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.
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.
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 greatâŠ.. we all loved it! Nick
Group stay exploring Edinburgh and surrounding areas
We really enjoyed our stay at Harrietâs 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.
We had such a lovely time in a beautiful house. Set in a castleâs grounds you couldnât 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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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 hostâshe went above and beyond by thoughtfully providing beautiful Christmas decorations that made the house feel even more magical.The house itself is incredibly spaciousâwe're pretty sure we didnât 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 neighborsâa 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. Itâs 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 weâll cherish forever!
Being a lover of history I was thrilled to walk the grounds and stay in the Dower House! An American with a Downton fetish (Iâve even styled my business after it) I realized there were servantsâ 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!
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!
This particular property is very close to our hearts as it was where we started off our early marriage and had our 4 children. Every inch of the house and garden has been loved and played in by us. We know the special atmosphere it has.
Come and stay in a property on an estate with a castle and beautiful grounds that are steeped in history. You may walk in the private grounds of the castle and on request you may be able to have a tour of the castle.