New Year Cottages in Scotland

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Marie - Verified booking

  Not good value for money.

  Arrived to a pile of rubbish in the garden and a used poo bag by the gate . Rubbish very kindly removed by a neighbour. No bin provided. Contact numbers provided on my paperwork were useless, no answering machine on landline and mobile number was a lady who was an ex cleaner who told me bins had been requested on numerous occasions to no avail. No welcome pack, the cleaning was what I would call "a lick and a promise" . A stained towel was left out for use and previous visitors food was left in the cupboard. Bedding was clean but well worn and "bobbly". The hoover was jammed full of muck which I couldn't fully remove. There was only one smoke detector in the property and no heat sensor, not sure if this meets current safety standards Did eventually speak to the owner and £50 was reimbursed but she seemed to think this mess was an acceptable situation for visitors to arrive too. The lady and her husband who removed the bags of rubbish and bottles were very kind and went out of there way for me, I can't praise them enough. The much needed holiday was not ruined but , spoilt for me. I was down to visit friends and attend a hospital appointments so, the added stress was far from welcome. All in all no real effort or thought gone into making this a welcoming place, will definitely not go back. I tried to contact Sykes on the Monday by email and kept being told my booking reference was incorrect. I too have cleaned a holiday let and the one I worked in had to be cleaned top to bottom and all basic essentials such as milk and tea, coffee, and sugar were left along with cake and biscuits. All bedding and towels had to be perfect or they were not used.

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• Anne - Verified booking

  We had a wonderful stay at Clashindeugle.

  The owners were excellent with their communication. The bedrooms were all comfortable and warm. The main lounge and kitchen/dining area was plenty big enough for everyone (12 people) to be comfortable and not feel "on top" of one another. The games room was enjoyed by everyone. Outside, there was plenty of parking. The views across the fields were fabulous and I enjoyed watching the sunrise over the mountains each morning from the kitchen sofa. There were some lovely walks straight from the house, which we enjoyed. The area itself has many lovely pubs, cafes and restaurants and there are lots of places to visit, even during winter. A 45 minute drive took us to Culloden (free for national trust members) and Inverness. The Highland Zoo and Landmark were a great day out and only around 20 minutes away. We had an awsome afternoon on Loch Ness, thanks to Beastie Boats rib rides. The quad biking with Cairngorm Quad Treks was great fun too. Aviemore is around 30 minutes away, with lots of activities and a nice town for shopping with a decent Tesco. We had a big tesco home delivery on booked for our first day, then shopped locally as there is a good sized co-op in Grantown On Spey itself. There is also some lovely little craft and trinket shops as well as a great little pottery painting shop, Smarty Art, where we spent a lovely rainy afternoon painting. It was very reasonably priced and will post your items to your home once fired. All in all, another wonderful holiday in Scotland. Sadly, Clashindeugle is already booked out for next year, but we have booked another house in Grantown On Spey as there's much more for us to do yet!

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• Sheila - Verified booking

  The Best Stay We've Ever Had - Truly Exceptional!

  We recently stayed at this incredible property in Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, and words can't fully capture how extraordinary our experience was. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with the most thoughtful and luxurious welcome pack, which included champagne, local products, and even a decanter of fine whiskey. It was such a warm and delightful start to our stay! The property itself is absolutely stunning. The attention to detail in every corner is remarkable, with beautiful linen, plush towels, and stylish furniture that made us feel like we were in a five-star hotel, but with all the cosy charm of a secluded getaway. The fully fitted and equipped kitchen had everything we could possibly need to prepare meals, and the log burner in the living room made for the most perfect, cosy evenings. There was even an electric car charging point! The hosts Annette, Alex and Paul were just great, nothing was any trouble to them and they helped us remarkably when the ferries were disrupted and we had to stay unexpectedly. We certainly felt safe and valued. The views from the property are breathtaking. Whether you’re gazing out the windows or enjoying a drink outside, the scenery is nothing short of magical. It’s the perfect spot to relax, unwind, and reconnect with nature. We’ve stayed at many places over the years, but this one is truly in a league of its own. This property goes above and beyond what you'd expect from a five-star experience – it’s the best place we’ve ever stayed, and we can’t wait to return. Highly recommended!

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• Colin - Verified booking

  We had an excellent weeks holiday at Challenger Lodge which we found ideal as a base for exploring the North coast of Scotland.

  Our party consisted of three adults and one dog and had plenty of space since the accommodation sleeps up to 9 persons. Challenger Lodge is spacious, well appointed, classily decorated and clean. The property is set in a secluded location with open views out to the loch and surrounding hillsides yet only 5 minutes by car to the town of Lairg where there is a Spar supermarket, fish & chip take away, hotel with bar and petrol station. There are several local wooded walks, both on the estate and in the local area with one good walk to a very private Loch Craggie along a logging road. A welcoming pack of basic essentials was much appreciated on arrival and the owner Shanta, who was visiting the estate during our stay, thoughtfully brought a dog bowl, dog bed and dog treats. We will be looking to make a return visit in the near future with other members of the family as the property is excellent value for money.

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• Pagan - Verified booking

  Great base for exploring surrounding area.

  Comfortable for the two of us (and dog), but do agree with other comments that the living space would be snug if 4/5 people came. However bedrooms were spacious. House had everything you'd need for a week or so but personally found a few minor issues... WiFi was very hit and miss (this could be weather related as VERY windy), not really an issue for a holiday but was unable to work. Taller people might struggle in the shower as limited height, I was ok (5'4") but my dad struggled. Cleaner was unaware of our booking, so cleaning wasn't completed when we arrived. She was so apologetic when she came later in the week and her details were in the guest book had we needed them (house was clean, I.e changed beds, rubbish removed. Just had items out drying and cleaning products about so didn't feel the need to contact). Overall, we had a good stay :)

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