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.…
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
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.
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.…
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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