Take one chilled out yoga teacher, one sleepy wild flower meadow and a quintet of handcrafted roulottes (gypsy style French wooden caravans) and you have one seriously relaxed escape. This is where Audrey Hepburn would have glamped and owners Avril Berry and Alan Fraser are rightly proud of their caravans of love. Children are a no-no, but many guests actually turn out to be parents looking to put a bit of gypsy romance back into their lives.
The roulottes are not so much rustic as resplendent, reminiscent of a luxury train suite with smooth hardwoods, delicate carvings and lush furnishings. One of Avril’s ancestors was a renowned painter of gypsy caravans and his talents have been passed on with real attention to detail woven into each roulotte. No two are the same. Karlotta is all art deco flourishes, Moorish influences and Celtic imagery, while Devanna takes her cues from India. What they all share in common is that they are all lush, extravagant and seriously sexy.
The roulottes are sprinkled around the lochan in the wildflower meadow, where the two resident geese sometimes wander in to have a swim. Afterwards they stretch out their wings to take in the sun as guests stretch out their own limbs, relaxing on their decks whilst having a barbecue or lounging by the communal campfire. Most people don’t even make it out to explore the famous Borders scenery of rolling hills and snaking rivers that so entranced Scotland’s greatest ever writer, Sir Walter Scott.
Back at the Retreat there is also a cottage, which comes with its own small gypsy caravan, while the four person roulottes – Zenaya and Gitana – also have their own eco hot tubs, hidden away in secret for exclusive bathing under the star-scattered Scottish skies. Roulotte Retreat also has a 1950’s wooden studio with a large covered deck wrapped around a Scots Pine Tree woodland. Its perfect for gatherings, celebrations, weddings or workshops and has consequently seen Avril start to offer regular yoga sessions. So you can do your Cobra, Half Moon pose, or Downward Facing Dog as the sun casts its warm, morning shards through the canopy. Now that's glamping!
Hosted by Roulotte R.
Joined in February 2011Breakfast hampers can be organised for you with local produce, just order in advance when you are booking. Provender in Melrose is one of our faves, Burt’s Hotel (01896 822285) in Melrose has a great bistro bar in a historic building with over 90 whiskies. It is also home to an award-winning restaurant serving up the best of Borders produce. The Townhouse (01896 822645) just across the road is run by the same family and offers a brasserie and a restaurant serving Borders lamb, salmon and trout. Marmions Brasserie (01896 822245) in Melrose is an excellent bistro serving delicious food and nearby in St Boswells is the local Buccleuch Arms Hotel (01835 822243) with its own bistro. Or if you are coming as a group then ask about hiring your own chef for the duration of your stay or, for weddings, Avril can organise street food-style trucks and chefs to attend.
