The Smallest Palace

The Smallest Palace The Gypsy Palace is a beautiful self-catering cottage located in Kirk Yetholm near the Cheviot Hills in the Scottish Borders.

Set in the foothills of the Cheviot hills and on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, Gypsy Palace is a beautiful self catering cottage that can sleep up to three people (plus one child) and it has a fascinating history. Situated in the Scottish Borders at the most northernly point of the Pennine Way, the small village of Kirk Yetholm was regarded as the home of the gypsies of Scotland an

d Northern England for over 300 years; Gypsy Palace is famous the world over as the royal residence of both Queen Esther and her son and heir, King Charles Faa Blythe. Our cottage is perfect for exploring both the Scottish Borders with its stunning moors and quaint market towns, and Northumberland with its spectacular beaches and many castles. Holy Island, Alnwick and historic Berwick upon Tweed are a short drive away while Edinburgh is just one hour away by car.

**EASTER AT THE GYPSY PALACE**Due to a cancellation, we now have Easter weekend free at our holiday cottage, the Gypsy P...
28/03/2026

**EASTER AT THE GYPSY PALACE**

Due to a cancellation, we now have Easter weekend free at our holiday cottage, the Gypsy Palace, in Kirk Yetholm near Kelso in the Scottish Borders.

Dates available are from Saturday 4th April (you can arrive from 2pm onwards) leaving on Tuesday 7th April by 10am. It is also possible to extend your visit by another night or even longer, by arrangement.

Other dates are also available. Price for the above 3 night weekend break is £420 (thats for the whole three nights and NOT £420 per night).

The Gypsy Palace is a detached cottage that can sleep up to three adults (two bedrooms) and its in a beautifully quiet part of the Scottish Borders. Its about 200 years old and is famous for being the ancestral home of the Scottish Gypsy Kings and Queen.

Most of our guests come here to get away from it all and to unwind and relax. There are wonderful views of the valley which can be enjoyed from the window seat and its a very peaceful place indeed. There are some unusual features too such as the stained glass window between the kitchen and living room, the arched mirror above the fireplace and of course the small stone floored dining area which has a most picturesque cast iron arched feature window with diamond panes, dating from the 19th century. Its all tastefully decorated and furnished with the emphasis on cosiness and comfort while trying to show off a little of the Palace's history. We have collected various old photographs and paintings which reflect the history of the cottage and the gypsy kings and queens who used to live here.

Gypsy Palace has frequently appeared in the national press including:
The Times: 30 Serene Scottish Hideaways
The Scottish Field magazine
The Scotsman
The Sunday Times - article: Fit for a Queen
Tiny Living magazine
The Independent newspaper: UK's Best Holiday Houses
The Scottish Herald
The Mail Online
We have also featured in many books and on websites all over the world including Lonely Planet, Buzzfeed, BBC Legacies, etc.
We've been awarded The Most Charming Self-Catering Accommodation 2023 -Scottish Borders by LUXLife magazine.
In 2023/24, The Times Travel supplement declared us as one of the best 28 places to stay in Scotland

This is perfect walking country - we are right on the Pennine Way. In fact there is a wonderful walk straight from the door of the cottage: you simply turn right, out from the cottage and within a few minutes and as the road climbs, the views get better and better. Within 10 minutes, you really feel as though you are in another world with the most stunning views over the Cheviot Hills. Of course, dogs are welcome to our cottage.
Its a small cottage by any standards and is perfect for two people though three adults will feel at home too. Two adults and two children really are the maximum that we can comfortable accommodate and pets are welcome too.
Please feel free to ask questions and I’ll do my best to help.

We still have some availability in October at our holiday cottage, the Gypsy Palace, in Kirk Yetholm near Kelso in the S...
01/10/2025

We still have some availability in October at our holiday cottage, the Gypsy Palace, in Kirk Yetholm near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. With that in mind, I have put together a couple of special offers: Dates available are from Friday 17th October (you can arrive from 2pm onwards) leaving on Monday 20th by 10am. Alternate dates are Friday 24th October leaving on Monday 27th October. Other dates are also available.

The Palace accommodation consists of a cosy living room with a stone fireplace and log burning stove (though there is of course full central heating too). We have a flat-screen TV along with Freeview (and you can connect to Netflix, I-Player etc) and WiFi but we find that most of our guests come here to get away from it all and to unwind and relax. There are wonderful views of the valley which can be enjoyed from the window seat and its a very peaceful place indeed.There are some unusual features too such as the stained glass window between the kitchen and living room, the arched mirror above the fireplace and of course the small stone floored dining area which has a most picturesque cast iron arched feature window with diamond panes, dating from the 19th century. Its all tastefully decorated and furnished with the emphasis on cosiness and comfort while trying to show off a little of the Palace's history. We have collected various old photographs and paintings which reflect the history of the cottage and the gypsy kings and queens who used to live here.

Gypsy Palace has frequently appeared in the national press including:

The Times: 30 Serene Scottish Hideaways

The Scottish Field magazine

The Scotsman

The Sunday Times - article: Fit for a Queen

Tiny Living magazine

The Independent newspaper: UK's Best Holiday Houses

The Scottish Herald

The Mail Online

We have also featured in many books and on websites all over the world including Lonely Planet, Buzzfeed, BBC Legacies, etc.

We've been awarded The Most Charming Self-Catering Accommodation 2023 -Scottish Borders by LUXLife magazine.

In 2023/24, The Times Travel supplement declared us as one of the best 28 places to stay in Scotland

Our kitchen features granite worktops and the original porcelain‘Belfast’ sink and is very well equipped. Next to this is the stone floored utility room which is a really useful space,great for storing everything from coats and muddy boots to pushchairs and dog-bowls. The stable door leads out to a stone patio area complete with outside furniture. This is our favourite place to sit outside and we often relax out here with a cup of coffee and a cake and simply relax and enjoy the views up the hill. We often catch site of Buzzards gliding overhead or Roe deer out on the hillside.

The bathroom has a traditional 3-piece suite with shower and cast iron bath and it has been fully tiled with white Greek marble tiles along with traditional style radiator which keeps the place nice and warm.

On the way upstairs to the two bedrooms, you pass another arched window containing a stained glass design commemorating King Charles Faa Blythe’s Coronation Crown and a small patch of tartan glass that captures the beautiful afternoon sun.

The main bedroom is always bright and warm thanks to the large windows to the rear. The wrought iron double bed has the most comfortable memory foam mattress while the second bedroom has a single bed which also houses a second pull-out bed if required. Both bedrooms have the most breathtaking views –south, over the Bowmont Valley and north across to the church, Town Yetholm and the valley beyond.

This is perfect walking country - we are right on the Pennine Way. In fact there is a wonderful walk straight from the door of the cottage: you simply turn right, out from the cottage and within a few minutes and as the road climbs, the views get better and better. Within 10 minutes, you really feel as though you are in another world with the most stunning views over the Cheviot Hills. Of course, dogs are welcome to our cottage.

Its a small cottage by any standards and is perfect for two people though three adults will feel at home too. Two adults and two children really are the maximum that we can comfortable accommodate and pets are welcome too.

Please feel free to ask questions and I’ll do my best to help.

The top photo shows how the Gypsy Palace looked quite a few years ago (taken in the late 1980's or 90's?. It had been pa...
24/06/2025

The top photo shows how the Gypsy Palace looked quite a few years ago (taken in the late 1980's or 90's?. It had been painted pink by a previous owner. Looks quite different these days. Thats one of our old neighbours, Andrea, posing by the gate.

We still have some availability in July so please feel free to contact me for the best rates.

The last guest at the Gypsy Palace left a particularly nice message in the guest book.She says:What more could a girl as...
28/04/2025

The last guest at the Gypsy Palace left a particularly nice message in the guest book.

She says:
What more could a girl ask for. I was gifted with warm, breezy days and sunshine for most of my stay.
Romancing the mornings away, reading on the window seat absorbed in Maeve Binchy's tales of love and romance, the warmth of the sun in an idyllic little cottage - or should I stand corrected, a wee palace!
My afternoons walking my little dog Tittybum (!) around the beautiful Pennine Way and the local beaches, loading my pockets with little pebbles.
Sounds boring to most, I know but for me it was a few days reconnecting with my soul, grounding and dreams.
Fab little bolthole - I will be back for sure.
Much gratitude to Steve and Tracey for a wonderful stay.

This was left by our guest, Tracey from Nottingham.

Interesting comment under the photo regarding Queen Victoria visiting.
20/04/2025

Interesting comment under the photo regarding Queen Victoria visiting.

Fabulously sunny in Kirk Yetholm yesterday.
08/04/2025

Fabulously sunny in Kirk Yetholm yesterday.

To get the best prices for a break at the Gypsy Palace, its always best to contact us direct or go through our website. ...
02/01/2025

To get the best prices for a break at the Gypsy Palace, its always best to contact us direct or go through our website. While we also advertise on various listing sites, we always try and offer the most competitive prices for direct bookings.
Here's a link to our online Availability and Price page: https://www.gypsypalace.co.uk/section468182.html

An aerial shot of the Gypsy Palace and its surroundings.
31/12/2024

An aerial shot of the Gypsy Palace and its surroundings.

Perfect day for painting a Palace. Always looks better when the walls are newly painted, white and bright.
01/06/2024

Perfect day for painting a Palace. Always looks better when the walls are newly painted, white and bright.

Some of the more recent guest's comments left in the guest book at the Gypsy Palace.
12/04/2024

Some of the more recent guest's comments left in the guest book at the Gypsy Palace.

Good history of the gypsies here courtesy of Border Reiver Family Heritage and Genealogy.
11/01/2024

Good history of the gypsies here courtesy of Border Reiver Family Heritage and Genealogy.

Address

High Street
Kirk Yetholm
TD58PH

Telephone

+441289330933

Website

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