New Year Breaks In Scotland

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Jun - Verified booking

  The cottage is situated in a quiet hamlet, just outside of Lybster.

  The area immediately surrounding the cottage is farmland, running along a small single-lane road and just off the A99, which is far enough away for the traffic to not be bothersome. Lybster is less than 5 minutes drive away, with a post office and well-stock shop, as well as a few nice walks. Wick is 15 minutes away and has a large Tesco and everything else you might need. That said, you do need to drive anywhere you want to go, as there are no footpaths on any of the surrounding roads, and walking is near impossible as cars tend to drive at very high speeds, even on the single-lane roads. The cottage itself is lovely, it has all the main amenities: washer & dryer (in the outhouse), dishwasher, fridge/freezer, 2 ovens (!!), microwave, and a reasonably-stocked kitchen with cooking tools. An extra cooking pot would be useful, as would some new chopping boards, but overall everything you need is there. There are three bedrooms, a living room, and an open kitchen/dining room. And one bathroom with a decent shower. There is also a wood-burning fireplace, which is lovely, and the most amazing feature: a hot tub. The hot tub was turned on and filled for when we arrived and you need only remove the cover to get in. We were in every day and 15 minutes in that tub is like a sauna (in a good way), and you come out feeling relaxed. Perfect right before bed! Definitely a winning feature! The cottage is unusual in that it's surprisingly well decorated with high-quality furniture and comfortable beds. No cheap Ikea furniture here. It's tasteful throughout and well considered. A lamp in the living room was the only thing we felt was missing, as we had to light candles to avoid the harshness of the overhead light. The cottage is dog-friendly, with a big, fully-enclosed yard, which surrounds the cottage from front to back. This was a great feature, as, already mentioned, there are no footpaths, so walking dogs is a bit of a challenge. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and highly recommend it. We not only found the cottage very comfortable, but the owner was very thoughtful in the small finishing touches, such as a dog bed and dog treats, adding washing tablets and clothes pegs...etc... all the small living details that are often missed.

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• Owen - Verified booking

  What a wonderful place to stay!

  A very well equipped, comfortable cottage, with a lovely view of hills and a large pond. Everything you could ever need for a holiday base. The hot tub is a fabulous bonus, we were star gazing in that most evenings. The pool table was fun too, we had not played pool for years. There are many good books to read, sky TV, all you want if the weather is bad and you wanted to cozy up indoors. The lodge is very stylish and warm, but you also have the benefit of a wood burning stove for those chillier evenings. It is a very short drive to the shops in Castle Douglas.Threave castle and gardens is nearby. You take a boat ride to the castle, which is unique. Another great castle to visit is Caerlaverock castle, it has an unusual design. There are lovely woodland walks in Dalbeattie forest to Kippford Bay, which is a nice place to visit. There's a great pub restaurant (The Anchor Hotel) which serves fantastic food. A must do is feeding the wild goats and red deer, we took several kilos of carrots and they were gone within minutes. Hahaa Logan's fish pond is a unique place to visit, and Logan's Botanical Gardens is amazing! The Wood of Cree is another beautiful place to visit, with lots of waterfalls. Walks around Glen Trool, Kirroughtree, Clatteringshaws Loch are wonderful. Of course you can walk up the Merrick, if you are fit enough. A drive down Raiders road is good if you want a nice forest drive. Stinchar falls is another nice walk to a waterfall. There are many waterfalls to discover in the Galloway, if that is your thing. Eskrigg nature reserve is a great place for bird watching and looking out for red squirrel. There's so much to do in the Galloway, a week simply isn't long enough. We will definitely stay at Hardhills Cottage when we next return to the Galloway, I doubt you could wish for a more lovely place to stay. Thank you.

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• Kerry - Verified booking

  Blown away by how quaint this cottage was on the outside and in.

  Fresh roses, chocs, cheese and crackers, with beer and bubbles upon arrival- what a lovely gesture, thank you! The birdies were a pleasant time stealer while having breakfast. Log fire and unlimited logs with kindle was wonderful and so well organised - again thank you. The cottage was so warm. Books, games and literature was beneficial and the TV was brilliant. The deep bath and mood lighting was very romantic and great for sole relaxation with the beautiful views of the the trees through the windows. The huge bed was amazing and so comfortable. We have slept really well. The stairs are grand and manageable. Down stairs toilet was very handy. Kitchen was well equipped - better than our own. This cottage was clean, modern, comfortable, spectacular and very private. Landlords at the end of the phone should one need assistance - thanks. Local walks are a must- the views are spectacularly picturesque, that will remain in our heart and minds forever. Can't wait to revisit. Thanks Kerry and Ben Date of experience: 29 December 2022 -5th January 2023.

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• Norma - Verified booking

  Despite the photograph of the cottage it was not a secluded cottage in a private garden but attached to a bigger house belonging to the owners.

  The rooms were both extremely dark with very little day light getting into the building, we had to have the lights on all the time and it still was difficult to read. The sofa and chair were very uncomfortable and the only eating space was the breakfast bar which is not suitable for a relaxing evening meal. The stairs are extremely steep and require a second hand rail on the right hand side to provide a safer journey up and down. There was no wardrobe in which to hang clothes; only a few pegs at the top of the stairs outside the bedroom door. No doubt the owners thought the cottage quirky but it could have been so much nicer if it had been designed by someone with experienced. Considering the size and inadequate furnishings, the dingy interior and the odd collection of aging vehicles parked in the grounds I consider this property to be very over priced and definitely not worth the money you charged for it. Yours somewhat disappointed Norma C M Adam

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• Barry-john - Verified booking

  This holiday cottage is absolutely fabulous, it looks a generous size in the advertised photos, but in reality it's huge!

  . It is finished to a very high standard, the owners have created an absolute gem. The logburner with unlimited logs was so cosy every night, not that we needed it really, as the underfloor heating kept the property comfortably warm, especially in the conservatory where the heat in the floor was addictive! A perfect reading room!. The pool table was great, and a stash of games and books will make sure you don't get bored if the weather keeps you indoors. The decking which surrounds 2 sides of the property is of a high end finish also, and the hot tub which sits on it is private and only overlooked by a few sheep and wonderful rolling countryside. It gave us countless hours of relaxation. I would recommend a holiday in Hardhills Cottage to anyone. Thankyou Ewen and Shelagh.

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