SPEYCASTER COTTAGE

NEWS FLASH SPEYCASTER COTTAGE has just been rated 4 star by the VISIT SCOTLAND inspectors from the Scottish Tourist Board. Making a very high class place to stay. We are keen to be working hard to maintain these standards for everyone to enjoy. This is a really good start to our business and the work effort Sheena has put in to gain 4 star rating .


Speycaster cottage is in the village of Newstead , near the town of Melrose, in the heart of the Scottish Borders. This is a home from home in the heart of the Scottish Borders. We are 2 minutes from the River Tweed and fishing is our passion. We cater for fishers in all ways. I am a full time ghillie /casting instructor and I give a service second to none, from a days trout fishing (all gear taken care off) to a full salmon fishing package. There's nothing I can't sort out fishing wise, with the best contacts on the river. We will do all we can to make your stay a very enjoyable one; just e -mail kevintweed@aol.com—your ideal holiday details and let us take the hassle out of it for you. Looking forward to hearing from you. Kevin and Sheena.

This beautifully located cottage is surprisingly spacious: sleeps up to 4 people very comfortably;
lovely big kitchen/diner, enjoying a relaxed atmosphere; and the sitting room is perfect with a flat screen tv with freeview and dvd player. Perfect for families, couples and fishermen. The kitchen leads out onto a patio which is a haven for eating and relaxing on summer days and nights

Newstead has its own charm although it is only a short walk from Melrose. It is overlooked by the Eildon hills, the River Tweed runs alongside the village and it is surrounded by green fields.



As this is family run we have included a picture of our pony Sandy who is in the field beside Townhead Way, so for those of you who love ponies and would like to greet him, I can tell you Sandy loves apples and carrots.


Only a few days to go and the season for salmon fishing is under way on the river and we are looking forward to getting back out and seeing if any spring salmon have come up the river— heres hoping. With cold water and good heights there should be a few salmon in the system . The Borders golf courses are coming around again with snow cover off most of them which is good news for golfer in the region. There’s good value for the month of February in the Borders. I am a very keen golfer and can help out with any golfing matters, if you want info just email me. Walkers should view the coming months with interest; snow only on high tops now and most hill walks are looking good. We have the Eildons on our door step. You can be at the top in 2 hours from the cottage and be looking down on it— if you’ve binoculars there’s a whole host of wild life in the area. At the moment there’s something for everyone in the Scottish Borders at this time of year. Grab yourself a well deserved break in the month of February for £65 a night. Anything I can help with just get in touch. Cheers Kevin.






Our first little bit of last year—the test months went very well and everyone that has booked has the thought that it’s a very nice and warm retreat to totally chill and enjoy the delights of the Scottish Borders. One couple to QUOTE " wish we could have just stayed " that summed it up for me and I am not into quotes and all that as there’s so much rubbish but thought that just summed up their stay with us . The people in at Christmas and New Year had a ball and have booked up for next year. Mind you, I stayed over in the Borders for New Year and Christmas and it was fantastic; a total winter wonderland snow every where . The coming months of Jan and Feb are very hard months to let as it’s just the time of year people get back on to the straight and narrow but with walking conditions and the whole valley covered in snow any photographers/walkers would have a ball. Our horse Sandy is very cold but looking forward to seeing you on your visit to us in the coming spring or summer. My daughter is only to happy to take children out for a led up walk or just come in and brush and feed him. He’s the most placid coloured horse you will ever see . Fishing comes up to speed at the beginning of the month. We will be out in pursuit of salmon from Feb till Nov. If fishing is your thing just get in touch with me and we can organise your stay. I have the very finest salmon beat at my disposal and letting plus a contact on every beat on the Tweed. Let’s hope you will be around to have a go and I could go on forever. Just get in touch and give me your thoughts on kevintweed@aol.com . Look forward to hearing from you to sort out your needs. I know of two other holiday houses in the same square in Newstead of the highest order that can be used for larger parties. Cheers Kevin and Sheena

Trout Fishing Birdwatching

The borders is alive with wildlife at this time and our area around spey caster cottage is fantastic you are right in the thick of it all and you will have the most fantastic chance to tick of a huge amount of birds . Just pack a rucksack out front door and you are straight away surrounded by this bird life the hills or walks in the area are fantastic at this time of the year young birds are just about to leave the nests and the adults are very busy photographs are just waiting to be taken all around you. We have Ron Mccolmb on hand a local expert his details are on site will pick you up after you have organised what you are wanting to see and make a very specila day out showing you things of great interest in the bird watching scene or just go at your leasure but dont miss the chance .
trout fishing is the other sport at the moment getting great catches on the river Tweed and trout are in good form taking alsorts of the surface with a feeding frenze very evedent at the moment ive had good action and had a client out on Sunday at a private location and what a great 3 hours we had from total beginner to spending his last half hour covering free rising brown trout he just coudnt believe it if you would like a night out trout fishing with myself a fully qualified instructor and the chance to fish some fantastic trout water get intouch before booking at speycaster its truly a chance to behold and if you are total beginer to expert the session of three hours will be one to remember .Look forward to hearing from you theres a few spaces left in coming months let us take out the holidya hassel and book with us and we can sort it all out before you arrive cheers Kevin.

THINGS TO DO GOLF.

MELROSE 5TH GREEN and ST BOSWELLS 2ND green in March great condition after winter.
The Borders has some fantastic golfing around the area, great value and for a short break you can have great fun. Our cottage has 2 courses only 5 minutes apart both nine holes and fantastic golf to be had, you have a river-side course and a hill land course at Melrose great value for money and fantastic condition. I really would think that 18 holes on a week day at either would not disappoint and value wise unreal. You can go further afield 5 miles to Galashiels to the Torrwoodlea and have 18 hole course, again very interesting and a bit more climbing and walking but quite ok a course of two halfs old and new and the new has blended in. Peebles has a very good course an only 24 miles away and my old course for 30 years a great challenge and a must play only 45 minutes away in fantastic condition and a very interesting layout again new and old blended in very well. There is the big 2 Cardrona and roxburgh a huge challenge and to be honest I'm a 6 handicapper and i get fed up half way round its big hitting and quite donting plus a long way round but maybe what you are looking for plus the chance to put your driver to the test, maybe I'm getting old but its St boswells then peebles would be my choice and in that order as you will be ready. I can get tee times if need. The cottage is there for that great golfing weekend for the guys looking for a base right in the middle or the ladies and why not try out something totally different a day or half days salmon fishing plus professional casting tuition and rods, all there for you who knows you might get hooked on both. Get in-touch and we can sort out all the things that make you stay at Speycaster one to remember. A holiday break with activities on the door step. Cheers Kevin.

Winter 2012

A very happy new year 2012 to everyone and to all our visitors that we have met and all we are looking forward to meeting we are looking forward to you coming to enjoy the fantastic Scottish borders for all its worth. Scots views a fantastic walk on any day and takes a hour there and hour back fantastic views all around and carry on a futher 30 minutes and you will come to the wallace monument also a great site to visit . I will always answer any question on kevintweed@aol.com just mail me ive a full fishing web site at www.tweedswood.com and for anything fishing theres no one more uptodate on anything that you need to know i can organise any fishing any beat if available for you plus plenty places that arent on the web sites i know everyone up and down the river if you are staying with us or not at no extra cost no add ons or percentages iam only to happy to help from a days fishing, to hours casting instruction, info on rods and lines , to places to stay where to go at certain times, and where not to go , iam here to help dont ever think just because you arent staying or fishing with us its not right email me and i will help 20 years as full time ghillie casting instructor on the river tweed ive made a few contacts for sure look forward to hearing from you guys tight lines in 2012 Kevin...
The coming year in the Scottish Borders will hopefully bring you a great Holiday outing for a long weekend to a full holidya theres just so much to see and do and the quality of it all is second to none we are here to welcome you to our small part of the Borders and to make you stay very special we just want it to be a fun filled time or totally chilled out relaxing the choice is yours but please get intouch and we can tailor what ever you want into it for you From whats on that week ie events theres a lot goes on all year .
Why Not have agreat time in January and Febuary just touring around the Borders is quite then and its such a shame more people dont realise that its just as nice then yes its abit colder but its fun and all the shops and small tea rooms are all open theres a fantastic walk from our Cottage to OLD MELROSE TEA ROOMS iam Going to do a trail on it we love it and it takes say 45 minutes there have awee cuppa and a scone or go for it full lunch then walk back what more could you want .Its a circular walk very flat and not the same route once taking in the Ravenswood Estate and the River Tweed . Plus the Eildons are out the door and one hours time you are up on top of the most walked land mark in the Borders eildon Hills . Theres just so many people miss out on whats afun time and its so nice to get aparking place in Melrose main street and all other car parks are free giviong you plenty time to enjoy a wander around Melrose . Kelso StBoswells Earlston to name but afew are right on your door step and agin its quite in all the Towns its a best kept secret that the Borders is fantastic in Jan Feb March anyone that has stayed with us has agreed that yes its a good time to come . Well plenty more on all this ive got to go and feed Horses and Emulsion the Cottage stairs so its all pristine for your visit see you soon Kevin.....