Guest Rating
Set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park is Balnoe Cottage, tucked away in a secluded spot down a private track in between the villages of Braemar (8 miles) and Ballater (11.5 miles) in Royal Deeside.
Quick Info
| Sleeps: 4/8 | Bedrooms: 3 |
| Changeover Day: Fri | Pets Allowed: Yes (4) |
| No smoking | Bathrooms: 3 |
There is plenty of authentic Highland character throughout the cottage with the main, open plan living area having a traditional wooden beamed ceiling and a huge stone feature fireplace with a wood-burning stove and comfy seating positioned around it.
The spacious dining area leads through to the modern kitchen that has a lovely gas range cooker to cook on and the best part is that the open plan layout means the cook doesn’t miss out on any of the fun. The utility room, that has a separate door to the outside, is a useful place for drying coats and boots and there is a handy WC off it.
A charming sun room has been created at the entrance to the cottage and there is also a double bedroom on this level with a traditional decorative fireplace and colourful en suite shower room.
Upstairs off the sunny landing are an attractive double bedroom with smart en suite shower room, a family bathroom and a quadruple bedroom that children are sure to love.
The extensive enclosed garden outside is mainly grassed and is fairly flat so it is perfect for children and pets to run around in and let off some steam. It looks out towards the wee Felagie Burn that runs past the bottom of the garden and there is great walking to be had off into the countryside all around.
Due to its remote location, Balnoe is entirely 'off grid' with the generator that provides electricity housed in a shed separate from the house.
Fishing is available on the Clunie Water or the magnificent River Dee itself by arrangement. The nearest village Braemar (8 miles) has a small supermarket, a variety of shops and a few different eateries. There is also a bike/ski equipment hire shop and golfers will enjoy playing a round on the picturesque 18 hole course that welcomes visitors.
The village is best known for the annual Braemar Gathering that is held there every September. The event is quite a spectacle and draws in crowds from all over the country, with the guest of honour being Her Majesty the Queen herself. The heavy events such as ‘tossing the caber’ and ‘putting the stone’ are interspersed with Highland dancing, pipe music and the ever popular ‘tug of war’.
History enthusiasts will enjoy spending an afternoon at Braemar Castle just outside the village or perhaps paying a visit to the impressive Scottish home of the royal family Balmoral Castle (3.5 miles). At Ballater (11.5 miles) there are lots of interesting shops including a gallery, kiltmaker and gift shop.
You are very well-placed for trying some winter sports at the 2,000 acre Glenshee ski resort (17 miles). When the resort first opened in the 1930s tractors were used to tow the skiers up the mountains but, thankfully, there are now 22 lifts that make light work of it and offer a rather smoother ride. In the summer months there is walking within the resort and a 2 mile long mountain biking trail to tackle.
Thrill seekers will love the purpose built Glenlivet mountain biking trails (29.5 miles) where the blue trail is ideal for beginners and the longer red trail provides a challenge for experienced riders.
If you are on the whisky trail you won’t want to miss the famous distillery at Glenlivet (35 miles) that is open to the public (Mar to Nov) for tours and tastings and the Tomintoul distillery (32 miles).
Local Events and Attractions
Please note: while we make every effort to be as accurate as possible, the actual position of the cottage indicated on the map above and the proximity of the amenities in the Local Info section cannot be guaranteed to be precise and should be used as a guide only.
Accommodation
Downstairs
Open plan sitting/dining room/kitchen with wood-burning stove, TV/DVD, gas range cooker, fridge, dishwasher, microwave, etc
Utility room with fridge/freezer
WC
Sunroom
Double bedroom
Shower room with WC and wash basin.
Upstairs
Double bedroom with en suite shower room
Room with four single beds
Bathroom with bath, hand shower, WC and wash basin.
What's included
- Linen (Double Bed)
- Free
- Linen (Single Bed)
- Free
- Sets of towels (per person)
- Free
- Travel Cot (excluding linen)
- Free
- WiFi
- Free
Available Extras
- Pet
- £20.00
Services
Bed linen and towels are INCLUDED. The first £25 of electricity is INCLUDED. Heating is by oil central heating (INCLUDED) and wood-burning stove (starter pack INCLUDED). WiFi is INCLUDED, speed may vary and cannot always be guaranteed (e.g. in poor or windy weather). The internet unit must remain where it is positioned in the porch. Water is from a private source which is UV filtered and regularly tested; however (as is typical in many parts of Scotland) it can become discoloured, particularly after heavy rainfall. Guests may therefore prefer to bring bottled water to drink. A maximum of 4 dogs are welcome at an additional charge (4 large, 4 medium or 4 small). If you wish to bring any other pets please contact us and we will see what we can do. No smoking.
Weekly Prices
The weekly guide prices for this property are shown below. Use the availability & book sidebar on the right to select your holiday or calculate short break rates (where available).
From 10/10/2025 to 13/10/2025
From 17/10/2025 to 20/10/2025
From 04/04/2025 to 07/04/2025
From 11/10/2024 to 01/12/2024
Changeover Day: Fri
| Rental - Date Range | Sleeps 4 | Sleeps 8 |
| 25 Oct 2024 - 19 Dec 2024 | POA | POA |
| 20 Dec 2024 - 27 Dec 2024 | POA | POA |
| 28 Dec 2024 - 05 Jan 2025 | POA | POA |
| 06 Jan 2025 - 30 Jan 2025 | £850.00 | £950.00 |
| 31 Jan 2025 - 03 Apr 2025 | £950.00 | £1,050.00 |
| 04 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025 | £1,050.00 | £1,150.00 |
| 25 Apr 2025 - 01 May 2025 | POA | POA |
| 02 May 2025 - 22 May 2025 | POA | POA |
| 23 May 2025 - 29 May 2025 | POA | POA |
| 30 May 2025 - 26 Jun 2025 | POA | POA |
| 27 Jun 2025 - 17 Jul 2025 | POA | POA |
| 18 Jul 2025 - 28 Aug 2025 | POA | POA |
| 29 Aug 2025 - 11 Sep 2025 | POA | POA |
| 12 Sep 2025 - 02 Oct 2025 | POA | POA |
| 03 Oct 2025 - 23 Oct 2025 | POA | POA |
| 24 Oct 2025 - 18 Dec 2025 | POA | POA |
| 19 Dec 2025 - 27 Dec 2025 | POA | POA |
| 28 Dec 2025 - 05 Jan 2026 | POA | POA |
| 06 Jan 2026 - 05 Jan 2027 | POA | POA |
| 06 Jan 2027 - 05 Jan 2028 | POA | POA |
| 06 Jan 2028 - 05 Jan 2029 | POA | POA |
Please note: Prices are calculated based on your party size at the time of booking. If your party size changes for any reason after booking, please let us know so we can ensure the accommodation provided meets your exact requirements.
Reviews
(Supplied Independently through Feefo)
A lovely, well appointed cottage in a ‘remote’ location. Great walks. Quiet and peaceful. Any problems were dealt with q...
Our response:
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are pleased that you enjoyed your holiday at Balnoe Cottage - don't ...
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Beautiful setting , the cottage is well kept, the break was just what we needed and we never want to leave
Our response:
It is great to hear that Balnoe Cottage met your expectations - don't forget to include the cottage in next year's holid...
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Fantastic cottage with total privacy. Great walks and met no one. Cottage was cozy and had everything you needed for a r...
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Lovely cottage, well equipped kitchen, well laid out with everything required on holiday. I loved the sunroom, great pl...
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The cottage is beautifully located. It is secluded, with no direct neighbors, but easily accessible. The interior is jus...
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