New Year Cottages in Scotland

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Kerry - Verified booking

  Ample sized two bed cottage in a charming rural setting undisturbed by neighbouring properties or light pollution.

  Access moderately ok off an unmade farm track type lane off a single track 'main road'. This matches the online description. Improvements needed to the online listing to include detail to clarify:- Cows in field directly beside one side of the cottage, separated by 3ft high chicken wire fence. Sheep in field directly beside garden at rear of cottage, also only separated by 4ft chicken wire fence behind some shrubs. Cottage garden higher than field, so the fence line appears shorter than it is. Cow field not secure, cows can get into the access lane to the cottage (we arrived home in the dark on the first night after going out for food to a cow in the headlights and trying to find its way back into its field). Previous guests have recorded in the visitor book about letting their dog run on the lane - DON'T! This isn't acceptable in this location and can worry the cattle and risks injury to them, your dog and you. Just don't do it! There's ample space at the cottage for them to run free. The top gate is best closed to keep cows out if you're travelling with children, pets or guests that are scared by large farm animals as the surrounding fields aren't properly fenced. Sykes, when providing check in details, make it clearer who the telephone number you've given actually belongs to and any 'best times to contact' so guests know they're contacting an owner and can do so at certain times without imposing on them. Well appointed cottage and more importantly overall it was very clean bar a few dog hairs under beds and on the kitchen floor that had settled from previous guests and the finishing on the wooden floors. The online listing could clarify that there's a washer / dryer and not just washing machine because having that is a bonus! A clothes airer in the property and a washing line outside in the ample garden would also be an appropriate addition. The garden furniture needs waterproof covers or direction (and access) to guests to store in the attached locked shed after use or in chances of rain. The garden is in a poor state and in places was very dangerous for some of the guests that are accepted at this property - kids and pets especially! Access to the external boiler was via overgrown grounds with established brambles which I did get various cuts and scratches from. Many broken fences, gates, plastic pots, roofs etc causing loose, partially buried or fully exposed debris around. Wire and rusty metal fixings protruding from arches, old flower / veggie beds and on steps and access paths. I had to move many due to having the dog with us. Broken glass panes and old double glazing units were also left in easy to access areas which I needed to move prior to allowing my dog access into the garden off lead. An external risk assessment should be carried out between guests during change over. All areas need seasonal maintenance tasks also undertaking to bring the plants and flowers back to life and really return this to what must once have been such a charming and beautiful 'cottage garden'. I'd love to have seen photos of what it once looked like as it was clearly someone's pride and joy. The dilapidated and dangerous wooden sheds at the entrance to the cottage need to be emptied and demolished asap. This really lets this property down and worried us immensely on our approach to our home for the week. It isn't actually an accurate reflection of the cottage itself either, which has been refurbished to an acceptable level for holiday letting. Where the big green shed with the bed and old contents from the cottage currently is would be a perfect place to install an ample sized wood store. This would be a fabulous addition to the property at minimal cost. There is plenty of wood locally that could be added to the store for future guests to make use of once dried. Badgers are active in the garden, with parts used as their latrines. This needs to be taken on board if travelling with adventurous children or dogs and should also be noted in the online listings. We had to make two makeshift gates at the garden borders during our stay, to enable the dog to enjoy parts of the superb sized garden without fear of escape into the neighbouring fields or the top derelict greenhouse and side areas as they were just too dangerous to risk access to. I travel with a fence 'kit bag', and did have to use this at the bottom of the garden to put a 6ft screen up, to ensure my dog didn't jump into the sheep field (for the birds or a run around, not for the sheep). Luckily we arrived with a few hours of daylight remaining and was able to spend the couple of hours securing the garden using the various broken gates, fences and wires found around the garden. The shower, being electric and new was totally fine for us during our stay. The bath is very American hotel in its sizing so the listing needs to be updated as it's not really suited to a 'relaxing soak'. Unfortunate heating issues with pressure and air in the system did intrude on the first few days of our stay but in no way was this issue not attended to buy Sykes and Jo, the owner. Some form of welcome pack and fire wood and kindling would have been a nice touch with the cottage being a drive away from the nearest shops. Improved outside lighting would make access safer from the parking area. Blinds in the conservatory entrance and the glazed kitchen door would also make nighttime indoors feel safer in the isolated area when you can't hear anyone approaching in the dark. I'd replace the blinds in the bedrooms and living room with lined curtains as the current blinds don't fit. The two sofas are very small and very uncomfortable and not in keeping with the lovely room. I'd replace those and the glass TV stand. Only one bedroom was made up for our stay and we needed both so had to try and find bedding to make one of the beds. All beds need new mattresses as you can feel the springs and new frames as they're all very creaky. To help save energy and therefore money, I'd reduce the number of lights in the property and also give guests details of what the heating timer and heating and water temperature is set to. Instructions on how to use the heating, check the external boiler properly and other things in the cottage would also be a good addition, as well as details of local places to visit, eat and so on. For the price range, other than the safety aspects of the garden, this is spot on. For the time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and a week of solitude and star gazing, this spot is absolutely perfect! For anyone needing a base in this area I'd highly recommend staying.

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• Carole - Verified booking

  The location is excellent being a short walk into town and lots to see and do in the surrounding area.

  The quiet street, plenty off road parking, gardens front and back and the path at the rear of the house were real plus points. The house itself has small rooms and the furniture in the lounge is so uncomfortable, especially if there are 4 adults as there's only a couch and 1 chair. (no adult likes to sit in the middle of 2 others on a couch!) We felt that 2 x 2 seater couches would be much more comfortable and relaxing. The double bed is narrow and the 2 x singles are more suited to 2 children. There are some grotty old rugs around on the floor that we just put in a pile in the corner of the rooms during our stay. The kitchen is fairly old fashioned with a protruding cupboard that you have to be careful you don't bump your head on and a fridge that opens on the wall side. There's a useless old table in there that just makes it feel smaller. It was adequate to cook some meals in, but basic with very little extras eg empty roll of tin foil, only enough washing up liquid for 2 days, no J-cloths or scrubbers, very basic small supply of cheap crockery, a "welcome pack" that consisted of a pint of milk and 3 kit kats (for 4 people) which was so pathetic we would rather not have had anything. The shower was great and the bathroom looked clean and modern, however 1 hand towel between 4 was also quite stingy! Outside there is a small bistro set in the garden, which is again only for 2 people. This house could be fabulous but we just felt the owner obviously doesn't want to spend anything on it, despite guests paying an average of around £600 a week.

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• Pagan - Verified booking

  Had a wonderful stay at Shaw Cottage.

  We used it as a base whilst we were viewing properties in the area. Shame this place isn't for sale, we loved it! It has everything you need for a comfortable stay. We booked for two people but only one bed was made up when we arrived, so worth messaging beforehand if you need both rooms. Plenty of parking. The track to the house is a uneven but no issues if you go slow and steady (a very low car may have issues, as the description says, but I have a DS3 and it managed fine). Wonderful views from the garden. There are some area to the front that are blocked off as over grown but the lawn and parking grass areas were mowed nicely and the areas around the paths and patios were trimmed back. Lovely and peaceful place to sit out. The property does neighbour fields with livestock and there is plenty of wildlife around, we spotted many rabbits in the garden. I would recommend a long lead for dogs, so other animals are not worried and the don't enter the blocked off areas. Overal, we had a lovely time and hope to return.

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• Tara - Verified booking

  Cute, clean place in a very convenient location.

  We enjoyed a basket of goodies left for us as well as a nice kitchen with cookware in much better shape than many rentals we have stayed in. The bedroom toward the back has windows that open towards rentals across the street that have decks and porches facing them, so if you are a light sleeper you will want to stay in the room at the front of the house whose windows open toward the quiet neighborhood that the Hideout is located in. Unfortunately the shower handle that controls the temperature was missing (I assume it has been broken and taken off). We were unable to adjust the temperature of the shower, which unfortunately only put out water that was much too hot for some of our party. Overall we had a very nice stay but for a problem like the shower being broken I would have expected the owner or management company to reach out before our arrival.

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• Liam - Verified booking

  Cracking wee place to stay and so close to what ever you are on Skye to do!

  Cleanliness was ok, (I know it’s a pet friendly accommodation) but was quite dusty throughout the house! Towels although clean were full of old stains and maybe just at the end of their lifespan and needing renewed. Welcome pack stated a starter pack for logs, no logs just kindling and no small milk! (Again very minor details!) We were stuck at checkout due to weather as there was no sat for the small hill out of the Cul de Sac. Not owners problem but might be worth asking for a salt bin as no one touches the cul de sac at all in the bad weather! Was a sheet of ice when we tried to leave. I know I am being persnickety but we are all paying a lot of money to stay in places now a days and a little bit extra attention to detail would rocket this small hideout to a 5 star accommodation.

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