1 / 24Sawmill House
Ayton, Scottish Borders
A period house for four in the village of Ayton in Berwickshire, with an enclosed front garden, a wood burner and the castle estate to walk, three dogs welcome.
Ayton has a castle, red sandstone and Victorian, which runs tours and opens its estate to riverside walking the year round. Sawmill House sits in the village below it: a period house for four with an enclosed front garden and three dogs welcome, a higher allowance than most dog friendly houses this size will offer.
Inside it keeps its age. A wood burner, rooms built to proportions rather than plans, and enough of them that four people are not standing in each other's way. Two bedrooms and a bathroom handle the sleeping, and there are games and play things for the younger end of a party. The front garden is enclosed and the door opens straight into it, so three dogs go out first thing without anyone having to find a lead.
Three dogs and a village with its own shop is a better combination than it sounds. Everything starts on foot from the front door: up to the castle estate for the riverside circuit, along past the bowling green, back in time for lunch. No day has to be arranged around getting a car to the other end of it, and the dogs will have worked out the circuit and begun leading it by Tuesday.
Eyemouth is the nearest town, a working fishing harbour with a museum and a beach of its own. The Berwickshire coast path runs from there along some of the most dramatic cliff scenery on the east coast, seabirds wheeling below and dogs kept close above. Thorntonloch's sand lies 15.7 miles north. Over the border to the south, Lindisfarne and its tidal causeway make the day everybody remembers.
Book your stay
from £562 for 7 nights
Sawmill House takes 3 dogs and is booked through holidaycottages.co.uk.
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukPrices are a guide only, checked 27 August 2026, and change with dates and availability. We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
At a Glance
- Dogs Welcome
- 3 dogs
- Enclosed Garden
- Yes
- Entering this wonderful period house from the pretty enclosed front garden into the hall, the perfect place to store your outdoor clothing
- Sleeps
- 4 guests
- Rooms
- 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
- Price
- from £562 / 7 nights
- Grading
- 4 star
- Arrival
- in from 16:00, out by 10:00
- Facilities
- Games, Open fire, Parking, Wifi
Sawmill House from £562 for 7 nights
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukFrequently Asked Questions
Is Sawmill House dog friendly?
Yes — Sawmill House welcomes up to three dogs, which is a higher allowance than most dog-friendly properties of this size. The front garden is enclosed, and the door opens straight into it, so dogs can be let out first thing without needing to find a lead.
Are dogs allowed at Sawmill House year round?
The listing doesn't specify seasonal restrictions on dogs, and the nearby Ayton Castle estate opens its grounds for riverside walking year round, so there's walking on the doorstep whatever time of year you visit. It's always worth confirming details directly with the owner before booking.
What should I know before visiting Sawmill House with my dog?
The house takes up to three dogs, so it's well suited to multi-dog households or groups travelling together with their pets. The enclosed front garden means secure outdoor space from the moment you arrive, and the village is walkable straight from the door — up to the castle estate for the riverside circuit, past the bowling green, and back without needing a car. For days further afield, the Berwickshire coastal path from Eyemouth offers dramatic cliff scenery, though the description notes dogs should be kept close on the clifftop sections.
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Sawmill House from £562 for 7 nights
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukWhat’s Nearby?
Beach15.7 mi awayThorntonloch Beach
East Lothian
A quiet, remote sandy beach south of Dunbar with year-round unrestricted dog access and genuine solitude, largely unknown to visitors despite its excellent beach quality.
Walk17.4 mi awayLindisfarne Island Perimeter Walk
Northumberland
Dog friendly tide-locked perimeter of Holy Island taking in dunes, seal-strewn bays and the silhouette of Lindisfarne Castle, leads-only because of ground-nesting birds.
Attraction17.4 mi awayLindisfarne Priory
Northumberland
The birthplace of English Christianity on a tidal island, with dunes, tidal flats and coastal paths for your dog. Check the causeway crossing times first.
Beach18.7 mi awayDunbar Beach
East Lothian
Dunbar's sandy main beach in the birthplace town of conservation pioneer John Muir, with year-round unrestricted dog access and direct access to the John Muir Country Park to the west.
Walk18.8 mi awayJohn Muir Way: Dunbar Coastal Section
Edinburgh
A dramatic clifftop section of the John Muir Way near Dunbar, tracing rugged coastal paths above the North Sea.
Beach19.3 mi awayBelhaven Beach
East Lothian
One of East Lothian's finest beaches in the John Muir Country Park, featuring the famous Bridge to Nowhere, year-round unrestricted dog access and excellent country park walking.