Work is set to begin next week on the construction of a new £1 million Bunkhouse at the historic Crook Inn site in Tweedsmuir in the Scottish Borders.
Developed by the Tweedsmuir Community Company and designed to sleep 22 guests, the Bunkhouse will open in 2026 and provide unique and accessible accommodation for walkers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts exploring the region. It is an important element of the Destination Tweed initiative and is located just eight miles from the source of the River Tweed and a few metres from the forthcoming River Tweed Trail, a new 113-mile source to sea route due to launch in 2028.
Funding for the Bunkhouse has come from a number of sources including the UK Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership through Scottish Borders Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund through Destination Tweed, and the Fallago Environment Fund.
The Crook Inn has been at the heart of Tweedsmuir for over 400 years and offered hospitality for visitors and locals alike until its closure in 2006. Famous visitors include Robert Burns, who is said to have written his poem Willie Wastle’s Wife in the kitchen.
In 2012, the Inn was purchased by the local community through the Tweedsmuir Community Company, which has since been working on a three-phase Masterplan to place the Inn and its surroundings back at the centre of local life and employment. The Wee Crook Café opened in a restored building on the site in 2023 and a community garden was created shortly afterwards. New visitor accommodation pods secured planning permission this year and will also open in 2026. The Bunkhouse is the second stage of the Masterplan, which will conclude with the eventual development of the former Crook Inn itself.
The new Bunkhouse is located beside the Wee Crook Café and comprises five bedrooms upstairs (accommodating 20 guests) with dedicated bathrooms, and an accessible bedroom and bathroom downstairs, along with an open plan kitchen and social space on the ground floor. The building has been designed with sustainable principles and building materials at its core and will be heated by an air source heat pump. Construction is expected to last 10 months with the Bunkhouse due to welcome its first guests next Autumn.
James Welch from Tweedsmuir Community Company said; “This is another exciting moment for Tweedsmuir. The Bunkhouse isn’t simply about providing an impressive new accommodation option for visitors but is also part of a multi-year project that’s bringing new life, energy and opportunity to our community. It will strengthen our connection to visitors, help to showcase our landscape and heritage and enable the Crook Inn site to maintain its centuries-old reputation for hospitality. We’re greatly looking forward to its opening next year.”
Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: “The Crook Inn Bunkhouse is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when communities, partners, and funders work together for the benefit of the Scottish Borders. This project not only preserves a vital piece of our local heritage but also creates new opportunities for tourism, employment, and community life in Tweedsmuir. We are proud to support an initiative that will welcome visitors, boost the local economy, and help ensure the Crook Inn site remains at the heart of the community for generations to come.”
Tweed Forum’s Destination Tweed Project Director, Luke Fisher, said; “The new Bunkhouse will play a vital role in providing high-quality accommodation for visitors enjoying the initial stages of the new River Tweed Trail. High-quality, affordable accommodation is an important element of the tourist offer right along the planned route and will help to attract visitors to the area. It’s also a fantastic illustration of the potential business and social benefits that the River Tweed Trail is set to bring to the South of Scotland.”