Downie's Cottage

Nestled into its secluded hillside location in the stunning Cairngorms National Park, this truly unique property offers couples the opportunity to enjoy a romantic retreat in a very special setting. Abandoned between the world wars, this Grade A listed cottage has been lovingly and sympathetically restored with the help of Historic Scotland into a five-star holiday home. With its breathtaking views, 3 acres of grounds and its own sauna, you won’t want your holiday to end. You’re also 1 mile from the delightful village of Braemar with its independent shops, boutiques and eateries.

From the outside, this property is a typical crofter’s cottage with its whitewashed walls and squat appearance, but step inside and you’ll be blown away by its charming interior. Original features blend superbly with the light walls, colourful soft furnishings and bespoke wooden furniture to create lots of quirkiness and character.

With the choice of sitting in an armchair next to the wood burner or lounging in the recessed snug complete with tartan cushions, guests will love cosying up in the lounge. There is also a traditional country-cottage table and chairs to sit at whilst eating dinner. The quirkiness continues in the kitchen with its traditional farmhouse sink sunk into bespoke, wooden units which sit alongside a large storage cupboard. The bedroom’s wood panelling, cast-iron bedstead and traditional furniture hark back to a bygone age, but the clean finish brings it back into the modern day. In the bathroom, you can step into the contemporary shower or soak in the unique, handcrafted bath.

Outside, you can appreciate the tranquillity from the original dining furniture in your walled patio. Alternatively, you can relax in the sauna – the perfect end to a busy day. The track up to the cottage is difficult, so a four-wheel-drive car is available for guests to use.

It should be noted that a new house is being built near the house during 2021.

• Short breaks welcome
• 1 king-size bedroom
• 1 bathroom with shower, bath, hand basin and WC
• Kitchen with electric cooker, fridge, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer
• Wi-Fi included
• Wood burner
• Underfloor heating throughout
• Smart TV
• Hot tub and sauna
• Garden with patio furniture and fire pit
• Shops and restaurants 1 mile
• Ample parking
• March to June bookings minimum 2 nights, July to September minimum 3 nights and September to December minimum 2 nights
• Please note the road up to the cottage is uneven with some pot holes and not suitable for low profile cars. 
• A 4x4 vehicle is available through 2022 only to get up the track if necessary 
• Short Term Let license number:  AS-00290-F
• EPC rating: D
• Arrival: 16:00 onwards
• Departure: before 10:00, unless otherwise stated in your arrival details
• 2 dogs allowed. Dogs are charged at £20 each per full or part week
• There is an Accidental Damage Deposit of £150 when booking at this property, however this may be waived for £20. We’ll provide more details about this when booking your holiday.

As well as having a range of shops and eateries, Braemar is also home to Braemar Castle which has an interesting and turbulent history. Balmoral, the Scottish home to the Royal Family is also nearby (10 miles) and offers visitors a variety of tours around the grounds, and if you’re lucky you might see the elusive capercaillie. Balmoral sits on the River Dee, which has some of the best salmon fishing in Scotland. The closest town to Balmoral is the Victorian village of Ballater (17 miles) with its variety of independent shops and eateries. There is also a range of activities on offer.

The Cairngorms National Park has plenty to offer guests such as endless walking/cycling trails, majestic mountains, glistening lochs, bustling villages and lots of distilleries, not to mention the wide range of outdoor activities on offer. Glenshee (9 miles) is a good centre for all sports, especially winter ones. Just north of Glenshee (4.5 miles from the property) is the National Trust’s Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve which is Britain’s largest nature reserve. As well as being home to 15 Munros, there is also plenty of wildlife to spot such as ptarmigans, pine martens, golden eagles, and mountain hares.

It should be noted that a new house is being built near the cottage during 2021.