Royal Artillery Cottage - Culzean Castle

45 Customer Reviews

• "Fantastic views!"

  Very good for disabled travellers. Pristine throughout. One flaw - none of us, including staff from NTS on site, could get the central heating to work. However, NTS staff were so helpful in providing space heaters.

  Reviewed by Janet4.7★Oct 2024

• "Absolutely loved the cottage and location!"

  Plan to return.

  Many thanks for your feedback and we hope to welcome you back to Culzean. We are planning some work on the cottage interior over the winter. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Nicola5.0★Oct 2024

• "A fantastic location with astonishing views."

  We loved looking over to Arran though a pity windows so small so not as much could be seen. The bathroom and conversion did not meet our expectations for this price- the water in the shower did not drain properly but there was plenty of hot water. There was mould residue on the wooden clothes rack in the kitchen & needs replacing. Kitchen equipment adequate. Beds were comfortable for us. Electric chargers on site don’t work after hours. Decor was fine and main bedroom roomy.

  Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately we cannot do anything about the window size as the Castle and buildings are Listed. The feedback is sent to the team at Culzean each week so that any issues can be dealt with. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Celia3.8★Sep 2024

• "Lovely cottage, we had a brilliant week."

  We were warm and cozy with gorgeous views across the Firth of Clyde and the opportunity to roam the very beautiful grounds of the fabulous Culzean Castle. Would heartily recommend, what a gem!

  Thank you very much for the feedback and just to let you know we are planning a refurbishment of Royal Artillery over winter 24/25. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Noella5.0★Mar 2024

• "Stayed the last week of February and it was was lovely, nice and quiet just what was needed."

  Being disabled it suited my needs exactly. Everything you needed for a stay was there. The only negative point and it’s a very small point would be to oil the runners on the doors as very squeaky, couldn’t sneak in for midnight feast

  Many thanks for your feedback. We will ask the team to look at the doors. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Debbie5.0★Feb 2024

• "Love the flat and will probably stay again ."

  Our only feedback is the double bed . It is too springy for our backs.

  Reviewed by Douglas5.0★Feb 2024

• "Excellent accommodation."

  Well appointed. Unlike some earlier reviews we had no problem with the heating. The oil filled radiator in the bedroom wasn’t needed, but we appreciated its presence for potentially colder weather. This was out third year using the accommodation, and we have never been let down. We have booked next year already.

  Reviewed by Mike5.0★Jan 2024

• "The location is outstanding and the property although adequate in size is rather spartan."

  However, a big disappointment was the the heating was faulty. This was more annoying as there have been a number of reports saying that the heating had been faulty on previous occasions: not a satisfactory situation as we were without the proper heating for our first night. However, in reporting the fault, Hayley brought us oil heaters to heat the house and she was an outstanding asset.

  Thank you very much for your feedback and we are pleased to read that Hayley was able to sort out the heaters for you. We do have the emergency numbers in the welcome folder for cases such as heating or equipment failures. Property Owner

  Reviewed by David3.8★Dec 2023

• "Really lovely place with fabulous views and doorstep access to a beautiful country park."

  Huge main bedroom and bathroom. Smaller twin room and kitchen all with sea views over Arran. Surrounding area rich in places to visit, eat and walk. Downside was really noisy plumbing with a vibrating airlock and gurgling in the boiler when kitchen sink empties or toilet flushed! Running cold kitchen tap cleared it temporarily. Underfloor heating also not working as intended thermostats set for low 20s - reached maximum of 13 degC in twin room, 14 degC in corridor and main bedroom, 17 degC in living room and 19 degC in kitchen although it felt cooler. NTS Hayley really kind and quick and helpful on day 1 and space heaters rapidly delivered which did a fabulous job heating the rooms. We called again and we had a further visit from NTS maintenance staff (?Andy) who turned up the thermostat targets but without improvement. Heating Engine / Plumber did not come as we were advised they would on day 3 Monday but we didn’t chase as we were having a lovely holiday in a beautiful place and were very comfortable.

  Thank you for your feedback, we are glad to read that the team at Culzean were able to provide heaters. We are very much at the mercy of the tradesmen coming on the day arranged and unfortunately they let us down on this occasion. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Rose4.7★Nov 2023

• "The cottage is superb, the grounds are stunning but can someone please sort out the underfloor heating."

  Initially it wasn’t working so no hot water or heating but NTS staff reacted exceptionally well and had plumber in within a couple of hours, well done. Once fixed, the heating just kept heating and as I looked at thermostats they were all set to 25 or 26 degrees, our dogs thought they were on a hot plate. I reduced all to much lower temperature but after a while they all reset back to the higher temperature. Perhaps the thermostats could be made so that in order to alter temperature the NTS staff are required, I realise that is extreme but very evident that someone has been randomly attempting to adjust the temperatures and messing up the controls. Aside from that a great visit as always and really it isn’t the problems that cause issues, they only become an issue if they cannot be addressed and I have to commend the staff with how they dealt with us, even providing mobile electric radiators to warm the cottage until the heating could take over. Also a tv in the bedroom would be fantastic as being wheelchair bound I sometimes like to stretch out on top of the bed to ease pain and a tv would help pass the time more easily as I do this. Will definitely be back.

  Thank you very much for the comments which have been passed onto the team at Culzean. Hopefully they will be able to sort out the thermostat as we want guests to be comfortable. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Allan4.1★Nov 2023

• "Lovely cottage in fabulous surroundings."

  Such a treat driving through the park, past the castle to the cottage. Felt very special and easy parking for 2 cars. Lovely and cosy when we entered. Very well appointed facilities, especially the kitchen and amazing views from all the rooms. Only criticism was the mattresses - far too soft and unsupportive. Bed linen, however, was crisp and comfortable. Loved the tartan curtains and matching cushions.

  Reviewed by Jean4.4★Oct 2023

• "We had a really great week in the cottage, location was fabulous."

  Cottage itself was clean,warm and nicely furnished, the kitchen was well.equipped and had everything we needed. The bathroom was a little clinical and could have done with a little decorative touch to make it a bit less hospital bathroom and more comfy cottage but that's minor really. Beds were soft but comfy A mat by front door would be good too . I really liked that the property was carpeted and not hard floors in the living area and hall so I hope you don't change that . Some sort of draught excluder on the outside door from the kitchen could be provided as in the stormy weather it was blowing a hoolie under the door and also rain coming in under the door to form quite a puddle on the kitchen floor We enjoyed the tea room and the walks on the estate , all in all a very special place and we will definitely be booking again. One touch I did really miss having stayed in many holiday cottages is there was no visitors book,they are really good to read previous visitors experiences and recommendations of places to visit ,shop and eat and also any quirks of the property that other visitors would find useful.

  Reviewed by Helen4.4★Sep 2023

• "The cottage was better than expected."

  It was clean and beautiful. The kitchen was well outfitted with utensils, dishes, pans, etc. The view out the windows was spectacular. The interior was cozy and comfortable. We loved our stay there! Note to owner: the kitchen sink warm faucet drips, wasting water.

  Reviewed by Robin5.0★Sep 2023

• "Beautiful cottage on the lovely Culzean Castle estate."

  Evening walks after Castle visiting hours were wonderful, felt like we were the only ones there. Cottage itself had all we needed.

  Reviewed by Joanne4.7★Sep 2023

• "This is our 5th stay in 2 years."

  As always a fantastic stay in a wonderful location. We love having Culzean to ourselves when the park is closed. Thank you NTS

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★Aug 2023

• "The cottage, location, upkeep etc was fantastic."

  We’ve had a wonderful time and we will be back. The access to the extended grounds was just what we needed as a family. We couldn’t fault the place. The best thing is that, when staying in the cottage, you have 24/7 access to the gounds meaning you can go for walks in the exceptional surroundings whenever you want…..even when it’s closed.

  Thank you Andy for your comments, great to read you had a fantastic stay. We are very lucky at the NTS to have cottages in such stunning locations throughout Scotland. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andy4.7★Aug 2023

• "Really lovely cottage in spectacular location, also a great deal of thought has been given to accessibility."

  Reviewed by Jude5.0★Aug 2023

• "The cottage location and surroundings were fabulous."

  The ramp at the door was too steep for independent wheelchair use and therefore limiting. The bed in the larger bedroom was too soft and the plumbing had an issue. Every time the toilet flushed it was noisy and the kitchen tap started running. The cottage was well appointed, but a wee bit salt/pepper would be good. We left our salt for the next visitors.

  Thank you very much for your comments. We have amended the descriptive text to say that some wheelchair users may require some assistance up the ramp into Royal Artillery. We have checked the toilet and it is now flushing alright now. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Nina4.1★Jul 2023

• "Location is second to none!"

  Surroundings are unique and beautiful and we thoroughly enjoyed the gardens, the country park and the views from the property. However, in the lounge it would’ve been helpful to have a higher level comfy chair for my elderly mum to get out of unaided as this is marketed as an accessible unit.

  Reviewed by Sue5.0★Jul 2023

• "Well equipped spacious cottage in a beautiful setting."

  Our 3rd stay here and will definitely be back. Great to see that the foliage had been cut away from the windows exposing the amazing views out to sea.

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★May 2023

• "Lovely cottage right on the coast and beside Culzean castle itself."

  Great grounds to explore especially after closing time when very quiet. Well equipped. Restaurants and cafes in nearby Maybole.

  Reviewed by Zoe5.0★Apr 2023

• "Great location and to have the park to ' yourself' in the morning is worth every penny ."

  We have booked again for next year . I just hope they get a new mattress, its too soft for our liking !

  Reviewed by Douglas4.4★Feb 2023

• "This is our second year at Royal Artillery and we were not disappointed."

  Superbly clean accommodation. Kitchen equipped with everything you could possibly need. Considering it is pet friendly accommodation, not a hint of pet smells or hairs. Excellent.

  Reviewed by Mike5.0★Jan 2023

• "Very comfortable flat with great views."

  The whole place was immaculate.

  Reviewed by Jeanette5.0★Dec 2022

• "Comfortable accommodation in a great location."

  Happy to recommend and hope to return.

  Many thanks for your feedback and we look forward to welcoming you back to Culzean. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Norrie4.1★Dec 2022

• "Great property in a stunning location."

  Reviewed by Allan5.0★Nov 2022

• "The cottage was immaculate when we got there, the only criticism I have is the fact you walked in straight onto the hall carpet with dirty dogs."

  A mat to stand on may be beneficial but definitely didn’t spoil our holiday

  Reviewed by Fiona4.7★Nov 2022

• "The grounds and garden are excellent, great access to the sea too."

  The cottage could be made warm and cosy and the housekeeper came quickly when we needed help with the television ( if instructions had been left in the cottage we could have sorted it ourselves). But for the most expensive cottage we have ever rented in nearly fifty years experience we thought it was rather meanly resourced: no chairs in the bedroom, only six small plates, four mugs and breakfast bowls, minimal ovenware and no washing up liquid. The sliding doors are very heavy and noisy. The tree growth over the windows is disappointing and the ivy had not been cut back ( as promised in an earlier review ) we enjoyed our time but improvements to the above would make it better value.

  Many thanks for your feedback and we are sorry that you have had to report certain shortfalls in the inventory in the property. The property team did check the inventory in August but they will check the kitchen inventory again on the next changeover day. We are awaiting the specialist contractors getting back to us to confirm when they can start the work to tackle the ivy and saplings on the cliff face. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Clifford3.4★Sep 2022

• "Another wonderful stay at Culzean."

  Well appointed, comfortable cottage in a superb location. Wi-Fi was reliable all week, supporting 3-4 devices. I agree with other comments regarding the growth over the view from the windows. It is disappointing to have such a wonderful view obscured however we understand it is a very specialist job, pruning the growth from the cliff face and have been assured that this is in hand. We would be disappointed if this hadn’t been sorted by the time we return next year. The joy of having the grounds to yourself before and after day trip visitors is second to none. A very enjoyable week. Thank you NTS

  Thank you for the excellent scores on your feedback. We are waiting on the specialist contractors to confirm a date to remove the ivy and saplings on the whole of the cliff face. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★Sep 2022

• "No view from some windows due to overgrown young sycamore trees."

  The views are part of the main attraction of this cottage. This can be very easily remedied by 10 minutes work with a pair of loppers/secateurs. The internet connection did not work. There was no information as to how to turn off the annoying orange lights in the rooms at night . Bathroom window does not open. All this is a bit thoughtless and unimaginative on the part of the landlords, esp as it is pretty expensive (£1196 for 6 days)

  Thank you for your feedback and we are sorry that you had some shortfall in what was on offer. We are sorry that the wifi didn't work but we are not sure if you reported the wifi not working in the cottage. We are awaiting to get confirmation from the specialist contactors as to when they can start to remove the ivy and saplings from the cliff face. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Jonathan3.8★Aug 2022

• "We had a lovely peaceful stay."

  The cottage was clean and deceptively spacious in a beautiful location. We loved exploring the grounds once all the day visitors have left. The only thing to point out is the sliding doors were a bit of an issue as they do not run smoothly and make a bit of noise especially if you are trying to move around the property quietly so as not to disturb anyone first thing in the morning. We will definitely be back as Culzean is one of our favourite places to visit and we have stayed many times before in some of the other properties onsite.

  Reviewed by Amanda5.0★Aug 2022

• "We had a very peaceful and restful stay in artillery cottage."

  The rooms are spacious, the beds are comfortable and we enjoyed the views of Arran and the sea from the windows.

  Thank you very much for your kind comments about Royal Artillery at Culzean. We hope to welcome you back. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Rebecca4.7★Jul 2022

• "Very well appointed and clean kitchen."

  ....Living and dining area 1 dining room chair requires fixing..very shaky. Overhead light very poor. Standard Lamp 1 bulb missing..no replacement left....Torches not working ..no rechargeable batteries as advertised.....Seating too low for disabled person ..a raiser could be fitted at very low cost...Sliding door between Dining and hall requires attention. Had to replace overhead light in hall bulb left...Bathroom Perfect. Bedroom 1 clean and tidy..bedroom 2 large and easy for wheelchair...however all mattresses require replacing as all were sagging in the centre so not a lot of sleep. Found myself sitting on the base and almost fell on the floor making this dangerous. The linen on all beds were Pristine this was great. I had asked for the double bed to have made into two singles this was not done. No linen left that we could do this ourselves. If all the little tweeks were done I would have no hesitation on recommending this cottage to anybody. It seems a great pity that the complaints let this cottage in such lovely surroundings down. And at the price I would have expected better and also being a member of the trust I felt very let down. Remember it is being advertised as a disabled cottage and this is from a disabled point of view. Evelyn Conn.

  Thank you very much for your feedback which we do value. It was good to read that you found the cleanliness and linen to be excellent through your comments and your scoring. We are very sorry that you found some bulbs needed replacing. All spare batteries and bulbs are kept under the sink in the kitchen in a box and the team at Culzean would have been more than happy to come along and replace them for you. We have asked the team at Culzean to check the condition of the beds in Royal Artillery and we are still checking if we got the message passed onto us about splitting the bed to two singles. We would have been more than happy to do this for you. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Evelyn2.8★Jul 2022

• "For the most part the cottage was very clean with some noticeable exceptions."

  We have enjoyed several NT properties in England, they have all been warm welcoming and full of character. This cottage offered none of these. The biggest problem is the underfloor heating does not warm the cottage sufficiently, the bathroom radiator made it the only really warm room. A dull week in July still needed to use the electric fire. The kitchen felt like a cold dark cave as what sunshine we had could not penetrate through the ivy growing on the window, in fact most of the views of the sea was obscured by ivy & trees. The cottage was every shade of grey & beige with nothing like pictures or ornaments to give local character. The state of the art coffee maker, but no washing up gloves kitchen rolls anti bac or dish cloths. Instruction manuals but no guest book or information on the area (I left some brochures for the next guests), which were given to me at the Burns museum by their very helpful staff. This cottage is in a wonderful location, and with some small changes could be a much better experience.

  The cottage is on the edge of a cliff and unfortunately we cannot do anything about the trees. The ivy is cut back annually and is due to be done at the end of August. The underfloor heating is controlled by a room stat located in each room which allow the temperature to be increased or decreased and it is a shame that you did not contact the office as one of the team would have been happy to pop down and assist. We do provide an information book with Property Information but we do not supply leaflets on the local area as there is wifi in the cottage and most people use the internet for such information, but the Property Team are always happy to assist with providing further information if required. We supply dishwasher tablets, dishcloths, washing up liquid and anti bacterial cleaner. We can only apologise if the anti bac was not replaced on this occasion Property Owner

  Reviewed by Keith2.5★Jul 2022

• "We had a wonderful holiday- the proximity to the sea and the many beautiful and varied walks ,provided rest and inspiration to us."

  We fell asleep at night to the lapping of the waves .The house was very comfortable and beautifully cared for with period details in the interior furnishings. We cant wait to return

  Reviewed by Anne5.0★Apr 2022

• "This is super little flat and very good if you are disabled, all very well kitted out."

  Staying at the Castle is just such fun. We found so many different walks to do and could plan them around strolling somewhere for a coffee!!! The gardens are wonderful and the only extra thing we would have liked, was somewhere close to sit outside in the evening. As it was quite cold, that did not matter much and we could always walk to some of the nearby benches.

  Thank you very much for your positive feedback. The layout of the castle means that not all properties will benefit from an enclosed private garden. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lesley5.0★Apr 2022

• "We enjoyed our stay - it was lovely to be able to have time to wander throughout the estate!"

  House is clean and comfortable but there are simple things which have been previously suggested ( reviews August/ October 2021) which have not yet been addressed. If attended to they would make a big difference to the experience of living in the cottage.

  Reviewed by Audrey3.4★Mar 2022

• "The cottage was very clean and comfortable."

  The location was fantastic. Walking the dogs within the country park and along to Maidens was an absolute pleasure!

  Thank you very much for your comments re the cleanliness in Royal Artillery. The team work very hard to ensure the high level of cleanliness. We hope to see you again at Culzean. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Gillian4.4★Feb 2022

• "The cottage and it’s location was excellent."

  My only gripe was that a DVD player was listed but not there. For a dog owner and wheelchair user the location was faultless. Will most definitely be back.

  Thank you for your feedback. We have rechecked the property details and we don't advertise a DVD player in the property. Great to read that you found the facilities useful for using a wheelchair. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Allan4.7★Jan 2022

• "We stayed in January."

  The cottage is heated by underfloor heating and an electric fire. It has single glazed sash windows which were very draughty. Heavy curtains but still draughty. The grounds of Culzean were amazing we explored every path which was a delight. A day visitor to the grounds could never do them justice. Would highly recommend.

  Thank you very much for your comments. Unfortunately we only have single glazed windows at the Castle which means we can't achieve the level of insulation we would like. Glad to read that you enjoyed the location and would love to welcome you back. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Cheryl4.1★Jan 2022

• "Lovely accommodation."

  Impressively clean and well appointed. I can’t fault the place. Non existent wifi which didn’t bother us in the slightest, though some people may rely on it. Would most certainly recommend it and use it again.

  Thank you very much for your kind words and we would look forward to welcoming you again at Culzean. Unfortunately given the location we cannot make any promises about the wifi, handy for a digital detox. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Mike5.0★Jan 2022

• "We found the cottage to be ideal for our holiday."

  It was lovely and clean, had plenty of space and even though the underfloor heating wasn’t working, the radiators provided kept the cottage warm. The location was excellent, the views great and plenty of walks and beach for our dog Molly. A couple of things to note: the Wi-Fi speed wasn’t great and had to rely on 4G signal on our mobile phones (not that we should be ‘worrying’ about Wi-Fi on holiday

  Thank you for your feedback, the housekeeping team work very hard to ensure the high levels of cleanliness. We hope to welcome you back to Culzean. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Lesleyann3.8★Nov 2021

• "There is no disputing that this is a unique cottage in a great location and it was a joy to stay."

  We had a fantastic week exploring the Ayrshire coastal path, traffic free cycle ways and Arran. However, there were some fundamentals which could be improved. The heating was barely adequate. Any warmth provided from the under floor heating was cancelled out by the draughts through the single glazed west facing windows and the gap under the kitchen door. A draught excluder against the door and secondary double glazing would help retain the heat. The gas fire in the lounge did generate some warmth but this did not extend to the bedrooms. The extra blankets provided proved to be essential. We generally consider ourselves to be fairly hardy, dressing appropriately in cooler weather and keeping our heating low at home, but the cottage was definitely chilly. Parking – we followed the instructions to park across the yard, so it was rather frustrating to find other vehicles parked outside the property with full views into our lounge and ground floor bedroom. It would have been preferable to have our car parked there so strangers could park further away. No visitor information was provided or a guest book from which we could glean any helpful advice. The internet was weak so it was difficult to access information. There weren’t any reference books etc. which may have been helpful. The shower drain needed unblocking. The water spread over the floor and the squeegee brush provided was fairly ineffective. This is probably a maintenance issue. The cutlery and crockery were in some instances in short supply. The cottage sleeps 4 yet only 2 desert spoons were provided. Larger cereal bowls and more mugs/beakers would be useful, along with some microwave dishes with lids. The instructions in the cottage requested that the dishwasher should only be used when full, but there wasn’t enough basic equipment supplied in order to do this, and we ran out of mugs etc. before it was full, so we mainly washed by hand. The ceiling drying rack was useful and clothes washed in the daytime, dried overnight.

  Many thanks for your feedback. With regards to the heating, we can only apologise that this was not adequate, unfortunately we only have single glazed windows but we can look into providing guests with a draught excluder for the kitchen door to retain heat. Parking within the Courtyard is not specified to be a private area, the cars parked outside will possibly belong to our tenant who stays next door to the cottage, or this could have been staff members from our Couch House Gallery so this is unfortunately something we cannot avoid. Information folders/welcome trays were removed on the onset of COVID, we are currently in the process of updating information and placing these back into the holiday cottages. Our internet speed is due to the location of Culzean, we do have fibre broadband in all cottages. The cottage is equipped for 4 guests, however I can only apologise for any shortages and we will have these replaced as soon as possible. I can confirm that the dishwasher can be used without being full. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Andrew3.8★Oct 2021

• "Lack of storage in kitchen (very awkward)- and one bedroom."

  Lukewarm water. Needed another 2 chairs: Broken chair in bedroom (asked for another but it wasn’t replaced). On a single bed- spring was giving out. We needed more info on how things worked, recycling, opening hours and consistent info generally. Ps it needs a wee brush and pan. But it’s a lovely spot. And they did find us a tea strainer !

  Thank you for your feedback and we have noted your comments. There are plans to fresh some of the cottages at Culzean before the next season. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Margaret2.8★Aug 2021

• "It was great to stay within the castle and have it to ourselves when the day visitors had left."

  The view from every room was fantastic and the sunset was incredible.

  Great to read that you enjoyed your stay, and to read that you made the most of the grounds. Property Owner

  Reviewed by Tracey4.1★Jun 2021

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