Gary Miller Songs

"As a song poet there are few in the world today to match him"
Green Man Review, USA

Whippet Lodge

 
 
 
 

Whippet Lodge was an idyllic country cottage Gary owned for 14 years (September 2007 to September 2021).


Beautifully cosy, yet deceptively large, this 18th Century stone cottage was situated on a traditional village green in the ancient village of Swinton, in a stunning and inspiring area of Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders. Once belonging to the Swinton family, the cottage offered views of the ever changing and spectacular Cheviot Hills just a few steps from the front door, with the surrounding peaceful countryside and dramatic skies being perfect for walkers, photographers, artists and nature lovers alike to enjoy. There are also golf courses aplenty in the area.


Following renovation, a lot of hard work and a huge amount of blood, sweat and tears, Gary and his partner Helen opened Whippet Lodge for business as a self-catering accommodation in August 2019 to provide the perfect creative retreat for musicians, songwriters, artists and photographers alike, as well as holiday makers looking for a calm and relaxing hideaway. This dog friendly, 2 bedroom cottage slept up to 4 people and was available for bookings through airbnb, where it held a 100% occupancy and 50* 'Superhost' rating.


After dedicating two good years of their lives to this successful project, Gary and Helen finally decided the time had come to refocus their energies back onto their other respective and joint creative endeavours and therefore took the step of selling the property, whilst going out on a high. Whippet Lodge finally closed its doors in September 2021.


For further information on Whippet Lodge follow the link to airbnb HERE.

Whippet Lodge also has its very own Facebook page.


To visit the Whippet Lodge Facebook page and give it a 'Like' follow the link HERE.

 
Please feel free to have a look at this beautiful walk-through video that the Estate Agent produced for the sale, showcasing the cottage in all its glory and including aerial drone footage of Swinton and its surrounding area...
 

Also, please feel free to have a browse of the Whippet Lodge photo gallery (below)...

 
 

Reviews

Michelle
June 2021
Fantastic cottage. Spotlessly clean, well appointed and well stocked with everything you need. We settled in within minutes and were out in the garden relaxing on the comfy deckchairs. The dogs loved it. There was even a chippy van on a Thursday! We had an amazingly chilled time and will definitely be back.

Tracey
June 2021
Whippet lodge is a beautiful well equipped cottage, we had beautiful weather so the lovely garden was a well used asset. We visited many sights, coldingham bay being one of our favourites, we would definitely recommend whippet lodge.

Sue
May 2021
Whippet Lodge is a very comfortable and well-equipped cottage. It's in a lovely setting and the garden is great to enjoy the sunshine in.

Trish
May 2021
This is a lovely cottage with a beautiful garden that we were able to spend time in with our dog. The cottage is well equipped and has some nice touches.

Emily
May 2021
A beautiful cosy cottage with the most lovely garden and walks out into the surrounding countryside. We were truly spoilt with all the thoughtful touches throughout the cottage to make our stay cosy and comfortable.

Andrew
May 2021
Really nice place to stay. Clean, well equipped and as described. Would stay again.

Andrew & Alison
December 2020
This is the second time we’ve stayed at Whippet Lodge and once again it didn’t disappoint. It is the most beautiful of cottages with everything you could ever need and sparkling clean into the bargain. The decor and ambience is really first class. Can’t fault it and would love to stay a month! Thank you Gary and Helen for the use of your beautiful space.

Linda
December 2020
Regular visitors and can throughly recommend.

Heath
November 2020
Lovely spacious cottage, very nicely set out and super clean and tidy. Nice and quiet neighbourhood and a green opposite the cottage. I would recommend whippet cottage to anyone.

Alice
November 2020
Great little place to stay! Overall, Whippet Lodge is a beautifully-decorated and cosy place to stay. There are all sorts of nice touches and amenities that bring it well above the standard of the average AirBnB. The main bedroom is spacious and very comfortable, with plenty of room for clothes storage etc. The living room is comfy and set up in such a way that you can sit down for dinner, play board games round a large table, or watch TV. The decor really comes into its own in this room, with interesting art and knick-knacks abound. The kitchen is set up with absolutely everything you could need for a stay. Loads of cooking utensils, coffee machine, washer and dryer, microwave, etc. We did a lot of cooking so this was very much appreciated. The bath is absolutely huge and in a very relaxing bathroom. We didn't use the spare room, but we did have a wee look and it did seem very nice too. Similarly, we didn't really go in the garden due to the time of year but it looks spacious and would be amazing in summer. Honestly it would take more space than I have here to extoll the virtues of Whippet Lodge completely. In summary though, it's the little touches that make somewhere special, and that's what you'll get here.

James
November 2020
We had an amazing mini break at Whippet Lodge. The location is fantastic and is situated close to interesting places to visit and great walks and for people of all abilities. Gary couldn’t have been a better host if he tried. Incredibly helpful, great advice/local knowledge and really quick responses to any questions we had. The lodge had everything we could need, was cosy and quirky and we felt right at home from the outset. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for an country escape in the Scottish Borders.

Linda
November 2020
Lovely apartment in a great place .. we had a great time and will be going back again

Elizabeth
October 2020
Fabulous for our school holiday adventure!! Good location for travelling to the tourist spots! My daughter loved the swings outside the front door! Excellent communication!

Craig
October 2020
This cottage is fantastic. Spotlessly clean and with everything you need for a relaxing break. The location is ideal - peaceful and beautiful. We had a wonderful experience and intend to make this a regular trip.

Liz
October 2020
What a great place to stay the hosts had thought of everything 5/5

Mike
October 2020
This is a lovely well set out and well equipped. Would hartuly recommend it. We were travelling during Covid, there is no food shops nearby so come equipped!

David
October 2020
Great location for exploring eastern Borders. Stylishly furnished. Great welcome for us, including the dog.

Peter
October 2020
A lovely homely, cosy cottage , very spacious, a large rear garden and a front view of the village green, ideal for a relaxing holiday.
Also posted on The Whippet Lodge Facebook Page...
Stepping into Whippet Lodge is like stepping into the Tardis, it looks small from the outside but once inside it’s spacious, homely, cosy and very welcoming, it has a lovely garden to the rear and it’s front overlooks the village green. The village (Swindon) is surrounded by country walks and has it’s own pub serving a variety of beers and meals, Whippet Lodge is an ideal retreat for a relaxing break and we have no hesitation in recommending this lovely accommodation in the Scottish Borders.

Heather
October 2020
The thing with a really good Airbnb place like this one is that it makes your holiday very easy. It's a beautiful and very relaxing house with some gorgeous decorations. Better than being at home because everything is on hand. You don't have to dig. Really well stocked kitchen with even a coffee maker. Got a hole in my grey tights, opened a cupboard, found a sewing kit with grey thread, amazing! That would take me half an hour at home. Open fire to daydream in front of at the end of the day. Lovely big bath.Gorgeous location on a village green with beautiful views. We loved it.

John
September 2020
Excellent base for a break in the Scottish Borders. We managed to have a great time despite Covid restrictions. The cottage was even nicer than we were expecting with so many nice touches. It is ‘deceptively spacious’ and very well equipped. Nice short walk around Swinton with our dog to end the evenings. Gary and Helen were very communicative and made us feel very welcome. Would recommend the property to couples or parties of four.

Gillian
September 2020
This cottage is fabulous. It's a superb base for exploring the area. Gary was brilliant at communicating. The cottage is cosy, comfortable and very well equipped. The garden is beautiful and we were lucky enough to sit outside and soak up some sunshine. In the evening we sat beside the open fire. There is a pub / restaurant nearby of you don't fancy cooking. I could not recommend Whippet Cottage more highly.

Sarah
September 2020
Amazing place, beautiful, quirky and clean. Great location on the Scottish Borders to visit Scotland and Northumberland. Real home from home Garden was so pretty too with lots of space x

Fiona
September 2020
Fantastic house with everything you need for a short stay or holiday. Only thing I would mention is that there isn’t a shower but was nice to enjoy a bath for a change. All very clean and was lovely to enjoy the garden as we had good weather.

Mitchell
September 2020
An amazing house, with absolutely everything you could need and wish for. The location is fantastic, with so many great options either on the doorstep or just a short drive away if you use the house as a base. Gary is a wonderful host too, with great communication and adding little touches to make the stay all the more special. I would recommend to anyone for a short stay or even a longer stay to explore what's to offer in the surrounding areas. Also, dog friendly with an enclosed garden should swing it for anyone with a furry friend!


Catherine

September 2020

Lovely decor, good communication from host, good quiet location and we would stay again.


Lisa

August 2020

Great place to stay! The cottage is beautiful.


Martina

August 2020

A wonderful stay in a spacious, warm, welcoming, sparkling clean, stylish home with a gorgeous garden. Highly recommended. Hosts are super and have thought of everything. A terrific base for exploring Berwick Upon Tweed and the borders area. If you're thinking about booking Whippet Lodge, do it. You won't be disappointed.


Tina

August 2020

A truly wonderful little spot! This is our second trip to Whippet Lodge and we weren’t disappointed by the wonderful home from home feeling and touches. We loved sitting in the garden listening and watching the birds and in an evening enjoyed having a real fire in front of the television. A very relaxing experience and we would highly recommend a visit to this spotlessly clean little home. We will definitely be back for a third visit!


Jo

August 2020

This is a really special place to stay - beautifully furnished and decorated with lots of lovely touches -the photos do not do it justice. The kitchen is small but well equipped and there are plenty of games and DVDs to keep you amused in the evenings. It’s also very dog friendly with a lovely garden and plenty of throws and towels for four-legged friends. The area is great for exploring and we were blessed with good weather so enjoyed trips to Holy Island, Bamburgh, Eyemouth, Coldingham Bay (beautiful beach) St Abbs and Cove Harbour. Gary and Helen are great hosts with good communication and easy check in. Thank you.


Susan

August 2020

You can expect a comfortable stay with lovely touches throughout the cottage. A home from home :)


Sue

August 2020

Swinton is a quiet attractive village with great walks nearby. Whippet Lodge is a lovely hideaway with great facilities and Gary and Helen are thoughtful, kind hosts. Our short break there was very restful. Thank you!


Lynn

August 2020

We stayed here to break our journey from Skye back to Derbyshire. Lovely quiet village with one pub, the Wheatsheaf, ate here the first night, very nice and the second night the Masons Arms a short drive away, also good food and ambience. The house is clean and comfortable, it has a really nice feel with much larger rooms than we imagined from the pictures. We didn't really use any of the facilities apart from the comfortable bed and large bath, but there is absolutely everything you could need to self cater if you wanted to. Location is great, we drove to seahouses and bamburgh, but was really busy so didn't stay, but spent a lovely afternoon in Berwick upon tweed, worth a visit and walking the wall is a must. Overall a really pleasant stay, would definitely recommend.


Shaun

July 2020

Beautiful cottage in a great location. The hosts are super helpful. Couldn't recommend enough.


David

July 2020

Whippet Lodge is one of those locations that you remember for the superb accommodation, amenities and location. Will be sure to come back.


Craig

March 2020

Loved it. Great place. Spotless, well kitted out, great location for exploring the Borders and the Coast. Will definitely visit again.


Emma

March 2020

Whippet Lodge is a wonderfully cosy getaway in a very quiet village, and our hosts were very helpful, communicative and personal throughout our experience. Perfect for us to getaway as a family and reconnect in the countryside, and great for dogs too, especially the garden.


Jenson

March 2020

Beautiful cottage sitting beside a village green in a peaceful Scottish Borders village. Short drive to Berwick-upon-Tweed and the Northumberland coast, or alternatively you can reach Edinburgh in about 75 minutes. The cottage is exquisitely decorated with rich fabrics and wallpapers, a crackling log fire and many fine details. The cottage was spotlessly clean and well-equipped. We arrived on a cold, dark, windy night in March and unlocking the door was like opening the door to a treasure-trove of sensory delights. The garden is delightful, a long strip of grass, ideal for the dogs. We would love to re-visit in summer, to enjoy the Northumberland beaches. The scenery surrounding the cottage is wild and rolling, broken up by stone walls with views to the mountains in the north and the Cheviots in the south (on which there was still a sprinkling of snow). Thank you very much for a very memorable and rewarding stay.


Mark

February 2020

This was our second time staying at whippet lodge and I can only describe it as a must visit if you are looking for peace and tranquility in stunning surroundings. The house is beautifully decorated and spotlessly clean and Gary is always on hand to answer any questions or queries. We will definitely be back.


Holly

February 2020

We had a lovely quiet few days, pictures of lodge very accurate and it was immaculately clean. Lots of communication before and felt totally prepared. Note left with a few helpful tips. Really enjoyed our stay, definitely will return and will pass on the details for some of our friends who want a dog friendly stay! Really worth a stay.


Ellen

February 2020

Great cottage excellent facilities, spotlessly clean and many lovely touches.


Keren

February 2020

Fantastic cottage, bigger than expected and very clean. Loved the quirky decor and real fire, after a day out walking great to come back to. Kitchen a great space for cooking a meal, which we did every night. Great pub and landlord at Leitholm 4 miles down the road.


Andrew

February 2020

We had a brilliant time. The cottage was beautiful and had everything we needed and more. Couldn’t fault a thing.


Louise

January 2020

Totally wowed by this place. Gary and Helen have really thought things through from the lovely welcome sign to the hairdryers. The lodge is beautifully decorated and deceptively large. It was really clean when we arrived, with lots of amenities and a fully stocked kitchen. The living room and open fire was complete with a basket full of wood for the fire. My OH was impressed by the nexflix (clearly doesn't take much.) And the bed was super comfy, which is what every one wants! We did move things around a little, and put the coffee table behind the sofa so the dog could have the rug on an evening. There was no way he was getting on the lovely sofa, that being said I think it would have meant one of us being on the floor haha! He did love pulling every blanket out, only to decide that his own was the best! Their collection of objet d'art is stunning! I loved the wooden entomology by the kitchen door in the living room. The Koi wallpaper in the bathroom was giving me ideas on what to do with our own bathroom too. They are clearly dog lovers, I mean Whippet Lodge says it all! But we found lots of doggy touches from a treat on arrival to spare bowls and balls for a game of fetch in the huge secure garden (although our goat / dog cross did almost escape over the compost heap right at the back!) There are plenty of walks, and we took Gary's advice for morning walk around the village by going left out of the house and left or right through the gate into the farmers field and following the footpath around. Afternoon walks were along the Tweed in Berwick and we headed to Cocklawburn Beach on the Saturday. The local pub/hotel, although nice, was shockingly expensive! Almost £10 for 2 pints! and almost £15 for a gin and tonic and a whiskey. Gary and Helen, thank you so much for a lovely break away. It was amazing to hear the birds tweet and watch some lovely evenings roll in. We will be back in the Summer!


Jessica

January 2020

It's a nice house in a great area. We really enjoyed our stay.


Katie

January 2020

Whippet Lodge is a truly special find. The decor is beautiful, it’s in a fab location, with everything thought about. The details and special touches (a selection of tea, champagne flutes, tea lights for you to add that little bit of magic) that have been thought about add something so wonderful to this cottage. I stay in a for amount of Cottages and flats travelling for work/ leisure, and this stands out as the best by a long way. Thank you so much for sharing your bolt hole! We loved every moment of our stay :-) Baxter also LOVED his treat - so very kind of you.


Rory
January 2020
A gem of a cottage stay.


Alicia
December 2019
Gary made lots of thoughtful touches to our stay, including champagne, crackers and Christmas decorations. The house is really unique and seemed much bigger than in the pictures. Check in & out super smooth. The kitchen is well stocked & you have everything you need to cook. There is an extensive collection of DVDs and games, good internet and a FireStick. The area is beautiful and really quiet (exactly what we wanted!) but plenty to do a short car ride away. Overall a very enjoyable, relaxing and cosy stay. I’d recommend Whippet Lodge to anybody who wants to balance exploring the gorgeous Northumberland Coast/Scottish Borders with cosy quiet time in front of the fire. Thanks Gary!


Lucy
December 2019
Had a fantastic Christmas here! It was absolutely gorgeous and much bigger then it seems in photos! Gary and Helen left us little Christmas gifts (hats, cake, wine and crackers) and put a little tree and lights up, such thoughtful touches! The cottage was spotless! It was so easy to find and in a fantastic location. Would absolutely love to come back in the summer and explore more walks with the dogs.


George
December 2019
Lovely cottage. All the amenities we needed. Good communication with Gary and Helen. Recommended.


Oliver
December 2019
A lovely stylish cottage with everything you need to make your stay as pain free and comfortable as possible.


Lynsay
November 2019
Best airbnb I've ever stayed in! Cosey wee cottage, it had everything I needed and more, including a gorgeous log fire! Very stylish place I loved every minute of my stay. Gary you should be very proud of your place!


Craig
November 2019
Lovely cottage in a beautiful setting, perfect for some peace and quiet. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay.


Janette
November 2019
A beautiful cottage with the wow factor. Central to some lovely locations, well worth visiting. We loved it.


Rebecca
November 2019
Whippet Lodge is a lovely place to relax and unwind. It has everything you need to be comfortable and we really enjoyed our stay. Gary was great at getting in touch before our trip to ensure a smooth arrival. The lodge is ideally situated for visiting the border country and Northumberland. We loved the homely touches and felt very welcome. Would highly recommend.


Robert
October 2019
Whippet Lodge is an absolute gem. A gorgeous, sweet, hide-away in the Scottish Borders.


Morag
September 2019
Whippet Lodge is a lovely house to stay at, full of thoughtful touches. It doesn't look big on the photos or from the front of the house, but it is deceptively spacious. The kitchen is well equipped and there are plenty of films, books and jigsaws to entertain yourselves with if you are unfortunate enough to get soggy weather. In nicer weather there is a secure garden at the back of the house where you can enjoy a coffee or tea. It is very dog friendly, they have thought of everything, from dog blankets to towels and even bowls in case you forgot one.


Nina
September 2019
Whippet Lodge...what a little gem! The owners of this gorgeous cottage have created a very welcoming home from home, with a stylish yet cosy feel and a sizeable garden for both you and your pets (if you have them) to enjoy! Personal touches can be seen throughout showing an attention to detail that isn’t always found in holiday properties! Milo (my little Jack Russell) loved snuggling into the blankets provided after a day of exploring and found the garden a perfect place to explore! He especially found his welcome treat very tasty!! Although Swinton is a quiet village, which is what we wanted, it is close to amenities in neighbouring villages and towns...we found Whippet Lodge a great base for exploring the surrounding attractions - Cocklawburn Beach being one...a must see! The Wheatsheaf Hotel is worth a visit too... very welcoming lovely staff, pet friendly and delicious food! To summarise, we will be returning to Whippet Lodge without question!


Henry
September 2019
Lovely house in a great location. All required information provided quickly. We will definitely be returning.


Karen

August 2019

We had an Amazing time... Cottage is Immaculate... Great hosts, Highly Recommend to Book if Anyone wants to Enjoy the Northumbrian Coast... Hope you do very well and We will Definitely Rebook...

Also posted on The Whippet Lodge Facebook Page...

Very accomendating. down to earth & lovely easy going people. would recommend. thankyou x