or so away (even closer now with the brand new A1 route).

Berwickshire, on the south east of Scotland, offers particularly enjoyable, unspoilt scenery and winding country roads, with attractive fishing villages such as Eyemouth along the coast down to Berwick-upon-Tweed. When considering accommodation and dining in this area, the dependable guidebook Scotland the Best has awarded this hotel a coveted red tick of approval.

The Museum of Flight is not too far away at East Fortune – and that’s where one of the magnificent Concorde aircraft is on permanent display: a massively popular attraction.

The hotel

The Wheatsheaf, in the sleepy little village of Swinton, could be described as a country inn, a pub, a restaurant with rooms or a small hotel. It does say ‘hotel’ on the old stone walls... but that’s an old sign.

It is all of these, in fact, offering the guest warm hospitality, excellent food, a cosy snug bar, and attractive bedrooms with a homely touch.

Owned and managed by husband and wife double-act Chris and Jan Winson, and their young team of enthusiastic, friendly staff, you can be assured of a relaxing and comfortable visit. The Wheatsheaf was nominated, and received many votes, in the restaurant-with-rooms category of The Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards 2005 and 2006.

The Fisherman’s Snug is a great place to sit for a drink before or after dinner, or a light bar lunch. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed cosying up to the roasting log fire to which comfort zone we were smilingly brought our drinks. All around are reminders of the rural locality and the atmosphere is country inn to a ‘t’.

Cheers, indeed – the ambience is cheering and genuine… the kind of welcoming appeal that has grown up over the years and which is reliable and admirable.

The Wheatsheaf was the Overall Winner in the 'Best Tastes in the Borders' awards 2006. "This is an excellent restaurant with rooms offering consistently exemplary standards of food and hospitality. Skilful, well-constructed dishes featuring local produce are imaginatively presented with contemporary style. Daily specials ensure that the best and freshest ingredients are always available and utilised effectively. Professional, friendly and well timed service. As popular as ever, booking ahead is strongly recommended. Not to be missed!" - Scottish Borders Council, November 2006

Bedrooms

The 7 bedrooms in this delightfully presented place are each very different in style, size, character and facilities. They are described as Standard Double, Superior Twin and Superior King.

All have quality en-suite bathrooms, some with a bath and a separate power shower cubicle – an extra luxury not often found in this price bracket. There are charming and cosy attic rooms on the top floor furnished with polished country pine and pretty Laura Ashley décor, as well as more masculine bedrooms decorated with a fishing theme.

The Superior King bedroom is more like a suite, with an entrance hall, a couple of steps down to the bedroom with its lovely sofa, huge king size bed, wide-screen digital TV, DVD and video (with a selection of films for adults and children). The bathroom is particularly large, with a bath and separate power shower. Top points for a useful heated towel rail and large bath sheets. Guests have tea and coffee hospitality trays in their bedrooms, including shortbread biscuits.

Arriving on a chilly night, we found the central heating radiator was full on and also a separate heater had been switched on to make sure the room was warm for us. Very thoughtful: how often do you step into a hotel room where all the lights are out and the heaters are off? But not here.

Dining

The Wheatsheaf has enjoyed a fine reputation for its award-winning Scottish cuisine for many years. Head chef John Keir has been running the kitchen for 15 years and has consistently received the high accolades from the AA with 2 of that guide’s rosettes having been awarded for 4 years in succession. The Good Pub Guide has also recognised its fine dining with an award for Dining Pub of the Year.

Based upon sources of the freshest local produce, you can expect a surprisingly extensive menu featuring Scotch beef, Borders lamb, organic pork and wild salmon. Depending upon the season, a fine choice of game will be on offer, including partridge, pheasant and woodcock. And you will also experience quality seafood from the local fishing port of Eyemouth, organic vegetables and wild mushrooms.

Apart from a choice of 7 or 8 starters and main courses, every day there are ‘blackboard specials’, based on the best fish at the market that day and other seasonal choices. When we visited for the judging, there were scallops and halibut on offer.

You might begin with Teviotdale Smoked Salmon, Prawn and Avocado Timbale (which is beautifully presented like a little salmon-wrapped parcel); or alternatively with Pan-Fried Scallops; or Homemade Soup; or Black Pudding Fritters with Stewed Apple; or Homemade Salmon Fish Cakes.

The feast continues with perhaps Medallions of Scotch Beef with Shitake Mushrooms and a White Wine Truffle Oil Sauce. As mentioned above, the range of fish is definitely recommended and a speciality of the house: the ‘special’ might be Eyemouth Langoustines, as sweet and juicy as lobster, or Pan-Fried Seabass on Spring Onion Mash with Cherry Tomatoes and Grilled Aubergine. We found the quality of both these dishes to be comparable with a fine dining city restaurant.

And to finish what about (the mouth-wateringly delicious) Ginger and Pear Pudding with Hot Fudge Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream? The farmhouse cheeses were ripe and soft, strong and mature, and served with homemade oatcakes. The kitchen at the Wheatsheaf has a pastry chef who makes speciality breads, such as sundried tomato and herb.

The dining area consists of 2 rooms, with polished pine tables in a rustic, bright and airy stone and pine-lined sun lounge, as well as there being tables next door in another intimate room, both just off the cosy bar.

The cellar boasts of 120 wines, with a well-priced selection of house wines by the glass from South America, France and Australia. We enjoyed a half bottle of a Spanish reserve at £13. Particularly impressive is the extensive list of Champagne starting from just £26, with sparkling wine at £16. There is also a good selection of fine malts, cognac, gin and port.

HotelReview™ | Scotland is not alone in its positive view. One visitor from London recently commented: “The meal I had last night was the finest ever eaten in Scotland.” And cast your eye over the latest Reader's Review down below. We have awarded our GoldPlate™ distinction while new food and drink guide GoodFoodScotland is strongly recommending the restaurant-with-rooms.

Breakfast

Despite a delicious dinner, you are sure to be ready for breakfast the next morning. Start with stewed prunes and apricot in syrup, grapefruit, cereals or a sweet muesli, or porridge. Fresh, unsweetened fruit might be welcome, as well as natural yoghurt. Then comes the usual big dish of egg, bacon and sausage, or a generous portion of scrambled egg with smoked salmon. The yolks are an extraordinarily bright golden yellow – local organic eggs. Also available is poached haddock, or boiled egg with ‘soldiers’, and a vegetarian grill featuring homemade potato scones, tomatoes and mushrooms. Presentation of breakfast dishes is particularly stylish. One quibble: hot milk would be nice with the coffee and a tea cosy would help to keep the tea and hot water jug hot! But, overall, breakfast at The Wheatsheaf is much above average and a fine start to a day in this lovely area.

Leisure

A large number of guests come for the fishing season as the River Tweed flows nearby. There’s also the annual James Clark motor rally when many participants and onlookers stay here. (Jim Clark was a Scottish driving legend and at nearby Duns there is a museum to his life.)

The hotel will be more than happy to advise on what to do and see nearby and has a plentiful supply in the award-lined hall of brochures of local attractions such as Paxton Hall country house and art gallery, outdoor sports and leisure pursuits, and Berwick-upon-Tweed’s offerings.

Links

We hope that you find these links useful:

The Jim Clark Room

The Scottish Museum of Flight (Concorde)

Jedburgh Abbey

Birdwatching at St Abb’s Head

Search for Visitor Attractions in the Borders area

The Reviewer’s View Vivien Devlin

“It makes a refreshing change to stay in a traditional inn opposite a village green rather than in a grand country house hotel which, however beautifully stylish and luxurious, has a more formal attitude. At the Wheatsheaf the emphasis is on a casual, relaxing setting and the Winsons with their young yet professional staff make one feel immediately at home. With special touches such as bedside magazines, radio, large TV screen, videos and DVDs to watch in the comfort of your room, plus the superior cuisine, a cosy snug bar… all surrounded by the countryside just asking to be explored… it all adds up to a highly recommended place in which to stay.”

Readers' Reviews

“My husband and I have just returned to Northern Ireland after spending a couple of weeks in Scotland. For years we have toured the West Coast, Edinburgh and the Highlands in search of different culinary delights. This year we decided on a change of venue for some of our time away and we looked at the Borders as we'd never been there.

I took time using the web to look at hotels and restaurants with food awards and eventually decided to make a reservation at The Wheatsheaf, their website being informative. We booked for a 2 night stay on the 12th and 13th July for dinner, bed and breakfast. Upon arrival we were impressed with the location, Swinton being a village about 14 miles east of Kelso and set in rolling countryside.

Upon arrival we were met by Jan, a co owner, who was welcoming and who showed us our room. The Wheatsheaf is marketed as a restaurant with rooms and I was very impressed with our accommodation which was spacious and spotless. The restaurant and bar areas are cosy and the staff friendly and always willing to help.

Each evening our meals were a delight, the ingredients being fresh local produce freshly prepared and presented exquisitely. The fish and meats were mouthwatering and the accompanying vegetables complimented them. The wine cellar was extensive and offered a good wine selection. The restaurant staff showed a genuine interest in each of their customers and the food. In the morning the breakfasts again were a foodie’s delight with fresh produce being the order of the day. Chris, Jan’s husband, was on hand to serve and if asked was more than willing to assist and advise.

When you find a place like The Wheatsheaf you are torn between recommending it or keeping it a secret. Well, I think I should let others into my secret and would recommend The Wheatsheaf to anyone who wants an extra special culinary experience… one my husband and I hope to repeat in the near future.” Mrs Ellen Wort (Northern Ireland), 2007

Awards / Look & Book Box™ status This hotel has been reviewed by the Guide and any HotelReview™ awards are detailed above. Any star quality grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board. As the hotel is a Member of HotelReview™ | Scotland the Look & Book Box™ features are ONLINE.

Your opinion? There’s a link to a Reader’s Review form at the top and left side of this page. It only takes a moment to send the Guide your views via the small panel that will pop-up. You can be as brief or as fulsome as you wish! Your views go to the Editor, who will acknowledge your response within a few days. He may edit feedback. Reports do not go directly online. You can be named or remain anonymous. At Scotland’s most-read hotel guide we greatly value the tremendous feedback we have from our readers. Thanks!

Disability Information: The hotel has provided us with these details: “Although we do not strictly adhere to measurements laid down by the authorities for access, we have many wheelchair users use our establishment. We provide support getting in over the front two steps. Access is also possible to the toilets, but they do not comply with Disabled Toilet Regulations”. Bedrooms are upstairs and there is no lift. Mr & Mrs Winson and staff will be glad to provide you with any further details and all will be done to facilitate your visit.

Ghàidhlig: Bidh Ghàidhlig ri fhaighinn an seo a dh’aithghearr! Tapa leibh.

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