Large Holiday Cottage Guest Book

We are keen to book again for a longer stay

Mark — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:53:00 +0000

Hi Mark,

Apologies for the late reply.

We had a lovely stay in Hillview, although too brief. We were meeting friends from different parts of Scotland as far as Orkney so afraid we spent most of the time in house catching up rather than exploring the area - although it did look lovely and we noticed a number of signs for nice walks and a few nice wee villages and towns to visit next time. We are keen to book again for a longer stay.

Thanks
Caron

another wonderful short stay at Hillview

Mark — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:15:00 +0000

Hi Mark,

We had another wonderful short stay at Hillview in mid-February
Great walks for all family and dogs close to house on Smugglers Trail, Drumin Castle etc. Children very excited to see deer run across road near Doctor's Surgery during one walk.
Weather stunning for entire stay including journeys to and from Hillview. We stopped at The Hermitage nr Dunkeld for dogs and kids to stretch their legs. Beautiful riverside walks through forest.
Took a trip to beach at Lossiemouth. Huge,expansive, clean beach with good waves. Good tearoom at far end of harbour (coped with 11 of us)
Thanks again to Colin, helpful and efficient as ever.
Hope to return again soon.

Thanks and Regards,

The Thomsons & The Lances

Our holiday was absolutely fantastic

Mark — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:26:00 +0000

Hi Mark

Our holiday was absolutely fantastic, the accommodation was just as we expected and more, having all the extra things like toilet roll, tea towels, dishwasher tablets, a goody draw in the kitchen just like home. Other houses we have stopped in before don't have a fraction of the thought that you guys have quite clearly put into Hillview.

We have got a few suggestions that would have helped us (particularly in the snowy (brilliant!!!) weather), it would have been really useful to know the exact whereabouts of the local shop, we did find it eventually, just over the hill and a cracking little shop it stocked all we needed.

In conclusion your cottage really did add to our great holiday experience, we all wanted to stay forever.

We will recommend with incredible ease and confidence and would most definitely like to return. Maybe our giant snow man will still be there??

Kind regards

The Warrens and Barlows Nottingham

P.S. Colin was fantastic he gave us the low-down on what to do and we are all still wandering how he knew when the snow was coming?? When the BBC said it was just going to rain.

P.P.S. We will send you some pics once I've got them onto the computer.

Thanks again for wonderful accommodation, If you ever get bored of the rental market and are looking to sell please email me.

We finally got the chance to stay at Hillview

Mark — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0000

We finally got the chance to stay at Hillview for a whole week instead of weekends. So nice to stay here for a holiday rather than just to bring curtains or drop off cleaning products. We really enjoyed reading other peoples comments in the guest book. We got some great ideas about where to visit or walk.

Saw a great painting in the Gallery in Tomitoul of a place called Crovie. So had to visit it while we were here, it's East of Banff, takes around 1hr 30 mins to drive there but well worth it. I row of about 50 houses nestled at the bottom of a cliff. Not enough space for a road. Locals have wheel barrow their things along the path.

Although there has been enough snow we didn't get a chance to ski as we have two children under 2, but did get to do some sledging in Aviemore on the way up to Cairngorm Mountain.

Most of the week we just enjoyed the house gives us the opportunity to see if everything is working fine and if there are any improvements that need doing.

Agree with previous comments about a shower over the bath so this should be installed in the next few weeks or so.

All the best for 2008 and we wish our future guest have a wonderful stay.

Please feel free to email your comments to hillview@selfcatering-scotland.net

Mark and Sadie

really nice relaxed holiday atmosphere

Mark — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:35:00 +0000

Hi Mark,

Thanks for getting in touch. We had a great time. The house was really nice lots of space for us and our friends which helped create a really nice relaxed holiday atmosphere. The quality of the decoration and facilities added to the ability to just relax. The helpfulness of both yourself and Colin was also a breath of fresh air, especially when I went a lost the key to the back door! The welcome of a bottle of 12 year old Glenlivet was a particularly nice and much appreciated touch, thank you for this.

We did hit a rather cold period, perhaps this is fairly normal for the area at this time of year? This coupled to the fact that a lot of places to visit were closed meant that there was a limit to what we could do especially with very young children having said that it did not seem to matter and for myself I enjoyed just being able to relax in a lovely environment. The house was well equipped for entertainment and having broadband was particularly appreciated.

Bottom line we enjoyed good company, good food, nice wine, very nice whisky in a lovely house and a lovely environment. Just what we wanted, thank you!

Keith

The Glenlivet area is fantastic

Mark — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 23:39:00 +0000

Wonderful house and spacious for all of us. Lots of room and a den to keep the kids happy. We have had lots of walks and cycles, with the walk to Drumin castle especially good and very scenic.

We ended up having the last two days with lots of snow and had numerous hours of fun on our sledges.

The Glenlivet area is fantastic and we have barely scratched the surface so will be definately back.

Many thanks and would recommend the accommodation to everyone.
Happy New Year and all the best for 2008.

The Andersons

A wonderful holiday in a superb house!

Mark — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:55:00 +0000

A wonderful holiday in a superb house!

We had a warm Scottish welcome wherever we have gone and the weather has been first class - cold, crisp and most of all sunny!

As for the house it has been very comfortable and clearly a great deal of though and effort has gone into the decor, the furnishings and the items a family needs away from home.

Fernevri & Peugo

Hillview has exceeded all our expectations

Mark — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:14:00 +0000

Rose, David, Edward & Benjamin Ashe on holiday here from Margaret River Western Australia (from wine country to Whisky country!)

Hillview has exceeded all our expectations. Highlights of our stay included the mountain railway - our boys first experience of snow. Glenfiddich distillery tour (sadly Glenlivet closed) and Grants wholesale meat supplies on the industrial estate in Granton on Spey.

Many thanks We hope to return one day.

Keith, Charlotte, Anna Ashe family.

Beautiful crisp weather, lovely house, fantastic views etc.
Highlight was walk up to Cairn Daita on the Speyside Way. Pooh sticks at the packhorse Bridge.

The house feels like home and we actually pretended it was ours!

Mark — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 09:44:00 +0000

We arrived expecting a cold welcoming it could not have been any different the weather was awesome. We both had time of our lives.

The house feels like home and we actually pretended it was ours! I am an English girl and this is my first visit to the Highlands and I love it so much we are now planning to buy a house near Tomintoul.

Craig my guy is from around these parts and he has been the most fantastic tour guide.

As for me I have had the time of my life and lots of wine. The facilities that have put in place here are surperb, right up to the Wi Fi. We broke the bottle opener (but don't woory we bought a new one). We found this to be the perfect place to tour from.

P.S. One day we hope to come back and celebrate.

Jules & Craig

Fantastic house is a good location

Mark — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 10:58:00 +0000

Wonderfull house it accommodated 13 of us easily. Clean and spacious and situated in perfect position to explore the Cairngorm region. From trecking up Ben Macdui to whisky tasting 400 yrds away and feeding Reindeer in between. Family friendly pubs all around mafe us feel welcome even with a couple of babies and four older children! Thank you

Felt very at home here, house is wonderful. Went up on mountain railway, excellent experience, shopping in Aviemore was great. Thanks for a good stay.

Fantastic house is a good location, lovely chinese takeaway at Granton on Spey - Reccommend it.

Great meal at the Croft Inn, very welcoming. All in all a fantastic holiday, thank you very much.
Jenny Tom Sally Gordon Tina and James.
Laura, James, George, Chloe, Jasmine, Evie and Rosie.

P.s. Don't forget to see Reindeers.

The house is brilliant

Mark — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:22:00 +0000

We had a wonderful week here. The house is brilliant: very spacious - especially four four of us. The walks are enjoyable around the place, especially with a clear sky and decent weather. Shame the Lecht was closed, but Landmark is worth a visit for kids. The park down the road is also good for entertainment. There is also a decent activity place - Craggen - which has a good golf course and a few other activities. Georgeous views with very lucky weather.

Thanks
Rosanna, Alessandro, Shanet and Franco

Superb house, even more spacious than expected

Mark — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:17:00 +0000

Superb house, even more spacious than expected. Lovely surroundings. Enjoyed the distillery tour and tasting. Great walks for Gordon the dog. Particularly Drumin circular walk down by river.

Children enjoyed Landmark and working sheep dogs. Hope to return. Thanks.
The Thomsons and the Lances.

The house is stunning

Mark — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 16:41:00 +0000

Arrived at Hillview late Saturday night. The house is stunning. Perfect exactly what we needed. Didn't site see or visit anywhere apart from Glenlivet Distillery and park. Here to relax with my family. 7 days and nights at Hillview. Silent, peaceful with gorgeous veiws. Didn't have to go anywhere. The house couldn't be better equipped (for toddlers). Everything we need was here at Hillview.

Christine Ivan (10) Harris (2) Macey-faith (1)

I love it here it is very nice house, I liked the gaerdens as well. From Sophie (8)

the wonderful accommodations beyond our expectations

Mark — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 16:49:00 +0000

What to write about... the highland winds blowing the trees and bushes. The cattle and sheep grazing the hills... the wonderful accommodations beyond our expectations... warm and friendly Scotts. A vision and experience you will hardly forget. Time to just inhale fresh, clean air a hint of cow, wet grass and the distillery. Fond memories we will take home with us.

Thank you from the Mants

What a great family house- everything we needed and very comfortable - Played golf at Ballindolloch Course had the course to ourselves. Tasted all the local whiskys. Had a fun Sat night at the local Tomintoul pub.

Grant Family USA

The best holiday cottage I (we) have ever stayed in!

Mark — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:27:00 +0000

The best holiday cottage I (we) have ever stayed in! Just need a piano and I would be in composer heaven! Excellent. Well done!!!

Hillview was the perfect introduction to the Highlands

Mark — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 16:57:00 +0000

Our first visit to Scotland and I'm not sure we want to leave.

Hillview was the perfect introduction to the Highlands - Warm, welcoming, beautifully appointed, with every comfort imagineable.

The four kids in our group loved the space to run, the Highland cows and a playroom of their own.

The four adults were thrilled to have a living room to retire to after dinner, and generally with just about everything the area had to offer.

Colin and Lisa were very helpfull. It was lovely to meet you both.

Thanks for everything.

Stacey, Matt, Emma Kate Ash - Ontario Canada

Enjoyed staying in this spacious comfortable house

Mark — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 17:03:00 +0000

Enjoyed staying in this spacious comfortable house. The first few days were a bit wet but by the end of the week the sun had come out. We are heading further North to Golspie for our second week and hope the weather continues to be fine.

George and family - Edinburgh

very beautiful and very well equipped house

Mark — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 17:16:00 +0000

Thank you for having us in this very buaetiful and very well equipped house. From this place we explored the whole of speyside area.

Our children enjoyed playing in the garden, playing knights and princesses and our husbands enjoyed visiting the distilleries: the Glenlivet, Aberlour, Glenfardas, Tomdhu, Knockandu, Tormore, Glenfiddick, Balvenie, Cardhu, Glen Grant, Bemomach, Tomatin in other words all spirits that were in the neighbourhood. But we knew that, because thats their passion, beside taking care of us. Pure whisky widows. Enjoyed the wildlife of birds and deer.

As a nature - guide she searched every angle for wildlife.

Greetings from Belgium.

Vera, Stef and Family.

Six friends enjoyed a well earned break

Mark — Sun, 27 May 2007 20:25:00 +0000

Could not find a fault with the house. Six friends enjoyed a well earned break in this peaceful and beautiful area. Watch out for the hares they are the size of donkeys!!
Visited most distilleries, Aberlour being one of the best, and must have drunk the highlands dry of single malts.

The Cherington Whiskey Club

We are walking along the Speyside way

Mark — Wed, 23 May 2007 17:29:00 +0000

We are walking along the Speyside way. This day was exhausting for us and we were so happy to find Colin and Lisa who offered us to sleep one night in this nice house. Thank you very much!!!
The whisky was better than in Glenfiddich in our opinion. Now we are relaxing and are collecting new energy for the next few days.

Sandra and Andreas
German Walkers,

Had a great time time at Glenlivet discovery the area

Mark — Sat, 19 May 2007 17:35:00 +0000

Had a great time time at Glenlivet discovery the area. Also met some great people. Caretaker (Colin and Lisa) Distillery staff (John and Deb) and your neighbour (Beatrice).
Although a little big for two of us - the house was spacious the kitchen / dinner and upper living room were great areas.
We enjoyed the many walks, speyside steam railway, loch ness boat ride, Ballindalloch Castle, Tomintoul and the many villages scattered around.

A great location to do nothing and a base for many activities.
Russell and Karen Bus

The views are stunning and the wildlife plentiful

Mark — Sat, 12 May 2007 17:43:00 +0000

What a lovely house and so well equipped. See what they meant about the Hares around here, we never seen so many large hares (the size of donkeys?).

Great time had by the Nelson Crew of the group.

Nelsons - Shetlands

We have enjoyed staying at this beautiful house. It was so comfortable and nothing was lacking. The views are stunning and the wildlife plentiful. Paul and Lucy - York

Thank you for the opportunity to stay in your lovely house with our daughters Hannah and Lucy and their husbands - a wonderful reunion. We enjoyed the mountain railway and the river Spey - perfect!!!
Les and Grace Herefordshire

We had a fantastic break at Hillview Cottage

Mark — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:32:00 +0000

"We had a fantastic break at Hillview. Fortunately the weather was sympathetic to 4 days of walking, showing the scenery to its finest. With the intension of seeing contrasting countryside we found convenient walks suitable for short day trips including a thigh busting ascent of a local Ben, lesuirely amble round a loch and ramble across open moorland.

Having stocked up with supplies from Aviemore we found the accomodation to be of the highest standard. All requirements were more than adequately catered for and personalised. Space within was matched by the high level of cleanliness and suitable to cater for a couple hide away up to an extended family break.

We felt refreshed and recharged on returning home and were already talking about coming back.

I know Mark and Sadie and their imprint is evident in every room. Highly recomended."

Thanks

Mike

We were really surprised

Mark — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 20:32:00 +0000

We were really surprised about the accommodation of the house and the hospitality of Colin & Lisa. Although we couldn't BBQ we enjoyed our stay very much!

Thank you very much

The Sanaigmidre's
Brugge, Belgium

fantastic week at Hillview

Mark — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:31:00 +0000

Hi there We had a fantastic week at Hillview and thought the house was beautiful. There were a couple of things we would like to see improved but other than that, it was a wonderful holiday.

The house was absolutely fantastic and had loads of space for all 11 of us. The en-suite was a god-send and the kids loved having chickens and hares so close. We went on lots of lovely walks and because the weather was so warm, even managed to eat outside a couple of nights (in April, who would have thought it).

Thanks very much for letting us stay at your house and we really hope to be able to go back again soon.

Susan, Euan and the rest of the clan.