Feather Down

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Chesters

Borders, Jedburgh

★

Rated with 9.5

(104 Reviews)

Escape to a simpler life with Ellie and John

The magical myth of a secret garden becomes reality at Chesters, the first Feather Down estate in Scotland. It is home to countless animals such as otters, badgers, foxes, bats, owls, rabbits, deer, and pheasants, which can all be spotted from your tented cottages. The star of the show must be Samson, the osprey who returns from the Gambia each year to a tree close by your encampment (between May-September). You will be hosted by John and Ellie, and their children Lily and Tommy will be happy to assist you too. Your new homes nestles in woods with barley fields on the banks of the River Teviot - could there be a better spot for a family holiday in Scotland?

The magic of the Borders

For a day out you can catch the train from Tweedbank and be taken right into central Edinburgh where you can visit the top attractions including Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. If you prefer to stay closer to home, wade across the river to a giant sandpit and pirate fort. For excellent fish and chips, the Cross Keys pub is just two miles away with a massive beer garden and great kids menu. For the animal lovers, there is a donkey sanctuary nearby and Beirhope Alpacas who offer hikes with alpacas. We also partner with Jacksons of Jedburgh where you can feed Highland Cows, goats, chickens, sheep and lambs just a short drive from the estate.

What to do at Chesters

Chesters is full of delightful nooks and crannies, with the magical old walled garden an enticing centerpiece of the estate where you can pick your own fresh fruit and vegetables to cook on your wood-burning stove. Countless adventures await including den building, pebble painting, foraging for campfire wood, playing in the tree house and fishing - there couldn't be more to do on a family holiday in Scotland. Each hideaway also has a Discovery Tent with books, paints, camp beds, lights, microscope and telescope; the perfect mix of fun, learning and adventure! All canvas hideaways come with the option to book a private hot tub and Chesters is a midge-free zone so you can take your time to soak and chill.

What can you expect?

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    Dog-friendly

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    Hot tub

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    Near water

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    Honesty shop

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    Private shower

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    Campfire area

What animals will you find on this farm?

Deer

Cows

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You too?

What our guests like

  • ✓ 4 canvas hideaways
  • ✓ No electricity
  • ✓ Wildlife haven
  • ✓ Fishing
  • ✓ Pick your own fruit and veg
  • ✓ Secret garden

Explore our canvas hideaway

Lines Options & prices
Safari tent interior glamping England
Boerenbed UK 1279 copy
Glamping cooking
Glamping tent inside
Glamping cupboard bed
Check A unique off-grid experience
Check The perfect adventure for children
Check Quality family time
Check Small scale farms
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    Including wood for the wood-burning stove (1 pack per day)

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    Including welcome package with bed-linen, towels, candles, matches, washing-up liquid and other basic items

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    Private showers

What do our guests think?

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Average rating
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9.5

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Ms Sebastian

08/09/2023

A real retreat. Very confortable and excellent hosts.

10

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Mrs AZIZ

01/09/2023

Back to Nature at its best

10

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Ms Szczepura

28/08/2023

Wonderful, relaxing and magical. I've done feather down before, but Chester's is something else. Ellie and her children we so friendly, helpful and welcoming. The whole site is incredible.

10

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Mrs Barry

18/08/2023

Good fun getting back to nature

10

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Mrs Sherrington

14/08/2023

We lovely everything about Feather Down Chester’s, the tent is amazing, the hot tub, the walled garden, the beautiful property and Ellie was a wonderful host! We can’t wait for our next Feather Down holiday!

10

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Mrs OKIN

14/08/2023

Amazing, magical, unique - we were sad to leave. It provided us with quality family time without devices on the go! The surroundings were beautiful (stunning). Hosts were friendly and accessible. The accommodation matched the lovely images on the website. I couldn't recommend it more.

10

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Mr Hill

10/07/2023

A lovely site and despite the weather had a great time

10

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Mrs Moitt

08/07/2023

A magical weekend away in the beauty of nature and the outdoors, with the home comforts of a cosy cabin and luxurious hot tub.

10

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Miss Taggart

03/07/2023

Brilliant holiday destination for young children, plenty to do & the hot tub is just awesome.

8.8

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Ms Revins

30/06/2023

The perfect place to escape the everyday hustle and bustle and quite simply relax! From the minute we arrived on the farm we instantly felt relaxed and able to switch off! We were greeted on arrival by Rob who took us to our tent and showed us around! We stayed in Osprey and it was perfect-we travelled with our dog and this one offered a bit more privacy! The whole experience was everything we hoped for and more, from cooking outside on the stove, toasting marshmallows on the fire pit and watching the barn owls hunting in the barley field directly in front of the tent, exploring the walled garden and being lucky enough to pick some of the lovely golden raspberries that were ripe! Our little boy especially loved the secret cupboard bed - making bedtimes that bit easier after the day exploring. Ellie came to see us during our stay and she was so lovely and knowledgeable and gave us lots of recommendations of things to see and do! We throughly enjoyed our stay at Chester’s and cannot wait to return again - a little piece of heaven in the Scottish Borders!

10

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Herr Becker

26/06/2023

Tolle Lage, freundliche Gastgeberin, wunderschöner Garten, gute Anbindung nach Edinburgh und Glasgow.

10

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mrs cameron

23/09/2022

Chesters was fabulous as always

10

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Mrs Hainsworth

19/08/2022

Wonderful

10

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Ms Lumsden

10/06/2022

Just wonderful, beautiful picturesque and peaceful.

10

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Mrs Garthwaite

06/05/2022

Back to nature. Fantastic for the children.

10

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Mr Walters

24/09/2021

It was the perfect getaway and lots of stuff to adventure

10

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Mrs Tapsfield

27/08/2021

Wonderful location and setting, everything you need for a relaxing country break.

10

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Mrs Stevens

23/08/2021

A wonderfully peaceful and comfortable week of back to basics. We have been on lots of glamping holidays but this was our first Featherdown one - the tents are really well designed, practical and homely. Chesters is lovely and in such a beautiful part of the country. Ellie is the perfect host - warm, friendly, making sure you have everything you need yet leaving you to enjoy the peace.

10

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Mrs McDonald

09/08/2021

Relaxing and fun

10

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Mrs Green

06/08/2021

Wonderful! Fabulous setting, knowledgeable hosts and lots to do. Or do nothing, which was equally as wonderful

10

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Miss Middleton

02/08/2021

Wonderful, back to nature experience! One of the most relaxing holidays we've ever had.

10

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mrs Gatti

19/07/2021

A wonderful and relaxing escape

10

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Mr Finlay

05/07/2021

We had a great time. The tent, hot tub, shower, setting, walled garden all exceeded our expectations. The Borders offer a huge selection of activities for children. The favourite for our 2 was swimming in the river and dam building.

10

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Mrs Reid

28/06/2021

Relaxing and tranquil

10

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Mrs Hull

25/06/2021

Magical and peaceful

10

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Mr Lander

25/06/2021

Our second visit to Chesters after our kids couldn’t stop talking about the first! This is a beautiful location and Ellie is a fantastic host. Thank you again.

10

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Mrs Butler

18/06/2021

What an amazing experience! The accommodation and the setting were fantastic and our host Ellie was so kind and attentive. We are already looking at dates to return.

10

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Mrs Parker

04/06/2021

Fantastic loads of fun and a beautiful place

10

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Mrs Rowsell

04/06/2021

Relaxed, a change of pace

10

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Mrs. Macmillan

31/05/2021

Blissful

10

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Mrs Forbes

21/05/2021

Exceeded our expectations, the accommodation was fantastic and location stunning. Kids and adults both very happy.

10

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Mrs Potts

21/05/2021

Amazing experience and would definitely return.Ellie is very helpful and location is beautiful

10

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Mrs Davelin

25/09/2020

Fantastic

8.8

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Mrs Li

21/09/2020

Perfect socially distanced getaway

10

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Mr Coxon

14/09/2020

Loved the whole glamping experience. Being able to pick fresh fruit and vegetables from the walled garden was fab. A beautiful and tranquil location, combined with a great host made it a wonderful stay.

8.8

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Mrs Manock

01/09/2020

Fabulous outdoor experience.Great woodland setting with lovely views. Loved the tents rustic interior . Hot tub was a wonderful addition and so so hot. Collecting fresh veg from the garden for cooking on the open campfire was a highlight. Wood fired stoves were efficient both indoor and outdoor.

10

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mrs joussemet

01/09/2020

Magical

10

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Mrs Walton

01/09/2020

Chesters was wonderfully enchanting! We had the best time! It felt like we’d stepped into a secret garden (and woodlands and walled garden and hay fields and river banks). Ellie and her family were so welcoming and kind and brilliant with the kids. It was the perfect escape and somewhere we are desperate to go back!

10

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Mrs Alder

28/08/2020

A relaxing time away, the estate is an amazing location to just get back to nature, playing in the woods, the stream and the 'Secret Garden'.

10

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Mrs Taylor

28/08/2020

A brilliant escape from reality. It doesn’t get any better than star gazing from a wood fired hot tub in the middle of the beautiful Scottish countryside... We’ve never felt so relaxed!

10

Meet your hosts

Ellie and John

We are Ellie and John, and our project to fully rejuvenate the house and grounds was documented by the Channel 4 programme Country House Rescue. We will be your hosts throughout your stay, ably assisted by our daughter Lily and son Thomas.

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Countless adventures await you in our magical myth of a secret garden.
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Highlight

Ask the farmer

The farm tour is a must if it’s on offer during your stay but you don’t have to wait until then. The farm staff will be delighted to tell you more about farm life at any time.

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Highlight

The farm shop

It’s great for the basics and usually even better for local produce and low food miles. And every Feather Down farm shop operates on an honesty basis.

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Highlight

Group Takeover weekend

Take exclusive use of the whole campsite at Chesters for you and your friends & family on selected dates. Enjoy the freedom to roam and create treasured memories with a group glamping experience.

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If John Lewis sold holidays, they'd look like this

Options during your stay

Pets
Pets
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Bring your dog along. A maximum of 2 well-behaved dogs per canvas hideaway. The price is per dog, per stay.

Please note: You are required to keep your dog on a leash while on the campsite.

Hot tub
Hot tub
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Recommended!

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Treat yourself by booking a hot tub! You can use it throughout your stay. Remember to bring your swimsuit!

Fishing Lessons
Fishing Lessons
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An introduction to fishing with instruction, tackle and bait provided. This is a great introduction to a wonderful sport and the perfect lakeside to brush up your skills. The first rod is £40; additional rods £20. Lasts approximately one hour, please book direct with farm. 

Nearby the farm

Edinburgh

Jedburgh

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