Dog Friendly Aberdeenshire Holiday Cottages

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Gareth - Verified booking

  Our stay in August at Shell cottage was nothing short of magical.

  Tucked away in a picturesque setting, this charming place provided the perfect escape for our young family and dog. From the moment we arrived, the cottage welcomed us with its warm ambiance and inviting atmosphere. Nestled just a short walk from the beach, it offered the best of both worlds – the serenity of the countryside and the allure of the nearby coastline. The cottage itself was a haven of comfort and style. The interior had a homely charm with its beautiful decor, creating a soothing environment for relaxation. There was a view of the sea from each window, which was stunning. The highlight of our stay was undoubtedly the proximity to the beach. A leisurely stroll led us to the sandy shores, where we enjoyed breath-taking views of the Scottish coastline. The children loved how close we were and we could easily nip back to the cottage to make some lunch to take back to the beach, our dog was more than happy with all that space to run around in. The cottage was really cosy of an evening and really felt like a home from home, and waking up to the sound of waves in the distance was fantastic. The attention to detail by the cottage owners did not go unnoticed. Thoughtful touches, from cozy blankets to local recommendations, loads of extra towels etc. They really had though of everything. In summary, our time at Shell cottage was nothing short of amazing. It seamlessly blended comfort, charm, and convenience, offering a memorable retreat for our family. Whether you seek a peaceful getaway or a base for coastal exploration, this cottage is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. We left with hearts full of gratitude and memories that will last a lifetime. You know it’s somewhere special when your children ask you every few weeks if we can go back to the same place again!

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• Ian - Verified booking

  This is the most unwelcoming place we have stayed.

  A note informing us of problems with the water supply was uncaring particularly given the 5pm check in - which is far later than any other cottage we have stayed at. Waiting for boiled water to cool could have been avoided by leaving a litre bottle of water to get us started. And don’t say ‘why not have a nice cup of tea’. The justification for late check in was cleaning needed ‘because of the pandemic’, which also required us to ‘keep out of the way of other guests’. But NTS then organised a ceilidh (which was excellent) where we clearly got very close to other guests. This does not square. The fact that there were a number of maintenance problems (I left a note explaining) detracted further. Such a shame as this could be a fabulous place. The how to find the property letter we received from Sykes told us Victoria Bridge might be closed. That turned out to be a year out of date. NTS is running this place as if it were still the 19th century.

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• Stuart - Verified booking

  I have stayed at Mar Lodge on numerous occasions.

  Beautiful apartments and area. Temperatures on this occasion hit minus 9 deg. After a walk in the surrounding hills I ran a bath which was Luke warm at most. I complained to staff and then Sykes. It appears Health and Safety has gone mad, as Aberdeen Council have made the NTS fit temperature limiters to their baths in their properties. This was NOT mentioned in the property details on Sykes website. I appreciate keeping people safe but the long soak in a deep bath, a main feature of the apartment, is now ruined (unless you want to boil a kettle 12 times). No compensation offered either despite being a loyal customer for many years. Bitterly disappointed. Offer of a £50 voucher for use within 2 years not really good enough considering it’s now nearly £600 for 4 nights in January when most other apartments were not occupied and some even had workmen in decorating during our stay. Conflicted as we love the place usually but likely may not return.

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• Ann-marie - Verified booking

  Wow viola you didn't disappoint.

  ..what a fantastic cottage warm spotlessly clean comfortable, there's nothing you could want it's all there ! 20 out of 10 . We met the owner when he came to put the bins out for us what a lovely man and he even sent us details of berrybrae stone circle very close by and worth a visit , very short walk to reach it .we visited aikeybrae stone circle also bit of a longer walk but definitely also worth visiting. We had a ride to cullykhan bay spectacular. We mostly enjoyed walking on the beach literally two minutes from the door of the cottage, we went left down on the beach and past the little harbour and through the rocks to the magnificent beach at the back of inverallochy golf course. One week was definitely not long enough and we absolutely must go back very soon for longer too much to explore still . But for now st combs and viola cottage we've left a little bit of our hearts with you .

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• Jane - Verified booking

  We enjoyed our stay at Macdui very much.

  It was a beautiful property with amazing furniture and features. The ladies looking after the property were lovely too and very helpful. The only quibble we have is that the shower in the bathroom was very difficult to use; very attractive and right in period but not good to shower in. There is room to add a modern shower in either the bathroom or the cloakroom or the cupboard in the entrance to the cloakroom, but for more mature visitors (we are in our 70s) the shower over the bath is not practical. Fortunately, the rest of the family were staying in Bynack, so we were able to use one of the modern showers in their apartment. My nephew who was there too said he couldn't manage his old fashioned shower over the bath either. However this problem did not detract from the lovely holiday in such gorgeous surroundings. A perfect place for our family celebration.

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