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Delightful highland home in Ballater village

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December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Delightful highland home in Ballater village

Exterior
Outdoor dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, dishwasher
3 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, WiFi, bed sheets
TV

Reviews

10 out of 10

Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedroomsSleeps 6123 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Dryer
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Ballater, Scotland
  • Victoria and Albert Halls
    3 min walk
  • Ballater Library
    3 min walk
  • Ballater Golf Club
    4 min walk

Room options

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Delightful highland home in Ballater village

A cosy and traditionally decorated self-catering holiday cottage, Gairnshiel can accommodate groups, families and couples. Ideal for a relaxing break in Royal Deeside.

Gairnshiel Cottage can comfortably sleep six people. The cottage is spacious and is tastefully decorated to a high standard, with a traditional Scottish theme.

There are two good-sized upstairs bedrooms, one king-size with en-suite shower room and one twin-bedded room. Downstairs there is a double bedroom which is located next to a shower room. Each bedroom has a wardrobe and plenty of storage space. There is a hairdryer and all linen and towels are provided.

Downstairs there is a cosy lounge with seating for six people and a woodburning stove which is very welcoming after a day outdoors. There is a Smart TV, Bose bluetooth speaker and games and puzzles for all ages. Gairnshiel's well-equipped kitchen is open plan with the lounge, separated by a breakfast bar. There is a fridge-freezer, washing machine, dishwasher and microwave. The dining room is also open plan with the lounge to suit modern living.

The lounge opens out onto a large patio area with a seating for al fresco dining. The south facing garden is a fabulous suntrap, the sun can be enjoyed from early morning to the last rays in the evening. There is access to a large lockable shed - perfect for guests to store bikes or golf clubs etc.

There is off-street parking directly outside the cottage.

Gairnshiel Cottage is located in the centre of the Victorian village of Ballater and has all the amenities of the village on the doorstep. Ballater has many shops, cafes, restaurants and galleries to enjoy, most notably the recently refurbished Old Royal Station minutes from the cottage.

From the cottage there are many walks to explore - from the paths along the river, the recently opened Seven Bridges Walk and of course Craigendarroch Hill with it's spectacular views of Ballater and Lochnagar.

Ballater is just 7km from Balmoral Castle and Estate, the Royal Family's Scottish holiday home since 1852.

Ballater and Royal Deeside has the most stunning scenery and is an ideal base for hill-walking, cycling, fishing, golfing and many more outdoor pursuits.
During your stay at this holiday home, you're just a quick walk from Ballater Library. The holiday home offers a kitchen and a TV.
  • The holiday home offers a kitchen, a washing machine and a TV
  • 10 minutes by car from Cairngorms National Park and 10 minutes from Balmoral Castle
Delightful highland home in Ballater village offers its guests a garden. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property manager

Mark

Languages

English

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Wood stove

Entertainment

  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly
  • Welcoming dogs only
  • Up to 10 kg per pet

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 1,324 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 25

Check-out

Check-out before 9:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Only dogs are allowed
  • Maximum 1 (weight limit: 22 lb per pet)
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.
  • Note from host: house trained dogs only, please ask first.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.
Property Registration Number AS 00137F

We should mention

  • To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Delightful Highland Home in Ballater Village Ballater

Delightful highland home in Ballater village Reviews

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 35 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 35 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 35 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

mary G., The Netherlands

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful Ballater
Everything was perfect. Our only disappointment was that we had to leave the property by 9 am which seemed rather early.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carole G.

Liked: Cleanliness
Short stay
Great cottage - clean/welcoming & very homely. Extra little welcome touches were appreciated - ideal location …would recommend and return - thank you
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clare M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful homely cottage
This is the 2nd time we have stayed here. It is a very cosy and comfortable holiday cottage, that is well equipped. It has comforrtable beds, with sparkling white linens and towels. It is located excellent for the town, with a fabulous bakery and butchers. We also sampled the fish and chips which were very good too. Would definitely reccomend to friends and family. Thank you Mark and family for the lovely welcome pack, which included some local produce and a lovely wine, much appreciated. Would give this 5 stars for comfort and a lovely welcoming cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lynn T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Stay
We stayed here for a week in June and loved everything about it. The property won’t disappoint its lovely, clean and had everything we were looking for. 2 minutes walk from the shops. Thank you Mark and family we will be back next year ♥️
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gillian S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great find
Excellent cottage everything you could ask for clean comfortable and right on Ballater doorstep for walks, restaurants, shops, great week made better by the weather
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Audrey L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent property
Comfortable and homely. Mark was very attentive and informative. Lovely personal touches which were very much appreciated.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clare M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful cottage
Fantastic week away in beautiful Ballater. The cottage was so cosy and welcoming. The beds were so comfortable and we really slept well. The cottage is situated on the edge of town in a very quiet location. The garden is enclosed so great for our dogs. One to definitely recommend to friends and family. Thank you Mark, we will see you again.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eileen O.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great cottage in excellent location
What a gem, perfect getaway property . Very well equipped clean and full of amenities. Location fantastic for all local attractions and well placed for travel to surrounding areas. Definitely would recommend and we will book again.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lesley D.

Liked: Cleanliness
More amazing memories made in Ballater
Our ‘home from home’ week away. ❤️❤️ Another fabulous week with family, meeting up with friends, eating out, enjoying walks with our pooch and soaking up the sunshine. Very relaxing. We will be back next year. Love our get aways in Ballater, made all the more special by the amazing hosts. Thank you
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lesley j., Scotland

Liked: Cleanliness
Quality holiday accommodation
A lovely well equipped house in great quiet yet central location in Ballater. Extremely comfortable and spacious with high quality fixtures and fittings. Great for dogs and children- being secure in garden area and easy access to wonderful walking and cycling as well as excellent shops and cafes etc. Highly recommended.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Helen C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Comfortable and central
Two minute walk to Ballater shops, very comfortable beds, very clean and well equipped. Great situation to explore this lovely area - castles, forest walks, river walks, etc.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Michal M.

Liked: Cleanliness
winter break
We had an excellent time during during school winter break. The cottage is located close to main square. We especially enjoyed the open plan living space with a fire place. Mark was very welcoming and responsive to all communication. My son especially enjoys a farewell gift. We are already planning when to come back in the summer.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tom I.

Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful Christmas in Ballater
Many thanks Mark & family for the use of your house in Ballater over Christmas. The property was clean, tidy and equipped with everything we needed for a week's stay. Communication with Mark in the lead up and during our stay was a breeze and the house was just as described in the listing. It is right in the heart of Ballater which is a lovely town and well placed to explore Deeside and the Cairngorms. Would highly recommend - we hope to be back!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dawn H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Garnshiel Cottage
We had such a lovely stay in this lovely cottage for 5 nights. The village of Ballater is beautiful with lots of walks and places to visit, our favourite being Balmoral. There are lots of shops to buy provisions and we ate at the Deeside Inn twice within walking distance. Dogs were made very welcome. The cottage is very comfortable and spacious and we lit the log fire a couple of evenings. Beds and bedding were so comfy and there is everything you need included, plus a few provisions on arrival which were really appreciated. We would definitely stay there again if we were in the area
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Janet K.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family holiday- perfect location and lovely Cottage
Ideal for our 3 generation family holiday. Short walk into the heart of the village. Accommodation was perfect and as described. The cottage was spotless and we loved the welcome pack of food on arrival. Mark was excellent in replying to any questions prior to our visit. If we visit Ballater again then I would have no hesitation in booking this cottage again.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kevin I.

Liked: Cleanliness
Ballater Staycation
From initial enquiry to departing the host Mark was highly professional & very helpful. The property is excellently located,clean well decorated & furnished with everything you need .One of the best holiday rentals I have visited & highly recommend!!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Isabel T.

Liked: Cleanliness
Family holiday in Ballater
Lovely cottage, location perfect, had a great holiday in Ballater. Owner communication excellent.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Leah i.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely house, great location and fantastic host, can’t wait to go back.
The owner couldn’t have done more to make us feel welcome. The house is set up brilliantly and the location is stunning. What more could you ask for.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

David L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our stay
All good
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lucy F.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay
Stayed for a week at Marks property, it was absolutely great, fab location and spotlessly clean. The lovely little extra touches of our welcome basket on arrival and thank you gift on departure was fab. Can’t fault it, would highly recommend and will definitely book again. Just a pitty the Scottish weather wasn’t as great as the cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Peter Y.

Liked: Cleanliness
Excellent cottage in a fantastic location
We had a brilliant week for our first visit to Ballater and loved both the cottage and the location. Mark, the owner, went above and beyond in making us feel very welcome. Communication with him was really good both in advance of our visit and during, and we were blown away by some of the nice touches like the welcome basket of local produce and beautiful greeting card - it's the best experience we've ever had. Having not been to Ballater before we weren't sure what to expect. It's a lovely village with plenty of shops, restaurants and other amenities and somewhere we'd definitely recommend visiting. The first week of our holiday was in a more remote setting so this was a welcome contrast. Here we were just 2 mins walk from the centre of the village. The cottage itself was perfectly setup for our family of 6 and very clean and tidy with loads of storage space which was very handy. The layout of the living space worked really well too - the fire is great and the large TV on a swivel arm was a very welcome change from the tiny set in our the previous property. The showers were excellent too which always makes a big difference. It's a perfect base for exploring the area. We're an active family so interested in doing plenty of hill walking, climbing and mountain biking, but we were also along with grandparents who wanted more sedate walks and we were really impressed with the variety we had here. For biking I can definitely recommend Heartbreak ridge just behind the village, a great Red/Black downhill run you can do from the door. Climbing is excellent at nearby Pass of Ballater and Burn o Vat (micro guide book can be bought in the outdoor shop in the village). And Lochnager and it's neighbouring Munros are a great day out, as well as the circuit of Loch Muick or any number of riverside or woodland walks for more low level strolls. We were amazed at how much we managed to do either straight from the door or within about 20 mins drive. If we were to ask for anything, it would be a few more plates and glasses (there's enough for 6, but it just means you're washing up more often if you need any more). Being able to put the bikes in the shed would also have been ideal, but we managed just fine without. TLDR: We had a brilliant week, in a great area with so much to see and do. The cottage couldn't have been better for us and Mark the owner was brilliant. Would thoroughly recommend staying here and we'd look forward to visiting again in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Lesley C.

Liked: Cleanliness
A golfing week
A lovely property and had everything we needed

10/10 Excellent

Lesley D.

Liked: Cleanliness
2021 Summer Break
Absolutely fantastic holiday. Far exceeded all our expectations. Hosts went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable Thoroughly recommend to everyone. We have already booked again for next year. Can’t wait. Thank you from us all
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Neil S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Lovely, clean cottage in central village location
The cottage was clean and tidy on arrival. Well-equipped kitchen, secure back garden, very handy location for access to the centre of Ballater. We hope to return next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

V C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great holiday
We'll appointed house and a very friendly and helpful host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021