The hills all around the 6,500 acre estate are great for walkers and hills climbers and there are also several munros and corbetts to tackle in easy reach just a short drive away. For a break from the washing up why not pop into the Dalmunzie Castle Hotel (0.25 miles) for a drink or a spot of dinner?

The Glenshee resort (7 miles) is heaven for snow sports enthusiasts as it has 36 different ski runs to try out and also caters for mountain bikers in the summer months.

Wildlife enthusiasts looking for something a bit different will absolutely love a visit to the nearby Llama Centre (10 miles) where you can lead these wonderful creatures out on an interesting trek, stopping off for cake and hot chocolate en route.

The cottage is right in the heart of castle country so visits to see the amazing architecture of Braemar Castle and Balmoral Castle are an absolute must. Braemar Castle (16 miles), home to the Chief of Clan Farquharson, is open to the public (April to October) with knowledgeable local guides that run tours explaining all about its fascinating history.

Balmoral Castle at Ballater (33 miles) is the Scottish home of the Royal family and every year Her Majesty the Queen still visits for her summer holidays. An audio tour is available of the exhibitions and gardens and the gift shop has plenty of Scottish souvenirs as a reminder of your trip. In the winter months there are luxury Landrover safaris on offer that allow for further exploration of the 50,000 acres of countryside within the Balmoral Estate, with plenty of wildlife to look out for along the way.

Day trips to the cities of Perth and Dundee are easily achievable as they are both just over an hour’s drive away if some shopping or sightseeing is on the agenda.