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  • Balnaird Farmhouse - Scottish Highlands - 1051162 - photo 1
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Balnaird Farmhouse

(Ref. 1051162)

Strathpeffer, Northern Highlands & Cairngorms National Park Show on map

4.8

Sykes rating

  • 3 Guests

  • 2 Bedrooms

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets No

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Garden / Patio
  • Cot available
  • Highchair available
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • lovely (12)
  • cottage (12)
  • stay (10)
  • great (10)
  • no (10)
  • clean (9)

27 Customer Reviews

  • "In view of the property being so isolated a welcome pack would have been appreciated, even if it was just tea, coffee and milk."

    Reviewed by Vivienne4.7Sep 2024

  • "We had a peaceful stay at Blanaird."

    It's about an hour's or less drive to some spectacular walks north west of the house.

    Reviewed by Ashifa4.4Aug 2024

  • "Lovely, very clean and cozy home."

    For us it was very good located.

    Reviewed by Wanda5.0Aug 2024

  • "We had a great time, thank you."

    If I could suggest a couple of things that would be really appreciated by future guests - some binoculars, and some OS maps of the area. Thanks!

    Reviewed by Helen4.4Jul 2024

  • "Please only share this with the owner and don't publish."

    We had a wonderful stay. The house is well equipped and comfortable with wonderful views and plenty to do in the area. The only thing is useful in the kitchen is a pair of oven gloves. And for us the electric blanket felt uncomfortable on top of the mattress ( which is very comfortable) due to the cables in the blanket. Thank you for making our break very enjoyable.

    Reviewed by Pascale5.0Jun 2024

  • "Very comfortable house in a lovely position"

    Reviewed by Ed4.4May 2024

  • "We loved our stay at Balnaird Farmhouse."

    We initially had some problems getting the heating levels in the house right as it was quite cold outside but once that was sorted everything was lovely. Love the area, which we come up to at least once a year. It feels like we've found a new home from home for future visits. The thing we loved the most was the view from the garden room/conservatory and especially watching the Red Kites.

    Reviewed by Simon5.0Jan 2024

  • "A lovely autumn week at Balnaird Farmhouse."

    The views from the cottage are lovely, and the autumn scenery on our outings was stunning - who needs to go to New England! Very well equipped, a comfortable, spacious cottage, a great location for touring the Highlands.

    Reviewed by Valerie5.0Oct 2023

  • "Very clean property and very comfortable."

    situation was just what we were looking for. only 2 complaints , 1. a little too many notices pinned up ( a loose leaf folder would have been better. ) 2. a change of towels mid stay of a 2 week stay should be done. we were there for two weeks and no towel change. we managed as there was only a maximum of 3 people staying. A. MCLELLAN

    Reviewed by Angus5.0Aug 2023

  • "One of the main features at the cottage is the sun room which we enjoyed."

    It has great view over to Knock Farril. Felt the living room could do with some personal touches. Nothing major but a clock on the fire mantel. Some books in the empty bookcase. Room was a bit dark which is due to layout so any small touches could help.

    Reviewed by Mike4.1Jun 2023

  • "This was probably the nicest holiday accomodation we have ever had."

    Balnaird famhouse had everything we needed, plus a lovely bright sunroom, a wonderful view across the valley to Knockfarrel and a great garden too. We did lots of walking and were delighted to see two red kites hovering above the house on our last morning.

    Reviewed by Jean5.0Jun 2023

  • "We had a really good stay."

    Nice house and a beautifull vieuw. It was verry hot weather when we were in the house. So we first closed all the heating when we arrived. And maybe there can be a thinner blanket for the bed as backup for hotter days. Ans and Dick from the Netherlands.

    Reviewed by Dick5.0Jun 2023

  • "Myself and my partner have just had the best week ever."

    The cottage was perfect in every way, this has been our favourite holiday cottage that we have stayed in. The cottage has everything that is needed. It was clean comfortable, and had incredible views. I loved, just sitting, looking at the views, the sheep in the next field and all the birds. We sat and watched kites hunting, as the cottage is situated high up on the hillside, we were actually looking down on the kites. We could hear lots of different birds including cuckoos and Owls in the evening. This cottage is a hidden little gem, and is a lot better than the pictures show. You have the seclusion plus about 15 minutes away from shops and other amenities, including a huge Tesco’s. We would go back in a heartbeat. Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

    Reviewed by Jacqui5.0May 2023

  • "A lovely spacious cottage with fantastic views."

    Well equipped and very clean - lovely sheets! Lots of walks to do in the area, as well as watching seals on loch Fleet, looking for Dolphins from Chanonry point and watching red kites from the cottage. A great base to tour the Highlands.

    Reviewed by Valerie5.0Jan 2023

  • "This was a lovely spacious cottage with great views."

    Reviewed by Linda5.0Sep 2022

  • "Comfortable, well-kept, great location."

    Perfect for our holiday.

    Reviewed by Ian5.0Aug 2022

  • "We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, the only negative was all the posters throughout the property with instructions of does and donts."

    in particular the one immediately by the entrance reminding guests to make sure they depart on time at the end of the stay, not a very welcoming sign !

    Reviewed by Charles5.0Jul 2022

  • "A lovely cottage in a lovely position."

    The views are stunning - the views on the Sykes website are not general views in the area, you can sit with your coffee or glass of wine and drink in the stunning surroundings. The birds are amazing - watch red kites fly over the garden and hover over the valley. A great base for easy walking and also for big Munro walking. Dolphin watching in the Murray Firth. A lovely cottage and we will be back.

    Reviewed by Valerie5.0May 2022

  • "This was the second time I’ve stayed in the property, and I hope to return again."

    The location is very peaceful. We enjoyed watching the red kites overhead. The cottage is lovely inside and everything you need is provided.

    Reviewed by Gavin5.0May 2022

  • "Excellent cottage in a beautiful area, a very relaxing stay"

    Reviewed by Jason5.0Apr 2022

  • "A very clean holiday house with the most fantastic views."

    Very peaceful location. Everything you needed was in the house and we had such a good week that we are looking to come back very soon.

    Reviewed by Esther5.0Mar 2022

  • "We had a lovely week in this very comfortable cottage."

    The location is fantastic with beautiful views, and the cottage was really well equipped and very clean and tidy. We were blessed with lovely weather for a late October break, and the autumn colours around us were amazing. Only problem we had was trying to get the woodburner to light but a phone call to the owner helped with this. The bedrooms are very comfortable - I would recommend saying that you have a king size bed and 2 large singles (or maybe they are small doubles) as tall folk like us often look for properties which state king rather than double bed in the property information. We would definitely love to come back as there are so many places to explore in this beautiful part of Scotland.

    Reviewed by Marjory5.0Oct 2021

  • "We have been holidaying in Scotland the past several years so as you can imagine we have stayed in many different accommodations."

    But Balnaird Farmhouse is by far the best place we have stayed, it was so clean, homely, had everything we needed and more. We would love to come back one day, perfect cottage to stay. We only left yesterday after spending a great week here ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you from Jason &Julie

    Reviewed by Jason5.0Sep 2021

  • "Lovely peaceful cottage,excellent location."

    Great views from rooms. Good sized bedrooms. Duvet overly warm. Had to remove cover and use it as a bed sheet, no alternative. Upstairs loo room tight on headspace with the dormer style room. All cottage spotless except for the hob-sorted with 'hob brite'.Nice kitchen with good sized fridge/freezer. We always need freezer space.This had 3 good shelves/drawers. Downstairs bathroom floor required attention. This was to be sorted as we were leaving. Excellent walks and bird/wildlife watching,shame to have to come home Would definately stay in future.

    Reviewed by Carole Andrea4.1Sep 2021

  • "The house is in a good location for exploring the area."

    It's newly refurbished, clean and well equipped with good amount of space for 4. Some information on local walks, attractions etc would have been helpful.

    Reviewed by Stephen4.4Aug 2021

  • "Brilliant stay."

    Lovely clean cottage with lots of space and an amazing view. Couple of small points - no bin in the bathroom downstairs and not enough dining plates in the kitchen. Due to the location of the cottage, we were eating in most of the time and would have been nice if there were at least 8 plates for a family of 4 so we didn’t have to wash up after every meal. Apart from that, the cottage was perfect.

    Reviewed by Simon4.4Jul 2021

  • "The property was the best standard we have stayed at to date and the area was beautiful."

    Reviewed by Paul5.0Jul 2021

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Summary

  • Two bedrooms: 1 x King , 1 x Single
  • Ground-floor bathroom with bath, walk-in shower, basin and WC
  • First-floor cloakroom with basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Utility
  • Dining room
  • Sitting room
  • Sun room
  • Oil central heating
  • Electric oven and hob, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, freezer, washing machine, TV and WiFi
  • Power and fuel for central heating inc in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Travel cot and highchair available
  • Off-road parking for two cars
  • Garden with lawn
  • Sorry, no pets as the area is surrounding by livestock and no smoking
  • Shop 1.2 miles (convenience shop), pub 5.1 miles
  • Please note: The larger supermarket is 4 miles away
  • Note: There is a £200 good housekeeping bond
  • Note: Property accepts a maximum holiday let of 2 weeks only
  • Note: This property has King Size room and a Single room - new photos will be added shortly
  • Please Note -The owner can only accept changeovers on a Friday

The property

In the idyllic Scottish Highlands, on the outskirts of the spa town of Strathpeffer stands Balnaird Farmhouse, dating all the way back to 1868, this detached stone-built cottage is a rural retreat for three.

Offering a picture-perfect countryside setting, this property has been carefully renovated to bring it into the 21st century, presenting attractive holiday accommodation, ideal for walkers.

After a challenging afternoon of walking, return to the cottage and relax in the sitting room or make use of the wonderful sunroom for a quiet moment.

The kitchen has all you need for a self-catered stay, so you can stock up on food and essentials and enjoy home-cooked meals with your loved ones.

Gather at the dining table for mealtimes and relish the opportunity for good conversation and quality time.

Head upstairs to find two lovely bedrooms, with a King Size and a Single room to choose from both enjoying elegant style and furnishings, and served by the ground-floor bathroom and first-floor cloakroom.

Head out in the fresh air of the garden, with outdoor furniture to use for perching at with a morning coffee or dining alfresco, you can breathe in the country air and feel excitement begin to take hold for the day ahead.

The town of Strathpeffer is a lovely settlement owing its beginnings to the natural springs, it was a popular European health resort, and nowadays it has seen its old buildings restored, like the Pump Room and the Spa Pavilion, now serving as community spaces and a performing arts centre.

The Highland Museum of Childhood is located in the restored Victorian train station, and delves into the realities of growing up in the Highlands, while the town also home to the Seat of the Clan Mackenzie at Castle Leod, a 15th century restored castle open to tours and home to artefacts and galleries.

Walkers can choose from a host of peaks and mountains in the surrounding area to walk, as well as natural landmarks like Rogie Falls, famous for salmon viewing, this beautiful spot is surrounded by wonderful forest walks and a host of waymarked trails, as well as a viewing point overlooking the falls.

Experienced hikers can challenge themselves to tackling Ben Wyvis, a vast mountain dominating a large area of the Highlands, exploring the slopes and its high whaleback ridge for truly breath-taking scenery, with Little Wyvis, its smaller neighbour offering an easier option.

Dive into Loch Achilty and experience some wild swimming, enjoy some peaceful fishing at Tarvie Lochs, or hire bikes from the bike shop in Strathpeffer and explore the area on wheels.

The town of Dingwall at the head of the Cromarty Firth is a historic place, home to the Dingwall Museum and as well as a great range of shops, pubs and restaurants.

For a secluded Scottish getaway, enjoy the delights of Balnaird Farmhouse.

EPC Rating: Band E

EPC Rating: Band E

Short-term Holiday Let Licence No: HI-50475-F

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £150.

View on map

About the location

STRATHPEFFER

Inverness 20 miles.

Often compared to a Bavarian Mountain resort, the picturesque spa village of Strathpeffer owes its growth to the discovery of water springs during the 1700s, and was declared in 1819 to be the healthiest drinking water in Britain! The original Spa Pavilion has been magnificently restored after a period of disuse and now serves as a venue for a variety of events, including concerts, dances, dramas and exhibitions. The former Victorian railway station, which in times past brought many visitors from near and far, has now been beautifully restored to house craft workers and their shops, and is also home to the Highland Museum of Childhood. Visit the restored Pump house (also a Tourist Information point), take a walk along a forest track, or enjoy the views from the nearby pictish hill fort at Knockfarrel. Whatever you decide there's plenty on offer for all the family.

Please Note -The owner can only accept changeovers on a Friday.