The Haymakers

Why you'll love staying here

Situated on the outskirts of Linlithgow, The Haymakers is a luxury self-catering barn conversion on a working farm. Beautifully restored with bright and airy contemporary interiors, while a wood burning stove keeps things warm on cooler days. Ideal for a family or couple looking to explore the stunning West Lothian countryside and coast.

Outside, the cottage benefits from an enclosed lawned garden secure enough for dogs with wonderful views over the surrounding farmland.

The farm is an arable and stock farm producing award-winning malting barley, and Texel, Jacob, Valais, and Dutch Spotted sheep, which can be seen grazing in the adjacent fields. The farm is also home to a large livery yard with several horses who are always happy to see a friendly face. For visitors who wish to bring their own horse on holiday a full equestrian service is available with indoor stables and paddocks.

Two miles of grassy tracks wind through the farm which supports an abundance of wildlife. Keep an eye out for brown hares, roe deer, partridges, pheasants, house martins, swallows, skylarks, and, in autumn, flocks of pink-footed and barnacle geese on migration. Guests are welcome to take their dog along for the walk, but they must be kept on a lead to avoid worrying the livestock.

Despite Paddockhall’s rural location, Edinburgh can be reached in around 40 minutes. Explore the medieval charm of the Old Town and the Georgian elegance of the New Town, tour Edinburgh Castle to view the Scottish Crown Jewels, stroll down the Royal Mile, or spend a few hours at the National Museum of Scotland. The city also has an excellent dining scene, plenty of places to grab a drink from historic pubs to contemporary bars, diverse live music and entertainment venues, and is home of the Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest performing arts festival every summer.

The Haymakers is also well placed for The Firth of Forth, a haven for coastal wildlife with colonies of puffins, gannets, and seals found on the offshore islands. Cross one of the Three Bridges to discover a largely unspoilt coastline dotted with picturesque harbours and fishing villages. Aberdour Silver Sands is a small sandy beach backed by woodland with good swimming conditions, while Dalgety Bay has a popular sailing club that hosts racing events all year round. Dog-friendly Burntisland is a good choice for families with a clean stretch of sand, crazy golf course, summer fairground, and a seasonal lifeguard service.

Other nearby attractions include Hopetoun House, the House of the Binns, and Beecraigs Country Park, along with a wealth of castles, whisky distilleries, and nature reserves.

Linlithgow is an ancient royal burgh, famous as the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Visitors can explore the palace where the Queen was born, admire St Michael’s, one of Scotland’s finest medieval parish churches, or climb the towers of Blackness Castle. Linlithgow Loch bordering the centre of the town offers recreational trout fishing, watersports, and a 2.25 mile circular walk with spectacular views. The town has a good range of shops including supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, pubs, and other amenities. It also has a railway station with direct trains to Dunblane, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The cottage is just half a mile from Junction 3 of the M9.