Aikwood Tower – the height of luxury

New mum Nicky Howden embarks on her first holiday en famille at the rather grand Aikwood Tower in the Scottish Borders.

The wish list was admittedly pretty long: a luxurious, atmospheric boutique-style home-from-home that catered for adults who liked to have fun, but also had babies in tow. Character was a must, but not too dated or run down and, by contrast, bursting with mod cons. It also had to have the tranquillity of the countryside, but within easy reach from Edinburgh. To be honest, we were startled when we found somewhere that ticked all the boxes.

Nestled within the Scottish Borders and just over an hour's drive from Edinburgh, Aikwood Tower is an imposing and historic building standing tall atop a pretty leafy hill on the outskirts of Selkirk. Built in the 1540s, the Grade A listed building is brimming with authentic charm thanks to the work of David Steel (now Lord Steel of Aikwood) and his wife Judy who restored the tower back to a home in 1992. This restoration won a number of architectural awards and it’s clear to see why. Now under the ownership of The Honourable Rory David Scott Steel and his wife Vicki, it’s been further upgraded and is available for exclusive hire so others can enjoy it too.

We arrived on an unusually sunny morning to see the tower shine bright in all its medieval glory. Through the large wooden gate, you’re met with a pretty manicured garden, perfect for family barbecues, croquet and Pimms – or archery and falconry (available for a small additional fee). Inside, everything has the wow-factor, from the grand spiral staircase to the sumptuous furnishings of the Great Hall, complete with log fire. Most impressive of all was the light and airy Laich Hall - a great spot for rowdy games like giant Jenga and table tennis and an equally good space to throw your own grand house party. There’s plenty of space for guests - the tower sleeps 10 and all five bedrooms are distinct in style and laden with character, just be aware there’s no lift and climbing the stairs to the upper bedrooms can be a workout.

If you can muster the energy though, you should certainly get out and explore the surrounding countryside with a bracing and beautiful walk in the Ettrick Valley and Forest. For those looking for something a little more adventurous, try grass sledging, a year-round spin on everyone’s favourite winter pastime available at Born in the Borders (25-minutes’ drive from Aikwood) - at just £4 for 30 minutes, it’s worth it for the laughs. After you regain your footing, reward your hard work in the restaurant or check out the onsite gin distillery and microbrewery for a taste of the hard stuff.

Alternatively head back to the tower to cook up a homely family supper, or if that sounds like way too much effort, enlist the local caterers to host a fine dining dinner party. You are on holiday, after all.