New Year Breaks In Scotland

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Tracy - Verified booking

  We had a most enjoyable week at South Stables.

  The House of Dun is in a spectacular setting and the NTS staff were really friendly and welcoming. There is a huge estate with extensive walks which we enjoyed with our dog, and the NTS land extends to the Montrose Basis nature reserve where there are several wildlife hides for birdwatching. The area has lots to see and do and we particularly enjoyed visits to Dunotter Castle at Stonehaven, and the fascinating and vibrant city of Dundee where we would highly recommend the Discovery and the Verdant Works Jute Museum. The cottage itself was warm and cosy and beautifully decorated having been freshly renovated. Slightly too beautiful - it was carpeted throughout with a pale beige carpet which was not ideal for a dog-friendly property on a muddy estate! The staff we spoke to were aware of this and said they had received similar feedback from other guests, so I imagine that the carpet in the entrance hall at least will be changed to something a bit more practical (which no doubt the housekeeper will be very thankful for!). There was also a problem with the shower which had been newly fitted and did not seem to have been set up properly so was not very warm, which was not a big issue to us but a hot shower would have been nice given the cold weather. We reported this and the staff were very apologetic and said they would get it fixed for future guests. Finally the kitchen could have done with some more cooking dishes for the microwave and oven, and some basic supplies such as salt & pepper, clingfilm & foil etc that are often provided in holiday properties. These were only tiny issues which did not impact our enjoyment of the holiday at all and we would thoroughly recommend South Stables as a lovely place to stay and an ideal base for exploring the area.

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• Benjamin - Verified booking

  We had a fantastic time at Moorhen Lodge in North Kessock.

  The lodge is beautifully appointed and feels like nothing we have ever stayed in before. The peace and quiet is really quite something, and on a clear night the sky is absolutely stunning. There is a plancha-style gas BBQ on site but as the property is in a protected area, you can't have naked flames indoor or out - so no charcoal BBQs or candles. The parking space outside is a little on the small side, so be sure to practice your five-point turns in advance. The beds are comfortable and the en-suite is lovely too. The wood-stove is a really nice addition and makes the living room nice and warm for when you've had enough of the hot tub. It uses a fair bit of fuel, but we contacted Helen and they can supply net bags for a small charge. We managed to get a Tesco delivery and a local taxi company out to the lodge - it really is in the middle of nowhere - but the directions are fairly simple once you get used to them. The fridge is huge, and there's a dishwasher and washer/dryer there too. The TV and sound-bar are decent and there's a spare HDMI on there for a Chromecast too if you have one. The WiFi is pretty decent in the lodge, but - as expected - there's no mobile signal on EE/O2, so make sure you have one phone in your group that can make use of WiFi Calling. All in all, a beautiful, secluded, peaceful lodge and we absolutely loved it. Looking forward to coming back!

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• David - Verified booking

  This was the seventh time we have stayed in this flat.

  Set within the House of Dun it is fabulous especially at this time of year with autumn colours and 1000s of geese flying to and from Montrose Basin. The gardens are lovely - never managed to grow nerines like them - a line of vibrant pink. The stunning beaches of St Cyrus and Lunan Bay are close by and there is a huge amount to discover whether you are interested in castles, museums, Pictish stones, or whiskey. The tour around Fettercairn was the best we’d been on. And the displays at the House of Dun are excellent and the house tour led by’William’ brilliant. Only once caught in storms in the autumn in 2023. Booked for next year! Always good to but plants to take back and add to our garden as a reminder! The flat is comfortable and it is good to have a washing machine after any muddy walks! The only extra we would like are extra bedside lamps and an extra light in the lounge. Not a fan of flat trays but that’s just being picky!

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• Matthew - Verified booking

  We absolutely love Mar Lodge - it is a very magical place, and the apartments are extremely spacious and well equipped.

  3 points of feedback about the Derry apartment: 1. All the east-facing windows leaked heavily during the rain. This didn't really affect us directly, though it did concern us as the water intake is causing damage to the plaster, woodwork and paintwork around these windows (both bedrooms and the living room). 2. The double bed mattress has seen better days and could be replaced. You can really feel the springs, and we did have a little back pain in the morning as the support isn't great. This seemed at odds with the standard of the other fittings, furniture and appliances. 3. The bath water doesn't get very hot - even if you run no cold water in at all, the hot water is warm at best. It's so nice to have a really hot bath after a day out walking in the cold weather, but we thought this could be improved. Many thanks. Matthew & Cahir.

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• Donna - Verified booking

  We had a wonderful New Year at Moorhen Lodge.

  It is a wonderful place to escape to. Our giant pup loved the wildlife, walks and beaches. Our kids (10 & 8) loved hunting for Dolphins and lazing in the hot tub (& the WiFi). My husband and I loved the absolute peace and comfort while watching the wide variety of birds from our window. It is a fabulous Lodge, they have thought of everything and were on hand if needed without invading our holiday in any way. We are planning to go back. The lodge is so cosy with all the facilities of home. The beds were comfortable with extra blankets if needed. The extra touches included a real Christmas tree. It was lovely. NB if you plan a New Year break many of the local hotels and restaurants close to recover from the festivities, plenty still available in Inverness though.

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