Thinking Big

With a mission to attract diverse groups of visitors to the Tweed Valley, Steve and Susan Plag have given the former Kailzie bunkhouse just outside Peebles a whole new lease of life.

Steve and Susan Plag at Kailzie Gardens

Finding a business that him and his wife could take on in retirement was a bit of a challenge for Steve Plag. “We could never agree on a business we could do apart from gardening – and the only gardening business we liked was Kailzie!” Fortuitously for them, when Lady Buchan-Hepburn decided to hang up her gardening gloves in 2020, it was to Steve and wife Susan – loyal visitors of over 25 years – that she turned.

Living on site this past year, the couple have witnessed first-hand their beautiful gardens evolve with the changing seasons. But perhaps the biggest transformation of all has taken place at what Steve calls the “action end” of the estate.

The former Kailzie bunkhouse on the edge of Cardrona Forest underwent a facelift in early 2022, emerging in time for the mountain bike Enduro World Series event in June with a completely new identity…and name: Kailzie Big Lodge.

Nestled between forest and river, Kailzie Big Lodge

The transformation is striking. Despite visiting on an overcast afternoon, the accommodation on both floors is flooded with light – crisp white bedlinen, a stylish modern kitchen and industrial-standard drying-room all set it head and shoulders above the average biker hostel.

The new owners have clearly done their homework. Rather than imposing their own views on what the new bunkhouse should be, they spoke to customers directly about what mattered most to them - these valuable insights helping to shape the redevelopment of the lodge.

“If you’re gritty and action packed, it feels the right place to be; if you’re a school, it feels very useable; and if you’re a family, it feels like home from home.”

Steve and Susan’s focus on quality and design also reflects what the couple saw as a shift in their client base. “We could see that mountain biking was changing, not least with the advent of the e-Bike,” notes Steve.  “This development is generating a different and perhaps more discerning mountain biking visitor – one who still wants the bunkhouse experience but to enjoy it with a bit more comfort.”

Armed with this knowledge, every inch of the Kailzie Big Lodge has been designed with functionality, safety and comfort in mind. A spatial designer was brought on board to help bring the couple’s ambitious vision to life. High speed internet was installed; each room was flooded with USB points and sockets; and, of course, high end security cameras and digital locks to offer visitors with bikes that extra peace of mind.

Wine and dine in style…

But the bunkhouse isn’t just a place for cyclists. It’s a place designed for everyone, says Steve. “If you’re gritty and action packed, it feels the right place to be; if you’re a school, it feels very useable; and if you’re a family, it feels like home from home.”

Testament to this “hybrid model”, the lodge has already hosted family gatherings, foreign school groups, universities, Duke of Edinburgh parties (teachers, not students!) bikers and walking groups.

But Steve and Susan are certainly not the kind to sit back on their laurels. It’s still early days, but with plans to develop “art, photography and cooking” at the gardens – as well as linking in with other local businesses, such as nearby Kailzie Equestrian – the sky’s the limit for their growing client base.

Leaving through the spacious entrance hall, conversation turns to the lodge’s biggest talking point: a stunning mural by Scottish artist, Chris Rutterford. The couple previously lived in the Colinton area of Edinburgh, and were big fans of the artwork Rutterford created for the old railway tunnel linking Colinton Village to Craiglockhart Dell.

Making an entrance – artwork by Chris Rutterford

At the lodge, the artist’s nod to the vibrant biking scene and precious wildlife in the Tweed Valley epitomises the couple’s creativity and passion for their new-found home. It also shows their drive to set themselves apart from the crowd.

“With investment in the whole valley, and particularly around mountain biking, we were conscious that standards were going up,” explains Steve. “We’d rather set the standard than chase the standard.”

Without doubt, they’ve succeeded in that.

Further info

Situated between forest and river just 3 miles from Peebles, Kailzie Big Lodge can sleep up to 27 people. It has 5 bedrooms (including an accessible room) and is an ideal base for families as well as walking, cycling and school groups. Discover more: kailziebiglodge.com

Photography: Ian Linton