Sign up to Airbnb HERE and get £25 ($32) OFF YOUR EDINBURGH STAYCATION at The Wee Sanctuary.
The Edinburgh Staycation
After the mayhem of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I was desperate for a weekend of peace, quiet and open space. Without the price tag of a Europe break… due to the afore mentioned Festival! This Edinburgh Staycation was the perfect solution.
It has always been my goal to convert a shipping container one day. So the container we found on Airbnb was the perfect solution for a staycation and a dream come true.
We left the office on Friday evening and enjoyed 2 nights of tranquility. And, after a weekend without the pain of airport delays, stress of luggage allowances or the cost of trains, I may be an Edinburgh Staycation convert!
For anyone living in or visiting Edinburgh looking to recharge or escape the city, I cannot recommend The Wee Sanctuary enough for the ultimate weekend escape or Edinburgh Staycation.
The Location
Dolphinton is about 45-50 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh. Once you’re out of town it’s an easy half hour on the A702.
Its incredible how soon after leaving the city you can feel like you’re a million miles away.
The Scottish Borders are peaceful, with no busy roads and very few other people or houses in sight. The neighbors are the local horses and the only traffic jams come from the occasional tractor.
Stock up on food and supplies before leaving Edinburgh though, as there are no major supermarkets nearby.
The Container
Did someone say INTERIOR DESIGN GOALS ?!
The container is owned by the lovely Lyn and Dave, who have a farm, stables and another Airbnb property listed too.
They renovated the container themselves and at the time of our visit it was newly listed on Airbnb. (Sep 2018)
They’ve thought of everything and the design is perfect. From the fully equipped ensuite bathroom to the incredibly comfortable bed.
The kitchen has 2 hob rings, a powerful microwave and a fridge / freezer, which is impressive given the space. Even the drawer under the sink maximises storage by fitting around the basin.
The south facing decking and floor to ceiling windows offer panoramic views of Scotland’s beautiful countryside.
The weather was kind to us, but the blackout blinds and powerful heater mean that this is the ideal Edinburgh Staycation retreat all year round.
What To Do
This perfect Edinburgh Staycation doesn’t require much planning. The main items on the agenda are breathing in the fresh air and watching the world go by.
Bring board games, a good book or some movies for cosy nights (or rainy days) snuggled up your cabin-with-a-view.
If you’re like me and can’t stay cooped up for too long, there are plenty of things to do in the area too.
- Take a walk through the fields and countryside on your doorstep
- Visit Biggar for lunch, a walk around the Public Park or have a game of golf or tennis if you’re feeling particularly energetic. (15 minutes drive).
- Visit Peebles for some window shopping, good food and a stroll along the River Tweed.
- Have coffee, cakes or a fresh pie at The Big Red Barn, before meandering their woodland walk and taking in the beauty of the Scottish Borders. (10 minutes drive).
Last but not least, the highlight of the trip was stargazing from the decking of the container. While this isn’t something you can plan for in Scottish weather, keep an eye out for clear skies.
Being away from the city meant that the night sky was like a planetarium. In every direction we looked it was like being in a dome of stars, and we were fortunate enough to see a shooting one too!
If there is ever a way to reset your energy and put things in perspective, its realising quite how tiny we are in this incredible universe.
Stay Here
Hopefully you don’t need any further convincing as to why this is the perfect retreat from the city.
Whether travelling alone, with a partner or friend, it has all the elements of the ultimate Edinburgh Staycation.
