New Year Breaks In Scotland

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Julia - Verified booking

  Tulchan Lodge was fabulous.

  The setting is beautiful, it was well equipped and the housekeeper was very attentive. For info, while we were there we had the piano tuned and repaired by a very accommodating and skilled piano tuner - it is not quite concert pitch but was sufficient for our musical needs. Some things to note - at 5.30 a.m. every day a very noisy farm vehicle (quad bike type) drove past - take earplugs (TL is next to a working farm, so some noise was to be expected) The kitchen is really (really!) hot because of the Aga Two of the beds needed attention, very noisy - we had to have our mattress (double bed in the balcony room) on the floor to make it bearable - someone had put some plasterboard (yes really!) under the mattress so there was clearly an awareness of this issue which should really be fixed. One of the single beds in the room next door to ours was also squeaky - it looked like someone had made these beds themselves using old iron frames which could explain why they weren't up to scratch The internal doors are presumably fire doors and very heavy. This meant they slammed a lot - some kind of slow closing mechanism would improve this Arrival time is 4pm not 3pm as it says on Sykes website - I had no reason to disbelieve the housekeeper when she told me she has told Sykes many times, yet they still publish 3pm arrival time. All in all we had a brilliant time despite the minor niggles noted above which I include to be helpful, and hope the house owner takes note and acts on this feedback, where appropriate. I would highly recommend TL, and the price was reasonable for the size of property which easily accommodated all of us.

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• Pat - Verified booking

  There was no clear statement that there was no view of harbour or indeed anything worthwhile to look at.

  So it was the sin of omission rather than full honesy. Insulation was poor. The flat heated up quickly but cooled very quickly too. Soundproofing was non existent which meant no privacy at all either in our own flat or the flat next door. We could hear them and undoubtedly they could hear us. There was no view from their flat either. The adjoining flat was accessed by an adjoining door which should have been locked on both sides but not on our side. The sofa bed would not have been very comfortable for two people. The flat would not be suitable for young children with no door at the spiral staircase. Equally it would not suit anyone with mobility difficulties. There were many stairs. The flat was fairly well equipped but the cafitiere was tiny and was hardly suitable for one person never mind four. It was also the same with the teapot which we found eventually. There was no welcome note or instructions, just out of date booklets and leaflets. We received a call from the owner to say that the electricity was going off from 9am until 4pm and that she 'forgot ' to tell us. This left us without heat and lighting, the means to cook and not water all day. If we had been told before leaving home we could have brought thermos flasks. I would advise people to read all the reviews very carefully before booking. I wish we had to save us the disappointment when we arrived. Certainly it is a well presented flat decoratively but featureless.

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• Sue - Verified booking

  We wanted a relaxed holiday in a quiet spot and this was perfect.

  There was plenty to do in the area and we went to Mallaig several times for boat trips, to Skye, Rum and Knoydart. We also got the train to Fort William from the local station. The flat was very comfortable and clean, and well equipped. We appreciated the welcome pack including biscuits and teabags. We were originally not sure about the shower which, due to the height of the ceiling, meant that you couldn’t stand up, but found that there was a seat area in the bath and this enabled us to sit on it and use the hand held shower, which was quite powerful so that it wasn’t really an issue. The views from the dining area were stunning and we loved seeing the deer early morning and in the evening. A great holiday. There was plenty to do in the area and we went to Mallaig several times for boat trips, to Skye, Rum and Knoydart. We also got the train to Fort William from the local station. The flat was very comfortable and clean, and well equipped. We appreciated the welcome pack including biscuits and teabags. We were originally not sure about the shower which, due to the height of the ceiling, meant that you couldn’t stand up, but found that there was a seat area in the bath and this enabled us to sit on it and use the hand held shower, which was quite powerful so that it wasn’t really an issue. The views from the dining area were stunning and we loved seeing the deer early morning and in the evening. A great holiday.

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• Alison - Verified booking

  Cooinda Flat is located above the owners own property but has its own separate entrance.

  It is set back slightly from a quiet road next to Cooinda Cottage. There is a washing machine and dryer on the “ground” floor as you enter then stairs to the flat. As others have pointed out, the roof is sloping so those of taller stature might have an issue (and a sore head) by the end of their stay. The three bedrooms are a good size, though the beds aren’t the most comfortable and the furniture is beginning to show its age. The views from the living room window are stunning and there is a deer family that regularly visits the field nearby. The bathroom let’s the property down as the corner bath is under the sloping roof so it’s virtually impossible to stand and have a shower and is difficult for older people to get in and out of. A rethink of the layout might help. There was however plenty of hot water for a bath. There is parking in front of the Flat and cottage as well as directly outside in the street. Mallaig is 2.5 miles away with tourist shops and tea rooms as well as a small Co-operative Shop with all the basics for self catering as there is no shops in Morar itself. Mike (the owner) popped round at the start of the stay to say hello. If you’re looking for a base on which to travel over to Skye on the ferry, Cooinda flat is perfect.

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• Catherine Anne - Verified booking

  We had a lovely holiday as an extended family group in this very comfortable house in a beautiful location.

  A great deal of care had gone into preparing the house for our visit. The kitchen, lounge and dining areas were well appointed and the bedrooms were all spacious and restful. The only slight issues we had with the kitchen were that the normal oven seemed to be a little temperamental and the kitchen working surfaces were a bit limited for a large group - although, as I say, these were minor matters, and the oven was much less of a problem than it could have been because the aga was available, which made the kitchen very cosy and warmed the whole house. We took a dog and she had a wonderful time in the large, secure garden area. We also very much enjoyed using the fire pit (wood kindly provided). We would like to send a special thanks to Heda, who looks after the house, for going above and beyond the call of duty in providing a wonderful sea chest for Captain Mitchell, whose uniform is displayed in the dining room by means of a life-sized mannequin. The children in the party (and some of the adults too!) had lots of fun exploring the contents of the chest, which included games. activities and a log book for them to write about the Captain's adventures. An altogether memorable holiday - we would love to return to Tulchan Lodge at some point in the future.

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