Pet Friendly Holidays Aberdeenshire

An attractive, traditional property enjoying a fantastic setting close to Braemar in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. Enclosed gardens. Woodburning stove. Family-friendly. Easily accessible. Braemar 0.5 miles; Glenshee 9.6 miles; Ballater 17.3 miles; Perth 50.1 miles.

Constructed in 1864, this picturesque, renovated church building that has been lovingly restored making it a luxurious place for you and your family or friends to stay. Its exterior form has happily been retained, bearing clear witness to its original function, whilst inside a stained glass window is the central feature to the first floor living room. Other features of note include high ceilings, large windows, plenty of spacious accommodation and large mature gardens. The majority of the living space is to the ground floor. The open plan kitchen and dining area with sliding door opening to the rear garden was formerly the church hall. Five bedrooms have been stylishly designed, along with a contemporary bathroom and two additional shower rooms, whilst a cinema and games room will keep you busy on a rainy day. The extensive gardens of an acre comprise of a woodland driveway to the front. The enclosed rear garden has mature trees and shrubs, including a monkey puzzle tree, lawns and three patio seating areas. The summerhouse and patios are the ideal place for enjoying a morning coffee or evening drink while taking in the surrounding views and starlit sky.

The property is nestled in a very beautiful part of Scotland and offers many activities in short striking distance, including walking, cycling, golfing, fishing and the seaside. The property is just 3 miles from Mintlaw, home to Aden Country Park covering 230 acres. Recognised as one of Scotland’s top green spaces, the park is a popular spot for walkers, cyclists and families thanks to its picturesque surroundings and busy events calendar. Mintlaw hosts a wide variety of amenities including pub, takeaways and local supermarket.

8 miles to the east is Cruden Bay, which has a sweeping expanse of pink sands and dunes approximately 1½ miles in length. This sandy beach is popular with day trippers, water sports enthusiasts and for sea fishing. Here you can also visit the remains of Slains Castle, once a place where celebrities were entertained on numerous occasions in the 19th Century. One of the most notable guests was Bram Stoker and it is believed the castle is the inspiration for the setting of ’Count Dracula’. 14 miles south of Torreagles is Newburgh beach, home to a colony of around 400 seals, adjacent to which are Forvie Nature Reserve and Foveran Links, a site of special scientific interest.

Golfers will appreciate numerous challenging courses less than a half hour’s drive from the property, including three of Scotland’s top twenty championship courses, Cruden Bay Golf Club, Trump International Golf Links and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. Whatever you decide to do during your stay, this is an ideal base to explore this lovely part of Scotland. Beach 8 miles.

These two, detached holiday properties are located in the heart of Ballater, within 100 yards of Ballater village green, restaurants, cafés, take-aways and shops, many of which feature the Royal ’By Appointment’ coats of arms. The Coyles (ref UK31466) is an impressive granite Victorian merchant’s house, with all the lovely high ceilings and details you would expect from a period property. Ideal for larger gatherings, whether enjoying a special birthday or a relaxing get together with friends, with plenty of living space and very good amenities throughout to ensure a memorable and convivial holiday. On two levels, it offers a high standard of comfort throughout and is a great choice at any time of the year. Built in 1888 using local granite, pitch pine and slate, it’s a true Victorian gem. It has its own enclosed garden and grounds, and enjoys lovely rural views to the south to Craig Coilleach. Quiet and secluded, the gardens are largely laid to lawn with a variety of mature trees and several flower borders with a variety of shrubs. There is a handy shed for bike and kayak storage, and for outdoor entertainment there is a paved patio area, with outdoor seating and barbecue. The Coyles Cottage (ref SBH) has its own garden and grounds and is well equipped throughout with a lovely sunny conservatory, and benefits from triple glazing and central heating throughout, affording year-round comfort.
Ballater sits in the heart of majestic Royal Deeside and is also located in the Cairngorms National Park, making it one of Scotland’s most scenic visitor spots. It boasts cosy cafés, quality restaurants, excellent shopping and great links to outdoor adventure, including hiking, climbing and skiing. Golf can be played in the beautiful surroundings of the 18-hole Ballater golf club and fishing is available, with the appropriate permits, on the River Dee. Ballater has many links to the Royal family and historic castles nearby include Balmoral, Crathes and Craigievar. The Grampians offer wonderful hill walking and wildlife, and the surrounding area of Deeside is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Leisurely walks abound on the banks of the River Dee or within a few miles there’s great walking at Burn O Vat, Lochnagar and Loch Muick.
Deeside is a haven for the outdoor enthusiast with a wide and varied range of sporting activities. The area has excellent hill walking and on/off road cycling facilities and the ski centres at Aviemore, Glenshee and the Lecht are within a short travelling distance. For the sportsman, the River Dee is one of the most popular salmon rivers in Scotland and the River Don is famous for its trout. Deer stalking and grouse shooting can be arranged in the locality. Relatively central for interesting and varied days out, the city of Aberdeen can be reached in around an hour, with Dundee, Perth and Inverness all accessible within 2 hours’ drive through spectacular scenery. Shop, pub and restaurant 100 yards.
These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 13 guests.

The Annexe at Shieldaig Cottage is situated just over a mile from the picturesque village and golden sands of St Cyrus. It is attached to the owner’s house and completely self-contained with stunning views over open countryside. An entrance porch leads through to the open plan living area, and French doors open onto the pretty patio - an ideal spot for alfresco dining or relaxing with a glass of wine. Adjoining the living area is a modern well-equipped kitchen. There is a very attractively presented kingsize bedroom with colour co-ordinated soft furnishings and a shower room all on the ground floor. The first floor has a further attractive king size bedroom and a second living room with views of the countryside to one side and the sea to the other. A utility room with washing matching and clothes airer is at the side and is a great place to store outdoor clothing.
The village of St Cyrus is located on the east coast of Scotland and is famous for its Nature Reserve, a haven for nature lovers, bird watchers and dog walkers. The village offers local amenities including a village shop and post office, a coffee shop and a hotel, pub and restaurant. A perfect base to explore the coastline, hills and glens which surround The Mearns, home of Lewis Grassic Gibbon, write of A Scots Quair. The Grassic Gibbon Centre is located in nearby Arbuthnot. There is no shortage of good walks within easy reach in and around the Angus Glens, Forfar and Kirriemuir areas.
Other nearby attractions include the towns of Montrose and Stonehaven. Montrose sits on the edge of a tidal lagoon known as the Basin. Just south of the town on the A92 you will find the Basin Wildlife Centre where a resident ranger leads guided walks around the reserve. Montrose is also home to several links golf courses. Stonehaven has a beautiful harbour from where you can take boat trips to experience the rugged coastline and bird life. Beach 2¼ miles. Pub 5 miles.

This reverse plan layout has the bedrooms and family bathroom to the ground floor, whilst the first floor living room and kitchen capture the full advantage of beautiful views across the sea and rural landscapes. There is a balcony for sitting out off of the kitchen, perfect for dining alfresco or a morning coffee. The property is ideal for couples, young families or simply friends looking to explore the area. For the adventurous, a cliff top walk to Hackley Bay is well worth it, this hidden gem of a beach is at the heart of the Forvie National Nature Reserve and of an evening you will be hard pressed to find it overcrowded. It is sheltered on three sides by high cliffs and backed by sand dunes.

Collieston Beach is sheltered from the North Sea by Collieston Pier, and this sandy beach is perfect for families and children. The nearby ’Smugglers Cone’ shop serves delicious ice cream, drinks and snacks. Collieston is a former fishing village that provides dramatic views all year round. Just 5 miles away are Newburgh and Cruden Bay golf courses. The Oldmeldrum distillery, Slains castle, Petehead Prison Museum and of course the Forvie Nature Reserve and Seal colony at Newburgh are other places of interest.

There are a number of amazing beaches to visit nearby, including Cruden Bay, Newburgh and Balmedie to name but a few, all within 10 miles! A visit to the neighbouring village of Newburgh to see the seals is a must. The larger city of Aberdeen is 16 miles away and provides plenty of amenities and attractions. Beach 800 yards. Shop 6 miles, pub and restaurant 5 miles.

A delightsome, single-storey holiday home resting in Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire. Sea-views. Woodburning stove. Open-plan. Pet-friendly. Peterhead 8.5 miles; Ellon 11.4 miles; Aberdeen 24.2 miles.

A superb five-bedroom Victorian house perched in Old Deer, Aberdeenshire. Pet-friendly. Sauna. Family-friendly. Woodburning stove. Peterhead 10.2 miles; Aberdeen 29.6 miles.

Fisherman’s Cottage is a gem of a holiday home tucked away in the historic harbourside village of Gardenstown, near Banff in Aberdeenshire. Located right on the water’s edge, Fisherman’s Cottage is within the jumble of cottages that make up Seatown within Gardenstown. Right beside the water, at high tide the sea laps the harbour wall only five yards from the living room. And at low tide you can hop down from the property onto the rocky beach to go exploring. It’s an amazing situation that the cottage makes the most of with a mesmerising picture window in the living room (there’s little need for television here!).
The accommodation is set over two floors. On the ground floor is a great living room with amazing views over Gamrie Bay, to More Head and out to the Moray Firth. Keep a look out for the chance of spotting seals, porpoises and dolphins. Also on the ground floor is a great kitchen/dining room and a kingsize double bedroom with en-suite shower room. On the first floor there are two further bedrooms and a bathroom with bath. The first floor bedrooms comprise another double and a family room with a double and a single.
From the cottage in Seatown you can stroll either east or west to explore the village of Gardenstown or Gamrie as locals call it. To the east you have the Sneuk beach which is shingle and there’s a coastal path beyond that leads round the bay to atmospheric Crovie (although the path is temporarily closed due to rockfalls). To the west is the sandy beach of Gardenstown, stretching from Seatown to St. John’s Church which stands sentinel over the bay and has been doing so since 1004. Further afield from Gardenstown you have Pennan, famous for its Local Hero connections, and brilliant coastal villages and towns like Banff, Portsoy and Cullen.
There are fantastic driving routes to explore in this area as well as hiking trails to enjoy. Here you are also close to many distilleries if you wish to venture off on some whisky trails. Speyside is an easy day trip from Fisherman’s Cottage. Beach 30 yards.