Balneden Steading
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Tomintoul AB37 9HL Scotland
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About
#2 of 3 Speciality lodging in Tomintoul
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Balneden Steading is the ideal location for a self-catering holiday in the Scottish Highlands. This former historic steading offers 3 spacious, contemporary cottages to rent - The Mill (sleeps 4+1), The Grain Store (sleeps 4+1), and The Cattle Shed (sleeps 2). The Cottages can be booked individually or in combination to meet your party's needs. We also offer short breaks (minimum 3 night stay). Perfectly located at the start of the Whisky and Castle Trails, one mile from the A939 Snow Roads between Grantown-on-Spey and Tomintoul, we are situated in the stunning Glenlivet Estate, within the Cairngorms National Park. Speyside's distilleries, vibrant Aviemore, majestic Royal Deeside and the sandy beaches and wildlife of the Moray Firth are all within a 1 hour drive. The breathtaking panoramic views from Balneden make it the perfect place to unwind and enjoy highland life. We hope to have thought of everything to make your stay in rural Scotland as relaxing and magical as possible.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Non-smoking hotel
Self-serve laundry
Room features
Refrigerator
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
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HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Hidden Gem
Location
Full view
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Tomintoul AB37 9HL Scotland
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This was our third visit. We chose to return to Balneaden Steading over the Covid outbreak because we knew the owner’s standards of cleanliness and attention to detail would ensure a safe and enjoyable stay. Covid 19 arrival and check out details are clearly set out and understandable given the additional cleaning requirements. The Mill is beautiful, spacious, extremely comfortable, renovated to a very high standard, well equipped, airy, light and always warm with the underfloor heating. It is very dog friendly and the owners are welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable about the local area, but discrete. Spending the day watching the light change over the landscape from the huge picture windows, walks from the front door, and watching the stars and Milky Way in the evening is a priceless experience.…
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Helpful
Response from Phil Rogers, Owner at Balneden Steading
Responded 6 Dec 2020
Thank you for sharing the highlights of your recent stay for the benefit of others who we have yet to meet and greet.
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Gorgeous and scrupulously clean accommodation situated in stunningly beautiful surroundings. Everything you need for a relaxing Scottish break/retreat - perfect! Lovely welcome basket of local produce on arrival. All cleaning products eco friendly. Plenty of wood available for the wood burning stove. I left a bag of clothing and Phil (the host) posted it back to me with no trouble. Would definitely visit again (despite a 6-7 hour drive!). ***** 5 STARS
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Date of stay: October 2020
Helpful
Response from Phil Rogers, Owner at Balneden Steading
Responded 6 Dec 2020
We would love to welcome you back for a longer stay next time to fully relax and enjoy more of what the Cairngorms National Park and Moray Speyside have to offer. Returning forgotten items is all part of the service.
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Our 5th visit to Balneden and first time at the Cattle Shed. Brilliant secluded location in stunning countryside. Amazing cottage, perfect for 2 people, with everything you need. Loved the log burning stove as always and everything provided by the owners. Accommodation was absolutely immaculate and COVID arrangements in place making it feel very safe. We did lots of walking around Glenmore forest and Glenlivet and spent a day at the Highland Wildlife Park. If you’re looking for a break away from it all, don’t hesitate to book. We will definitely be back soon.
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Helpful
Response from Phil Rogers, Owner at Balneden Steading
Responded 6 Dec 2020
Thanks, Gaynor. It was great to see you both enjoying a quiet weekend away from this year's everyday stress.
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My wife, baby and Spaniel spent a couple of weeks travelling around the highlands and staying at Balneden Steading added to what was an amazing trip. We had booked to stay somewhere else, but the day before received a message to say they didn’t accept dogs, so panic set in. We messaged Balneden Steading that evening and received a response within no time. Luckily for us, they had a last minute cancellation. When we arrived the following evening, Phil the owner had kindly moved around bedroom furniture to set us up a travel cot and because it only had a large wet room/shower, provided a baby bath. A lovely basket of local treats also met us on arrival. Absolutely spotlessly clean, modern, quality beds/bedding. Kitchen has everything a keen cook could want for. Walking the dog after breakfast and before dinner we came across roe deer, birds of prey, hares, game birds and much more...all literally outside the front door. Perfect base for exploring. Will certainly be back next year and looking forward to enjoying a glass of red whilst soaking up those views. Also to add, Covid is clearly taken seriously here, but not in a way that it impacts your stay. It just allows you to rest easy that where you are staying is safe and clean.…
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
Helpful
Response from Phil Rogers, Owner at Balneden Steading
Responded 6 Dec 2020
It has been great to be able to accommodate as many staycationers as possible since reopening in mid-July. Our overseas visitors' absence this year has clearly been your gain. PS: I would have responded sooner if TripAdvisor had flagged up your review.
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Accommodation is lovely, and the male owner was nice and friendly -- at first. Would have given 5 stars, but no functional Wi-Fi (although advertised) and the female owner came knocking on our door at 9.15 on the day of our departure, insisting that check-out time was 9 am (which she said was stated in a leaflet in the accommodation), rather than 10 am as stated on the website when we booked. No apologies for the conflicting info; in fact, the owners only seemed interested in getting us out so they could start cleaning the place (although an adjacent unit had just been vacated and not yet cleaned). If you're going to change the check-out time, why not at least notify the guests in advance so they are aware? We were able to get out by 9.45. As we were loading up the car, the owners still had a chance to say, "Hey sorry for the mix-up; Hope you enjoyed your stay" or anything that showed a shred of customer service. But we never saw the woman again, and the man walked by us three times without saying a word, even when my husband greeted him with a friendly "good morning". Although we had been considering returning for another holiday, perhaps with friends, their Jekyll and Hyde behaviour put us off. Everybody can have a bad day, but when you're in a customer service profession, you don't take it out on your guests.…
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Date of stay: September 2020
Value
Location
Service
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Phil Rogers, Owner at Balneden Steading
Responded 12 Sep 2020
Thank you for your review: feedback is always welcome as it helps everyone to improve. As explained, our Wifi was awaiting a new router following recent electrical storms. Since you booked, good 4G coverage has become available in the area and we did mention this to you. The agency website you booked through does include a generic ‘usual’ check-out time for all the properties they list. You should also have noticed under the Covid-19 banner that these were likely to vary once the Government had approved the cleaning protocols necessary to facilitate the re-opening of the self-catering sector. Prior to re-opening in July, our cleaning contractor had requested a 9am-5pm window, which we reflected on our website and informed the agency you used, who subsequently conveyed this information to you. The fact that you admitted to being aware of the 9am departure time, yet chose to ignore it, is frankly disappointing. As proprietors of a highly rated business who have spent significant time, money and effort to enable us to re-open and operate responsibly under Covid-19, the health and safety of our staff and guests is our number one priority. We do not believe that politely reminding guests of their obligation to facilitate our implementation of Government mandated Covid-19 requirements is poor customer service; indeed, we feel it is currently our civil duty to do so. Our lack of engagement after the initial reminder of the departure time was because we were then assisting our cleaning contractor, whose Covid-19 protocols preclude engagement with guests. Your body language also strongly indicated that you did not wish to engage in conversation, which was respected. We would also like to point out that leaving your dog unattended in the cottage whilst out cycling was in contravention of the animal welfare element of the terms and conditions you agreed to when booking. In summary, we would agree that our cottages are not operating as advertised prior to Covid-19 protocols being implemented. Having reviewed both our website and that of our agent, we believe they do accurately portray the service we are providing during these challenging times.
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LOCATION
United KingdomScotlandMorayTomintoul
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Balneden Steading
Which popular attractions are close to Balneden Steading?
Nearby attractions include The Whisky Castle (2.8 miles), Glenlivet Mountain Bike Trails (1.6 miles), and Tomintoul and Glenlivet Discovery Centre (2.8 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Balneden Steading?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and reduced mobility rooms.
What are some restaurants close to Balneden Steading?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Clockhouse Restaurant, The Glenavon, and Hotel Square.
Are pets allowed at Balneden Steading?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Are there any historical sites close to Balneden Steading?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Ballindalloch Castle and Gardens (9.4 miles).
Does Balneden Steading have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.
Is Balneden Steading accessible?
Yes, it offers reduced mobility rooms. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.