Guests say
Dess Lodge is a charming and well-equipped Victorian cottage praised for its comfort, cleanliness, and character. Guests enjoyed the cosy atmosphere, quality bedding, and well-stocked kitchen. The surrounding area offers beautiful walks and wildlife, with convenient local amenities. Some noted road noise, but it was generally not bothersome.
Guests consistently noted the property as very clean, with one explicitly mentioning it as 'very clean'. The provision of fluffy towels and the overall well-maintained state of the lodge contribute to a high cleanliness score.
The location is ideal for touring, with easy access to local villages and attractions like Balmoral. However, the proximity to a busy road slightly impacted the score, as some guests mentioned the need for caution when exiting and the presence of traffic noise.
The lodge is described as warm, cosy, and comfortable, with firm beds and good pillows. Central heating and additional electric heaters ensure a comfortable stay, contributing to a high comfort score.
Facilities are excellent, with a well-equipped kitchen, ample parking, and an outside sitting area. The only drawback mentioned was the temporary WiFi outage due to a provider issue, which prevents a perfect score.
While guests appreciated the well-stocked kitchen and the overall care put into the property, there is no mention of gifts or additional thoughtful touches that would warrant a score in this category. Therefore, the score is set to null.
About this property
This unusual property, complete with an open fire, is in a beautiful area of Scotland and close to Balmoral.. This most attractive, Victorian, detached baronial gatehouse is situated just off the road between Aberdeen and Balmoral and offers gracious living in the heart of Royal Deeside. The interior has been attractively furnished in traditional style with pitch pine finishings, open fire, tartan flooring and tasteful antiques. Surrounded on three sides by the gardens, its location is ideal for a holiday exploring this beautiful area. Enjoy the charms of the surrounding towns and villages - from Banchory with its bustling high street to Ballater, famed for its royal connections. Many historical places of interest, from the castles of Crathes and Balmoral to the standing stones of Tomnaverie. Superb scenery surrounding the area enhances any day out. Shops 2 miles, pub 3 miles.
Please note: There are open, steep, spiral or narrow stairs at the property.. 4 steps to entrance.
Ground Floor:
Living room: Freeview TV, Open Fire, Sofa Bed (Flexible Sleeping Only)
Kitchen/dining room: Electric Oven, Electric Hob, Microwave, Fridge/Freezer, Washing Machine, Tumble Dryer
First Floor:
Bedroom 1: Double (4ft 6in) Bed
Ensuite: Cubicle Shower, Toilet
Bedroom 2: 2 x Single (3ft) Beds
Bathroom: Bath With Shower Attachment, Toilet.
Oil central heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi included. Raised lawn with sitting-out area and garden furniture. Private parking for 1 car, additional private parking. Please note: There is a drop and a bank in the garden.
Free WiFi
There are open, steep, spiral or narrow stairs at the property.
There are drops in the garden.
Nearby points of interest
- Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve
- Grampian Transport Museum
- Ballater VisitScotland iCentre
Reviews (7)
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Confirmed Guest
Lovely cottage, very comfortable. Excellent facilities. Ideal location for touring the area. Lots of places to visit and we managed to get some good walks in.
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Andrew A
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5We absolutely loved our stay at Dess Lodge. It’s such a beautiful place, full of character, antiques and a baronial atmosphere, surrounded by peace, woodland and a river. You can really feel the care that’s gone into keeping it special.The kitchen had everything we could possibly need, right down to salt, oil, and washing-up liquid, tea towels and recipe books, which made it feel like a real home from home. We bought some wood from the local Co-op for the open fire and spent our evenings all cosy inside, it was perfect. On a clear night star gazing is fantastic.The central heating worked brilliantly, and there were even extra electric heaters in the rooms just in case. The beds were firm and comfortable, with good pillows, and lovely fluffy towels, all those little details that make such a difference.We visited all the local villages and Balmoral, and loved the independent shops and how friendly everyone was. Strachans village store in Aboyne has everything needed from gifts to store cupboard essentials and at great prices too. There’s a large Tesco not too far away, and a local co-op. Plenty of beautiful woodland and river walks nearby. Enjoyed a drink or 2 at The Boat Inn and takeaway food at a couple of places in Aboyne.The lodge does sit on a fairly busy country road, so you do hear some passing traffic, and care must be taken when pulling out, but as we’re used to city life it didn’t bother us or keep us awake at all.The WiFi wasn’t working during our stay due to a BT issue in the wider area, but it didn’t affect our stay and we actually enjoyed switching off and relaxing properly.We’d love to come back one day, it’s a wonderful spot, and we left feeling completely content.
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Stuart Webster
Charming house with lots of character. It is next to a busy road as has been stated by other guests, and some care is needed arriving and exiting the property because of this. However overall we enjoyed our stay and would recommend it.