Holly Leaf Cottage - Drum Castle Estate
ID: S701064
- Bedrooms 1
- ・ Sleeps 2
- ・ Pets 2
Guests say
Holly Leaf Cottage is a well-presented, cosy and stylish property with a secure garden, ideal for dogs. It offers good quality furnishings and is equipped for a comfortable stay. The property is praised for its charm and tranquillity, with easy access to local attractions. Some guests noted road noise and suggested minor improvements for an even better experience.
The cottage is generally described as clean and well-maintained, with guests appreciating the tidy condition upon arrival. However, one review suggests it could benefit from a deep clean, slightly lowering the score.
The location is appreciated for its proximity to local attractions and the secure garden for dogs. However, several reviews mention road noise and difficult access from a busy road, which impacts the score.
Guests find the cottage comfortable, with a cosy atmosphere and quality bedding. Some concerns about steep stairs and the need for outdoor furniture are noted, but overall comfort is rated highly.
The property is equipped with good quality furnishings and necessary amenities. However, guests have pointed out issues with windows, heating, and the lack of garden furniture, suggesting room for improvement in facilities and maintenance.
There is no mention of gifts or special thoughtful touches in the reviews, so it is not possible to assess this category. Therefore, the score is set to null.
About this property
Banchory 5.5 miles.
Located within the grounds of the historic Drum Castle estate, near Banchory in Aberdeenshire, Holly Leaf Cottage is a charming detached gatehouse offering a unique and memorable stay. Set within easy reach of the Cairngorms National Park, this National Trust for Scotland property is ideal for couples or friends seeking a peaceful escape in a distinctive setting.
Designed to resemble a miniature castle, this characterful cottage blends historic charm with comfort, providing a cosy and well-positioned base for exploring the surrounding countryside, with scenic walks available from the doorstep and beyond.
Inside, the cottage offers a well-equipped kitchen, ideal for preparing home-cooked meals, along with a separate dining room to enjoy them together. After a day of exploring, retire to the inviting sitting room to unwind beside the fire or settle in for a relaxing evening in front of the TV.
Upstairs, a charming double bedroom offers a restful space to recharge, while the ground-floor bathroom provides the choice of a soothing soak or refreshing shower.
Outside, the cottage benefits from an enclosed garden, perfect for a moment of calm or for guests travelling with dogs, offering a secure space to relax.
The cottage sits just moments from Drum Castle itself, one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses, where you can step back in time and explore its rich interiors, beautiful chapel, extensive library, and award-winning gardens. The surrounding Old Wood of Drum is home to an array of wildlife including red squirrels, roe deer, and red kites.
Nearby, Banchory offers a good selection of shops, cafés, and restaurants, while the vibrant city of Aberdeen is within easy reach for further attractions, golf, and coastal visits. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Cairngorms National Park provides breath taking scenery and opportunities for walking, cycling, and seasonal sports.
With castles, estates, coastline and countryside all within easy reach, Holly Leaf Cottage is perfectly placed for discovering the best of Aberdeenshire from a truly unique and memorable base.
This property can be booked with Ref. 1060438, together sleeping 4 guests.
The vibrant suburb of Peterculter - also known as Culter, is a charming location resting 8.3 miles away from Aberdeen city centre, sitting on the northern banks of the serene River Dee. Peterculter is home to a generous selection of shops, pubs, restaurants, a museum and heritage hall, village hall and activity centre, with historic tales found throughout attractions such as the quaint river of Culter Burn, and a statue of folk hero Rob Roy Macgregor, known for apparently leaping across Cutler Burn to chase away pursuing Hanoverian troops. The hustle and bustle of Aberdeen city centre is just a short journey away, boasting views of high cliffs, open farmland and rugged mountains, contrasted with sandy beaches and far-reaching sea views, as well as contemporary entertainment such as retail centres, welcoming pubs, exciting bars, and fine dining. Further afield is the extensive Cairngorm National Park, an adventurous and popular tourist hub spanning over 1,748 square miles of majestic views found on walking trails, cycle paths, outdoor activities, watersports and so much more! Peterculter is a lovely destination to experience the adventure, history and culture of Aberdeenshire in a more tranquil resting spot.
Accommodation
One double bedroom.
Ground-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC.
Kitchen.
Dining room.
Sitting room with woodburning stove (Please provide your own fuel)
Electric central heating.
Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine.
Wi-Fi, Freeview TV.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Off-road parking for 2 cars.
Rear garden with lawn.
Two well-behaved dogs welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 2.4 miles, pub 3.2 miles.
The property is located just off the A93, please take care when entering and exiting the short driveway.
The opening times, visitor facilities and entry prices of all National Trust for Scotland properties and attractions can be viewed on their website here
Nearby points of interest
- Robert Gordon University (RGU) Aberdeen
- Gordon Highlanders Museum
- Aberdeen Art Gallery
- Aberdeen Maritime Museum
- Aberdeen Arts Centre
- Dunnottar Castle
Reviews (21)
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William
The property is absolutely stunning, a hidden gem! Cosy and quaint, with everything at hand. It's a shame the bottom oven wasn't functional, as we would have utilised the kitchen more during our stay. Poppy the labrador ADORED the garden. A lot more spacious than the advert depicted. Perfect for her zoomies in the snow! It was also a spectacular spot to witness the northern lights. Super comfy bed, the best sleep we have had in ages! Closeby to convenient stores and a great base for all of our historic castle adventures. Although, a little difficult to spot the property when returning after dark. An up light on the entrance/property name sign at the gate may have helped. Overall, a fantastic location! beautiful, clean and comfortable quirky home from home. Thank you for having us!
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Joannah
Secondary glazing upstairs is on magnets, should you wish to open the windows. There's are no gauntlets with the fire, so when the handle gets hot, you have to manage with oven gloves. The fire extinguisher is hidden in a cupboard behind the sofa, and the two fire doors are very heavy for opening. The hook behind the dining room door is perhaps the best for coats. Cleaning products and items are spread across five cupboards, which is slightly inconvenient. If you are bringing your dog, then be aware that the garden isn't fully fenced behind the roadside rhododendron or the gate pillar; there is a wall beyond, but this could easily be hopped by our dogs (60mph road). The lower oven door doesnât align properly, so the glass catches. The pictures slide about on the walls as doors are opened and closed. The click clack drain plug for the bath doesn't work, and the toilet roll is really very cheap. I lost a pair of socks to the nails in the bedroom threshold strip. The garden tap is broken, as is the clothes line and garden shed window. The house is difficult to spot in the depths of winter; even with the outside light left on for reference. A courtesy light would have been nice when we arrived, just so we could see the key pad to open up. Perhaps gate marker lights would be a good investment? The building is definitely ready for a deep clean; the longer you stay, the more dirt you see, but you can't leave a note for change over staff without a pen and paper. Overall, this place is 80% good. It just doesn't quite live up to my national trust accreditation expectations.
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Antony
The location was ideal for the exploring all we had wished to do. We found the cottage to be cosy and had all we needed, maybe an extra roasting dish for cooking would be handy. We decided to keep our small dogs on leads in the garden due to the busy road but the garden is fenced. We would suggest looking at allowing daylight arrivals in winter months due to it being difficult to locate in the dark. Overall we had a lovely week break and was sad to depart.