Archive for September, 2012

The lovely Toft’s House in Caithness is a mere 10 minute walk from the broad, sweeping sands of Freswick Bay as well as the harbour and wonderful cliff walks. Sleeping eight (Four bedrooms – 3 doubles, 1 twin) there is plenty of space for everyone. There is a large sitting room, complete with colour TV, digital box and DVD player, a large, fully-equipped (with all mod cons) family dining kitchen, a spacious garden and, rather uniquely, a small herd of lovable reindeer which are wonderful to watch and feed. The world-famous John o’Groats is but four miles away, affording not only a trip to the northernmost point of the UK, but to catch a ferry to the Orkney Isles. The house is ideal for those who love the great outdoors, and in this part of Scotland, they certainly are great. The wonderful scenery and the absolute peace and tranquillity makes it perfect for a relaxing break away from it all. The area is awash in history and there are many local sites to interest visitors – Freswick House, the Castle of Mey, the Wick Heritage Centre and the most northerly distillery in the UK which produces the wonderful Old Pultney whisky. There is both loch and sea fishing, cycling, and abundant wildlife. And if you fancy a game of golf, the course at Reiss is just 10 miles away.

The town of Peebles is just half a mile away from Neidpath Castle Cottage has become the centre of the mountain biking world. However, a mountain bike is not compulsory for a stay in the Cottage. There’s an abundance of coffee shops and great places to eat, a multitude of border towns ready and waiting for you to visit, and, for first-time visitors to Scotland, and a mere forty five minutes away, the fabulous Scottish capital beckons with sightseeing, shopping, visiting galleries, museums and theatres and the world-famous Edinburgh Festival. The lovely Neidpath Cottage is adjacent to the castle and overlooks the River Tweed below, itself a must for anglers. With three bedrooms, (1 double, 1 twin, 1 single plus pull out bed), 5 (+1) can be accommodated in comfort. The cottage was once used as the kitchens for the castle after Cromwell destroyed the original one. It features a lovely light-filled sitting room with open log fire and a fully-fitted kitchen large enough to sit in, complete with fully equipped work. There’s a BBQ and seating for 6 outside. And worse-case scenario for those who can’t separate themselves from their social network, complimentary wi-fi is available throughout the cottage. And if you have a well-behaved dog, bring it along! Kayaking, archery, quad-biking, horse riding and falconry are among the many activities that can be arranged, with walking, beautiful gardens and of course shopping for the less active.