Villas In Beauly

Reviews

What our customers say about their holidays

• Shaun - Verified booking

  We stayed in June for a couple of weeks looking forward to a break away from it all.

  The property is clean, welcoming, and nicely decorated with a cosy feel inside. We were greeted by the owner when we arrived and the warm loaf of bread left out for us was a really nice touch. The property has really nice views over the River Beauly with French doors that lead out onto a decked area at the front of the property advertised as having spectacular views you can enjoy while having your morning coffee. However, the decking area is over looked by the owner’s house and side windows and you are clearly visible on their security cameras so from day one we knew we would never be comfortable or be able to relax sitting out on the decking. During our stay, there were several vehicles parked directly outside the French doors facing directly into the property including the owners large van interrupting any view and as a consequence spent most evenings inside the property. This was not the isolated or peaceful environment we were hoping for so we decide to book alternative accommodation along the NC500 for a few nights. As we were self-catering we called to the shop to get some supplies but when we arrived found that every kitchen cupboard was full with no storage space so had to leave most of it out on the sides leaving very limited space for any preparation. We were also very surprised to find there was not a wardrobe in the bedroom when there was plenty of room and provided with just four draws to cram everything into which then became creased!!! We do not normally leave any negative reviews and normally like to focus on the positives but felt it important to leave an honest and constructive review of our experience to make other people aware that the property is not quite as private or secluded as the photographs would suggest!

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• Glen - Verified booking

  Lovely quiet location away from the other cabins.

  Great for wildlife. Good access to Strathpeffer and to local walks. Alison the house keeper was very good at responding to queries / concerns and generally very helpful. We had to contact her about a cracked glass and difficulty closing the bathroom window on arrival and she responded to this, providing a box of glasses. We had a water cut on the first day and were kept informed about the repairs (the whole village was affected). We were also given bottled water by Scottish Water. Some minor concerns: - the shower sometimes only ran cold and we had to turn the shower on and off to restore functionality. - the kitchen equipment (pans and utensils) were of poor quality and not best suited to self catering. - cleaning products were not ecologically certified and this kind of accommodation could make an effort to provide eco-certified products as part of their effort to care for the environment. Some suggestions for improvement: - a better range of pots/pans/kitchen utensils could be provided. - it was somewhat unclear how waste was to be sorted and where it should be left. Whilst glass can be taken to the Old Station in Strathpeffer for recycling, there was only one small blue bin there for all other recyclables. Could this be made clearer / improved somehow? - several bird feeders were evident on site. Could information on who refills these and where to find supplies be provided?

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• David - Verified booking

  My wife has walking difficulties and I struggle carrying items any distance.

  Otter lodge was a long way down a fairly steep gravel path from the parking area.It is not possible to get near to the lodge for loading and unloading luggage.Upon arrival we contacted the housekeeper who kindly asked the people who were renting Eagle lodge if they would swap with us because of our problems. They kindly agreed to do so,if they had not we would have had to find alternative accomodation or drive the 420 miles home which we had done to get there.The only mention in the information is that it is not suitable for wheelchair users ( the front steps we presumed).No where does it mention the extreme problems of using the lodge if you have any walking or carrying problems.Eagle lodge was somewhat more usable for us, but still it is a long way from the parking area to bring any luggage into the lodge.All in all if it was not for the kindness of other people our holiday would have been a disaster by not being given correct information about where we were to stay.Please ensure full information is given to potential renters in future.As you can tell we are not impressed by Sykes cottages.

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• Marianne - Verified booking

  We enjoyed a fabulous time in Otter Lodge, it was clean and comfortable and in a brilliant location for birdwatching and the woodland wildlife Strathpeffer is a pretty Victorian Spa Village with a lot to offer.

  It has a local grocery store where you can buy most things however Dingwall, a short drive away has a large Tesco. There is a great Deli in the village which is open for breakfasts, lunches and evening meals (you need to book meals), it also sells lovely filled rolls ideal for picnics. There are some great walks in the local area but also this is a great base to go further afield. Places we went that I would recommend :- The Touchstone Maze..accessed close to Lodge. The Eagle Stone..directions from village. Knockfarrel Neolithic Hillfort. Museum of Highland Childhood & Victorian Railway Station which does coffee etc and a craft shop. Rogie Falls...just 10mins away. Castle Leod...in the village. Further afield we visited, Loch Glass, Ben Wyvis Nature Reserve, Black Rock Gorge. Finding the Lodge! Use Google Map to find Blackmuir Wood. The turning is between two white houses. Follow the track all the way down past the visitor car park. The last turning on the right has parking for Lodges. We will definitely be back.

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• Lisa - Verified booking

  This was my second visit to Otter Lodge this year and i was looking forward to having a bath after my long walks in the beautiful forests surrounding the area like last time.

  But i had no hot water the whole time i was there?Although there was a hot shower, so ok. The dishwasher was also waiting for a part so had to wash dishes with water boiled in kettle, no big deal as i was on my own. The TV signal wasn't great, but ok as not there to really watch TV, just annoying . I know most people go to escape modern life but nowaday it is difficult to not have to access the internet now and again so Wifi would be a good addition. Disappointed the bike shop is shutdown. I did like the Fair trade gift shop at the old station. I had an amazing holiday at the lodge love the feeling of being inside the forest and very peaceful. I had all the things i needed for a lovely stay as it is very well equipped. Its a great wee place. The signage for parking place could stand out a bit better its a bit weathered now. But all in all i loved Otter Lodge

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