North Stables - House Of Dun

We had a very lovely week in the House of Dun.

It was wonderful to have the grounds to ourselves before and after opening hours. We always had a morning coffee in the beautiful East facing walled garden, and an evening glass of wine in front of the house with views over the Basin of Montrose. It was one of our most relaxing holidays ever. Everybody from the National Trust was very welcoming and helpful. We‘d love to come again!

An excellent location in the grounds of the House of Dun.

Accommodation was perfect, with a large bedroom, well kitted out kitchen and large sitting room.

Great location with views to the house and gardens.

Walled garden was lovely. The complementary tour of the house with Carol was special and all the staff we met in the grounds, shop and cafe were very friendly. High standard of furnishings, comfortable beds and great bedding. Kitchen was well equipped, although it could have a bigger fridge. It didn’t detract from our overall positive experience, but the kitchen had too many empty cupboards. A better designed kitchen could possibly include the dining table and chairs.

The accommodation was excellent, and we would love to return.

Very clean and comfortable. The location was so good, it was amazing to get to stay there at the House of Dun and so convenient for the places we wanted to visit - Caledonian railway, Montrose beach, local gardens and of course the Dun estate. The only slight negative was the very highly fragranced detergent used to wash the sheets and towels which wasn't great for allergies but a small point in a wonderful stay.

Accommodation was very comfortable and in a great location for adults and kids.

However the kitchen appliances were old and poor. The hob, oven and grill took ages to heat and were like something from the eighties. The fridge freezer was far too small and the dishwasher likewise. All sort of worked however. Update and improve the appliances and this would be a great holiday cottage. Likewise South cottage. House of Dun was fantastic and a great visit made even better by the fantastic NTS staff in the shop and the guides.

Very well equipped accommodation in a beautiful location.

Local staff very friendly and highly attentive when we needed to call on them for guidance. Highly recommended.

Had a wonderfull short break at this property.

As with all National Trust properties it was well looked after, well furnished and had everything you needed in the kitchen. Also had good central heating now that it is getting a bit cooler outside. We will visit again, assuming we can still manage the stairs up to the apartment

Super cottage!

Really comfortable , well decorated. Kitchen very well stocked with a dishwasher and washing machine. In a beautiful estate which has lots of lovely walks including one that leads to a viewing point with sunrise and sunset benches! Great location for the local area and further a field. House of Dun itself, Beaches, castles, Cairngorns and we also made it down to the V&A Dundee. Staff at House of Dun were so friendly including checking our welfare when Storm Floris was about to hit. Thank you for a wonderful restorative holiday! Love Scotland and this cottage and area is well worth a visit.

We had a great stay at North Stables, brilliant setting at The House of Dun.

Couldn't fault the accommodation, full of character, comfortable, clean and well equipped. Having the grounds to explore at any time was a treat too, idillic on a sunny evening. Staff were welcoming and friendly yet unintrusive. We would definitely return without hesitation. Thank you!

Cracking property, very spacious, wonderful grounds to wander in (especially when the site is closed and you have it all to yourself!

), nicely furnished apartment, huge bed, quiet & peaceful . Only minutes from Montrose, a good spot to explore a lesser visited part of Scotland. So long as you don't mind steps, it's brilliant.

The appartment is lovely - very comfortable and beautifully furnished.

Modern and traditional at the same time. The kitchen was very well equipped plus all the cleaning things you would need including cleaning cloths and tea towels. It was lovely that there was dog dish, a towel and a ball left out for our furry friend - that was such a nice touch and much appreciated. We had a lovely stay and look forward to a return trip. Many thanks NTS Wendy

The North Stables apartment was absolutely perfect.

A deceptively large 2 bed apartment with a huge well-equiped kitchen and main bedroom with generous and super comfortable beds. We couldn't fault it for comfort, and having access to the grounds whenever we liked was a bonus, plus a free tour of the house when it's open to public. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The area has loads to discover. A perfect holiday.

We arrived late under spectacular stars and fell in love with this place within the first few minutes.

The gate clock was ringing, birds were singing, and the main house and garden walls gave us a feeling of safety and peace. We couldn’t find the heating thermostat, so a few days were quite cold — it might be helpful to add this to the instructions. The gardens, grounds, and the whole Estate are absolutely lovely and romantic. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy breakfast or tea in the garden during the day.

We had a really lovely stay.

It is so quiet and peaceful and the staff could not be more helpful. The property is very tastefully decorated and was lovely and warm. A very well equiped kitchen as well with everything you would need.

Comfortable and clean accommodation in a great location.

We enjoyed the guided tour of the House of Dun and the woodland walk. We had a lovely time.

We had a wonderful time at the House of Dun.

The property was clean cosy and well equipped. The grounds were well maintained and lovely to walk round. Especially enjoyed the tour of the main house with Colin the tour guide..

The steps are unsafe (uneven), but usable, although perhaps unsuitable for people with walking difficulties.

They're also unlit, making a trip up after dark dangerous - especially when wet - unless you carry a torch/flashlight. The outside door light is insufficient to even illuminate the combination lock on the door. And, as I've told the NTS for several years, the door combination has not been changed in at least 10 years - so assuming 80% occupancy: 40 weeks x 10 years = 400 people with the combination. Does that sound secure?

The North Stables, House of Dun, was a perfect few-days stop for us after we arrived from the States.

The apartment is large and comfortable, and fully equipped. The staff with whom we interacted, in the shop and on the tour, were very kind and fun to visit with. The best for us, were the after-hours, when everyone went home, and we had the whole Dun property to ourselves... we took wine and cheese and sat on the front steps watching the sun set... pretty near perfect.

Lovely flat at North Stables at House of Dun.

Very comfortable, very well equipped and suited us beautifully. Staff were all very helpful. Really enjoyed our stay.

Delightful property in wonderful location.

House and gardens freedom to roam was magical! North Stables was an intriguing holiday location and worthy of the National Trusts properties. However, their maintenance of a safety light could have prevented the fall onto a gravel path that spoilt our stay there. The lack of concern by the Operations Manager to address a known defect and indifference to my wife's injury was hurtful. Another member of the NT staff, Ms Bissmire, did address the problem and made provisions to rectify the defective safety light and asked about my wife's health. The Cafe man kindly gave us some fresh cream scones, which also lightened the situation. I thank him for his kindness! Six days on, her wounds are starting to heal..

All National Trust Scotland properties are 5* and fantastic value, however if I could I would give North Stables - House of Dun 6 stars !

The comfort, location, cleanliness etc is 5 out of 5 - everything you could want for, large comfortable beds, fully equipped kitchen and lovely living room set in such a historic environment. However at House of Dun they go that bit further... There were even blankets, bowls and even a new ball for our dog, a fantastic selection of teas and coffees (and biscuits) in our cottage when we arrived and the most friendly welcome ever from the facilities manager on site. Every member of staff was welcoming, the site was spotless, the house tour incredibly informing and just the most lovely place to stay. I cannot rate this place high enough. When we checked out the manager of the Cafe came out and gave us some freshly baked shortbread to take back with us - a perfect end to a perfect stay. We will definitely be back !

Amazing place to stay, peaceful, beautiful surroundings.

The accommodation was top class, well equipped, spotless, comfortable and spacious. Friendly NTS staff, tour of the house is a must.

We had a lovely stay here.

We were given a very friendly welcome by the housekeeper. The flat is just as described. Light and airy. People have mentioned the cooker is old. It is, but it works perfectly well it’s just very slow to heat up. The beds were very comfortable and bedding and towels were clean and new. 10.5 tog quilts in May were too warm for us, but at least we weren’t cold. I couldn’t open the beautiful old sash windows on my own, but together we managed. N.B. If you leave the windows open you’ll be visited by house martins. They like to leave little parcels behind them! The gardens and surrounding woodland are open to guests and it was wonderful having the freedom to wander around. All the staff were lovely, friendly and helpful. It’s a few miles straight into Montrose to the nearest supermarket, there are beaches, nature reserves, castles, gardens and grand houses nearby . A lovely place to visit if you can manage 18 old stone steps up to your front door!

We spent a lovely week at North Stables, as a couple with our two dogs.

The setting was beautiful and we loved having the grounds to ourselves in the evening. The apartment was very spacious, nicely decorated and furnished with lots of storage. Very comfortable bed and a well equipped kitchen. We couldn't of asked for more!

Had a lovely time at north stables.

The property is very spacious and comfortable. Lovely comfy beds. The staff are very friendly and tour of house with Colin was very entertaining. Would recommend the property to anyone. Need a new tin opener, the one there not working also egg cups.

We spent a happy week in North Stables between 9 and 16 September.

The flat was clean and well-presented. The sitting room and bedrooms were well-decorated and comfortable. The NTS staff were exceedingly friendly and helpful. We had an excellent tour of The House of Dun given by Colin who was a terrific guide. The surrounding area is beautiful and there is much to see and do. However, while most of the flat was highly acceptable, the kitchen left a great deal to be desired and needs to be re-designed. The flat accommodates four people but there was an inadequate amount of cutlery. Serving a starter and a main dish involved washing knives and forks between courses. It seems, judging by the irregular number of glasses, that breakages are not replaced. There were only two eggcups. One of the frying pans has buckled and did not work well on the rings of the antiquated cooker. The fridge/freezer was far too small and inadequate for two, never mind four, people. It was also poorly positioned especially for older and infirm people. The kitchen was full of cupboards, most of which were empty. A proper re-design, removing most of these unnecessary cupboards, could result in the dining table being accommodated, more suitably, in the kitchen rather than the sitting room. Surely some more cleaning materials could be left. On arrival, we found two dishwasher tablets and two tea towels, one rubbish bag and no cleaning cloths. In the bathroom there was one roll of toilet paper. There was a time when a welcome tray would have been left but all I could see was a bowl with sachets of instant coffee and tea bags. NTS holiday properties are not inexpensive. My recent experiences suggest that they no longer present particularly good value and compare unfavourably with other properties in the “heritage” area of holiday lettings. We enjoyed our trip but certain aspects of the presentation and equipping of the property left us feeling disappointed and gave us the impression that not enough attention is being paid by the NTS to important, smaller details which make so much of a difference.

Everything about the property was first class.

The kitchen was fully equipped with good quality facilities, including an excellent washing machine, microwave, fridge, freezer……..and was well planned and set out. The lounge and bedroom were beautifully carpeted and the furniture was high quality, very tasteful and comfortable, creating the perfect ambiance for a period home.

Wow!

This place is lovely. The only thing that was not perfect was the tired cooker. The whole flat was warm and cosy and we had a great holiday. Having the whole estate to ourselves when the house was closed was an experience not to be missed. Everyone at the mansion was helpful and friendly. A great place to visit.

We found the North Stables, House of Dun excellent.

The apartment was well presented and clean, with all the necessary fixtures and fittings. The grounds are superb, with several varied walks to exercise our dog (who loved it)! The staff who we met were very pleasant and helpful, especially the lady in the shop!

Pretty well equipped, comfortable accomodation.

In a beautiful and quiet location. Lovely walks through the woods and grounds. Be warned - the shops are 2 -3 miles away. We had some trouble with the fridge - either too cold or not cold enough. The same with the shower - either cold or very hot.

A great location and a well equipped flat.

Having the cafe directly below is very handy. The staff in the house of dun were very nice and helpful. Would recommend and hope to return in the future.

Once again what a fantastic place to stay.

The estate is wonderful and the NTS staff were so friendly. North Stables is so cosy. We love the House of Dun and will be back again in 2023.

Great as always.

Very friendly staff. Wonderful grounds and such a cosy flat. We will be back.

Thank you for a wonderful stay, I would like to make a couple of suggestions.

Perhaps you could consider a tumble dryer or alternatively, a drying room/area (not necessarily within the property but nearby, not visible to visitors) as drying clothes was a problem. Furthermore, it would be good if you could cover the open windows with gauze to stop wasps and bees from flying in.

We had a lovely week at North Stables.

The property is situated within the most stunning grounds with lots of different walks and beautiful views from every room. We practically had the grounds to ourselves after hours, which made us feel like lord and Lady of the Manner! The property itself is beautifully decorated in keeping with the House of Dunn. It is extremely comfortable, well equipped, and provided plenty of room for a family of four. on a minor note, the fridge was not cold enough to refrigerate food properly. However, I'm sure that this has probably been sorted by now.

The North Stables apartment was truly lovely, set at the heart of a beautiful National Trust Scotland property and gardens.

It was spacious, clean and decorated to a very high standard. We had everything we needed for a week of self catering; the kitchen was gorgeous, beds really comfy and lovely bathroom and shower. All the staff at the House of Dun were so helpful and friendly and gave us lots of tips for places to visit and eat. It is a lovely location, so much to see and do, lots of history, beaches and not too busy. We were on bicycles and the cycle routes are great. We loved our stay and have such good memories that will last. The House of Dun is beautiful and well worth a visit. Lovely little coffee shop too.

We had a lovely stay at North Stables.

The staff were really friendly and helpful. The property was so comfortable, fresh and clean. It would be a good idea to update your photos as it does not reflect how lovely the property is. If anyone is looking a for a relaxing break then the house of Dunn is the place to go.

Quiet, comfortable accommodation in beautiful surroundings.

The online photographs of the apartment do not do it justice.

We enjoyed our stay at North Stables very much.

The flat was comfortable, clean and to a high standard. Very quiet and peaceful when the house closes. The staff that we had contact with during our stay were very helpful and friendly. The complimentary House of Dun guided tour is a must and the grounds/gardens are good to walk around. A few things that could be improved: 1. The washing machine is not working and appears, from previous reviews, to have not been working correctly since February. This should have been fixed by now. 2. The Wi Fi signal is very bad and keeps cutting out. 3. The boiler intermittently cuts out mainly when having a shower resulting in a cold wake up! It has to be reset by pressing the button on the boiler. 4. Several doors are difficult to open/close due to them catching on the carpet. 5. Two of the duvets appear to have a plastic covering under the cover and these can be very hot to sleep under. 6. Front door handle nearly off and needs refixing. 7. It would be nice to have had a starter supply of washing up liquid and hand soap. The above in no way spoiled our enjoyment of the property though and we would have no hesitation in returning.

A unique property in a wonderful setting made even better by the lovely helpful national trust staff.

All was well , though the washing machine was not working it did not spoil the enjoyment of the stay.

We have recommended the location to others already , so we where very happy with the location and interaction with the staff of the house added greatly to the whole experience. Thanks for listing this place . Regards

Absolute gem of a place.

We found it very comfortable and homely whilst situated in a grand and beautiful setting. The bedrooms were very spacious and airy, as was the kitchen. So many fantastic walks for your dog(s) and the peace and quiet at night was bliss. On site staff extremely friendly and helpful. Will 100% book this apartment again. Thank you for fantastic stay.

Beautiful setting.

We had a very enjoyable week. Only grumble was the washing machine was leaking. Kitchen could be better equipped also.

We enjoyed our stay and the grounds of House of Dun are so lovely.

We had to attend a sad family event, so the opportunity to walk and appreciate the beauty was appreciated. We have stayed at the property previously, a few years ago, at that time the property had beautiful throws on the beds, national trust tartan throws. these made a huge difference to the feel of the property, giving it that extra Scottish Charm. I felt the lack of these on this stay. With the property feeling a bit more generic and less special.

Fabulous location with friendly, informative staff on site during working hours.

A number of items were broken or absent but when we contacted a number in the guest book they were soon attended to.

Visitor information needs updating: The trolley is in a cupboard in the flat not in the courtyard. There are no wall safes containing the keys, the Hi-Vis jackets were not found, the need for these is unknown! The freezer part of the fridge works the fridge does not. Tried to contact Sykes on their 3 numbers for over an hour on 9th.October and the calls were cut after the welcome message within 2 seconds every time!

Lovely peaceful setting.

Was really able to relax unwind. Plenty to see and do locally and within a few miles.

The staff were very friendly and helpful.

We had 24 hour access to the gardens and grounds, and the House of Dun is very, very beautiful. All the staff were friendly to our 'Wee, scruffy dog' and gave us advice on places nearby to visit.