House

Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden

Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden

Photo gallery for Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden

Birchbrae Cottage, approach from farmtrack
Hot Tub
Looking towards farmtrack
Upper window - Kingsize bedroom. 
Lower window -   Lounge
Roe deer in garden

Overview of Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden

9.6 out of 10 Exceptional
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 8200 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Keith, SCT
  • Popular LocationHouse of Mulben7 min walk
  • AirportInverness (INV)73 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden

PLEASE CHECK CURRENT COVID RESTRICTIONS FROM THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR TRAVEL & SELF CATERING.

Birchbrae enjoys a quiet rural location in the heart of Speyside and is less than 5 miles from the town of Keith. It is located on a farm track (of very good standard for all vehicles) set in 1 acre of natural woodland overlooking open countryside. An ideal base for exploring the locaL towns and charming fishing villages of Moray, Aberdeenshire and beyond. A great location for enjoying the great outdoors with excellent walking, fishing, golfing, sailing, skiing and cycling in the surrounding area and regions.

Moray is a mixed area of stunning beaches, agriculture, wide open spaces, fine quality food manufacturers, country pursuits, historical buildings, beautiful forests and hillsides, picturesque coastal & inland villages and least of all over 90 whisky distilleries. Inverness and Aberdeen are equi-distant and approximately 90 mins by car from the cottage. The Aberdeen - Inverness railway line stops at Keith Station. Moray is the home of Baxter's Fine Foods; Gordon & Macphail Whisky Specialists; Johnston's of Elgin Cashmere; Elgin Cathedral & Biblical Garden; Glenfiddoch; Chivas Regal; Glen Grant; Macallan; Aberlour; and many other famous Whisky Distilleries.

Birchbrae offers spacious accommodation for 8 people over two floors.
The ground floor consists of :-
One bedroom with Kingsize bed
One bedroom with 2 single beds
One family bathroom with bath and separate shower cubicle.
Utility room with washing machine and freezer.
Spacious Dining Kitchen with range cooker, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, CD player
Comfortable Lounge with log fire, TV/DVD player, x box, freeview TV, CD player.

The upper floor consists of:-
One bedroom with Kingsize bed, TV/DVD player with ensuite wc and shower cubicle.
One bedroom with 2 single beds.

Two cots, 2 stair gates and 2 high chairs are available if required.

The cottage has oil-fired central heating and hot water system. The water supply is from the Public Mains. All fuels, wood logs, bed linen and towels are provided. WiFi is available, broadband speed is good and mobile phone reception is good. We provide numerous board games, music CDs, DVDs and a selection of books and magazines for all ages and tastes. Currrently these are unavailable due to COVID 19, Please bring your own CDs, DVDs, Games, books and magazines.

The large garden has ample space for children to play, make dens and explore their imagination. There is a hot tub for up to 8 people. A picnic table, outdoor seating and bar-b-que are available.
The front of the cottage is open to countryside views. The rear looks into woodland and is ideal for spotting deer and bird life. Guests with children and pets should take note that the garden is open to the front and although traffic is minimal the farm track is used by farm vehicles and other residents.

There are two access doors both of which have two steps up to them. The gravel driveway is adjacent to the side door which is the most often used door.

The cottage is ideal for two families to holiday together with each floor having a double bedroom and a twin room. We have a number of guests who visit at least annually on a regular basis for some quiet relaxation. Guests vary between groups, couples or a larger families. However we also have business employees who want to relax away from home and prefer the freedom of self catering instead of being restricted by hotel and guesthouses' mealtimes and access restrictions. The cottage is not suitable for hen or stag weekends due to its rural location and lack of public transport.

We welcome well behaved pets. The cottage is located on a farm track where you can walk your dog or take it to any of the nearby forest tracks. The garden however is open to the front so pets will need supervision. As with all rural locations guests are requested to follow the countryside code at all times.

Our garden is just under an acre in size with lawn to the front and natural woodland to the rear. Kids will enjoy making dens, playing hide & seek, bug hunting and using their imagination. We provide bird feeders and seed to spot our regular and harder to find bird species. The nearest neighbours are 100m away.

At Christmas and New Year we will decorate the cottage for you or maybe you'd prefer to get away from the festive season and relax in front of a warm fire instead without any tinsel in sight!

Property manager

SUZANNE MCINTYRE

Languages

English
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Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
High chairs, cots & stairgates available.

Events

No events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed
Well behaved pets are welcome but not in bedrooms.

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Only one household permitted to say under current COVID restrictions. .
Read the House Manual for instructions on use of appliances & Hot Tub. Please report breakages to us immediately to allow replacement or repair.
Children and Adults must be supervised when using the hot tub. No jumping on the fragile cover. Do not use when influenced by alcohol or drugs.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including stag and hen parties
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Keith

Located in Keith, this cottage is in a rural area. Aberlour Distillery and Speyside Way are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Sandy Hole and The Linn Falls. Travelling with kids? Consider Relax, or check out an event or a game at House of Mulben. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • House of Mulben - 7 min walk

Getting around

  • Keith Station - 9 min drive

Restaurants

  • Fochabers Ice Cream Parlour - 13 min drive
  • The Macallan - 14 min drive
  • Tooty's Takeaway - 9 min drive
  • Glenfiddich Distillery - 14 min drive
  • Craigellachie Distillery - 10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Large family & pet friendly modern cottage with Hot Tub in Garden located?

This family-friendly Keith cottage is located in a rural location, 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from House of Mulben, and within 9 mi (15 km) of Sandy Hole and The Linn Falls. Whisky Museum and Strathisla Distillery are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 74 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 14 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 88 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 88 reviews" "

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jane H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gŕeat place
This is a lovely, spacious, well-equipped property. Great for those who enjoy outdoor activities. The hot tub made it very special and Suzanne was a very helpful and attentive host.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Philip W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely stay
We spent a week at this property and enjoyed our stay. It is very spacious and well equipped with plenty dishes and utensils. Location remote but that is what we look for. If I was to have a gripe it would be that the refrigerator is far too small to cater for 8 people. A larder fridge would be more convenient to save trips to supermarket.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Emma S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely families break
We had a fab weekend at Birchbrae, cottage was really spacious and had everything we needed. Thank you for the bottle of wine!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mulben.A very welcoming house.
This break was absolutely brilliant,the house is very spacious,and very well supplied with everything you could need and more.The hot tub was a huge hit with all of us. The Forbes family. Our host was so nice,and just call if requiring any information. Will certainly be back if up that area.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Monica M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay with family
My family and I (5 adults and 2 kids) really enjoyed our stay! The house is lovely, very spacious, cleaned and it has everything you need to make your stay very enjoyable. Suzanne is also very helpful and made sure we had a lovely stay. For sure we will come back!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

About the host

Hosted by SUZANNE MCINTYRE

Host profile image
We both moved to Moray for work reasons originally in the early 1990s and then realised the beauty of living in the area. The people are very friendly and welcoming and there is a wide range of activities and facilities in the area. We originally lived in the historic fishing village of Burghead until we commenced building Birchbrae in 1999 ourselves. Work brought us back to Glasgow in 2004 and to ensure we could keep Birchbrae to return at a future date we decided to turn it in to a self catering holiday cottage. However we don't intend to let go of Birchbrae and very much miss living there full time. Along with my best friend we do the changeovers ourselves to ensure a high standard is maintained. We enjoy the outdoors especially cycling, canoeing, horse riding and plane spotting at RAF Lossiemouth !!

We are both in our 50s with a 14 yr old daughter. Suzanne classes Birchbrae as her natural home despite being a Glaswegian girl. Dougie (a Paisley buddy) has lived in Moray much longer than Suzanne and enjoyed life working for many years in Elgin and for leisure was a player with Moray Rugby club for many years. We both have made great friends in Moray and our best buddies live just along the road from Pluscarden Abbey. Our favourite treats in Moray are eating cake & coffee at Boogie Woogie in Keith, pancakes at Baxters, ice cream from Fochabers, and fabulous food at the Kimberley Inn in Findhorn. When we get time between changeovers we take a nostalgic trip over to Burghead (our old village) walk along the beach, and over to either Lossiemouth for a bit of plane spotting or Findhorn for a nice pub meal. You'll often find us on our bikes at Spey Bay looking for dolphins & osprey and cycling inland up the Spey to Baxters for a pancake treat.

Why they chose this property

Within 30 minutes you can be walking along golden sands, lovely forests or do lunch and shop in the heart of Elgin.
The cottage is built on a natural clearing in woodland which is slightly elevated from the main road. Originally the woodland was part of a large estate which was split up many years ago. We named the cottage "Birch" as it's surrounded by Silver Birch trees and Brae meaning a small hill. Birchbrae is ideal for commuting to the main towns ( 20 - 30 mins in most directions) whilst living in the peace and quiet on a farm on the edge of a woodland. Most fishing villages, towns and places of interest are within 20 - 60 mins drive from the cottage. The cottage itself is close to Ben Aigan, the monster mountain bike trails at Fochabers and the Speyside Way. The local town of Keith is less than 10 mins away by car (4.5 miles) with a small range of independant shops, Tesco, or for a treat from Boogie Woogie. The quiet single track roads and forest tracks nearby are great for cycling and walking.

What makes this property unique

Our 1 acre garden is mostly forest with garden to the front. The cottage overlooks fields and to the forest covered hills towards Elgin. The sunsets are fantastic. The best thing to do on a sparkling clear frosty night is to sit in the toasty warm outdoor hot tub, watching the stars. Enjoy the rest of the evening at the log fire. After a day's site seeing relax with your favourite tipple at the kitchen table while someone else makes dinner or enjoy a summer's evening walk watching for deer and other wildlife on the farm track. The kids love playing in the garden building dens in the woods or checking out wildlife. Birchbrae is 100m from the nearest neighbour so within reason you can make as much noise as you wish or just enjoy the peace of the garden. It is ideal for two families who meet in the kitchen or lounge but can enjoy their own space in the bedrooms on different floors without getting on each others nerves !! We have a number of guests who return regularly to Birchbrae for the peace and quiet but the handiness of being able to choose beach or countryside, shops or historic ruins within 30 mins. We have had honeymooners, ramblers, mountain bikers, fishermen, whisky enthusiasts and golfers. We also have regular business guests who want to avoid the restrictions of bed & breakfast and instead be able to relax or work in the evening, eat when they choose and come and go at their own pace.

Languages:

English
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