See all properties
Entire home

Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail.

Photo gallery for Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail.

Exterior
Exterior
Outside Patio area with chimnea fire, seating, BBQ and open views, views, views
Property grounds
Outside Patio area with chimnea fire, seating, BBQ and open views, views, views

Reviews

9.6 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Air-conditioning

Explore the area

View map
Ballindalloch, SCT

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 2

2 Double Beds

Library/Bedroom

1 Double Futon

Master

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail.


On The Whisky Trail. Outstanding open views over moorland, glen & mountain, perfect retreat and escape you wont forget!

Landscape to take your breath away! Glenarder is a beautiful Highland stone cottage set in 2 acres of stunning scenery. On The Whisky Trail. Views over moorland, glen & mountain, perfect retreat! On the iconic Malt Whisky Trail and 2km from The River Spey. Pictures cannot fully do justice!

Perfect for romantic get-aways, families, festivals, distilleries, walking, fishing, golf, beaches, castles, shopping & outdoor activities. Peaceful seclusion yet close to distilleries and resturants. Central base for touring with easy access to Inverness and Aberdeen airports.

The cottage is stocked with basic pantry staples such as tea, coffee, sugar, cookies, spices, oils etc. Lots of blankets, books and cozy cushions.

THE COTTAGE.
The interior has been recently fully renovated and designed by the owners who are in the fashion industry, the vibe is 'Modern Country' with attention to detail, comfort and function.

First and foremost Glenarder is a holiday home, a calming retreat, a place of rejuvenation and celebration ....therefore, the order of the day is comfort, warmth, minimum fuss and most importantly authentic to the Scottish Highland living experience. Glenarder Cottage offers you luxury accommodation and furnishings while giving you a relaxed style and warmth to the home environment - often not found in holiday rentals.

The cottage was renovated in 2015 -2017. The interior design is authentic to the Highlands and respectful of the cottage's character. It has been lovingly renovated and designed by ourselves, we come from a luxury fashion industry background and this is reflected in the selection of exceptional furnishings and finishes to make your stay special. Much thought has been put into anticipating your needs, providing warmth and comfort but also keeping it practical for holidays and Highland life.

We have selected pieces from our travels around the world as well as as many local products as possible such as lovely Johnston's of Elgin Chair and a highland door curtain using local tweed made only 2km from Glenarder.

The living spaces has been designed with groups in mind, providing two sitting areas which allows for everyone to have their own space (and TV if wanted). Enjoy our wood burning stove in the evenings.

Central to the cottage is the farmhouse kitchen, fantastic for entertaining, dinners round the table,. The kitchen and utility room has been designed by DeVol Kitchens, renowned for their -beautifully simple- handcrafted kitchens, an ode to Modern Farmhouse design. Adjacent to the kitchen is the arrival utility room with coat & shoe storage, washer/dryer. farmhouse sink.

The bathroom combines farmhouse modernity with soothing tones and textures. The bathroom features claw foot soaker tub and shower with beautiful artisan tiles and marble sink. Enjoy the selections of Made in Scotland selected by the owners for your enjoyment, fluffy towels and an a outstanding private view over the property and to the hills in the back. It's our 'mini Highland spa'.

Bedrooms feature #1 Super King bedroom (sleep 2); with a hand made bed, comfortable and luxurious. #2. Double bedroom with 2 double beds (sleep 2-4). #3 Library/bedroom with pull out sofa bed (very comfortable (2 children / 1 adult comfortably).
All the beds are luxuriously made up in exceptional linens and bedding to ensure great sleeps. Both upstairs bedrooms have front and back views.

The lounge features a wood burning fireplace, a large comfy Harris Tweed Couch and lovely views to the front of the property. Lots of cushions, blankets and books to curl up with.

Outside we have set up a lovely patio area complete with a outdoors fire pit, a bbq, picnic table and seating. We even provide the BBQ coals to get you started. The patio area enjoyes beautiful sunsets while the front of the house enjoys morning sun, perfect place for your morning coffee while you take in the views of Ben Rinnes and enjoy the wildlife of birds, roe deer and a few sheep grazing in the next feild.

Please see photo descriptions for further information about specifics and layout.

*Please review bedding and bedroom layout to make sure it works for you*

Add dates for prices

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Cragganmore Lodge
Highland Tranquility next to the River Spey in the Heart of Malt Whisky Country
Cragganmore
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
9.8 out of 10, Exceptional, (53 reviews)
Highland Tranquility next to the River Spey in the Heart of Malt Whisky Country

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 9 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Must be agreed prior booking. + 100.00 GBP
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Check-out instructions

The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Load and start the dishwasher
Gather used towels
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights, lock the doors and return the keys
Please turn off the hot water and heat on the wall panel.
Clean oven or BBQ if you used it.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Guest/s rules are outlined in the "Rental Agreement". See Rule 2.
All guest/s acknowledge at booking that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all of our rules.
Any pets included must disclosed and approved prior to booking with the host. Pet policy / fees apply in this instance.

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number 23/01717/STLHL
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
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Ballindalloch

Located in Ballindalloch, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Knockando Woolmill and Ballindalloch Castle are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Craig MacLean Leisure Centre and Tininver Park. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing, snowboarding and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging.
View more Holiday homes in BallindallochOpens in a new window
Map
Ballindalloch, SCT

Getting around

  • Keith and Dufftown Railway - 20 min drive
  • Inverness (INV) - 71 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Joseph Walker - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪Aberlour Distillery - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Mash Tun - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Byre - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪MBar - ‬13 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail. pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 9 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail.?

As of 7 May 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail. on 15 July 2026 start from NZ$632, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Speyside Cottage. Amazing views and tranquility. On the iconic Whisky Trail. located?

This family-friendly Ballindalloch holiday home is located by the sea, within 3 mi (5 km) of Knockando Woolmill and Cardhu Distillery. Glenfarclas Distillery and Ballindalloch Castle are also within 6 miles (10 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. 24 out of 27 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 27 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 27 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 27 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful! Exceeding all expectations. Definitely going to book again…..for a much longer stay. Thank you, we loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified

8/10 Good

Larisa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely private

We enjoyed our stay at Glenarder. The house was lovely and we
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jonathan C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Speyside Cottage

Fantastic property in the heart of Speyside, close to the Ballindalloch Estate and was a perfect base for visiting the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Peaceful and quiet, with magnificent views all around.Absolutely everything you need is provided for and I can honestly say that I have never stayed in a better equipped cottage.Thank you to Yvonne!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Michael T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A little getaway

A great place to stay that feels like home. The host makes you feel so welcome that it makes it easy to relax and enjoy. Has an incredible view of the countryside while enjoying a drink on the patio.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kay C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful and Relaxing

We had a wonderful stay at Speyside Cottage. It’s a wonderful location for peace and quiet. The cottage was clean and comfortable and the property is in a very serene and scenic location. Yvonne was a wonderful host.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

A S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This property is like a storybook! We stayed at 6 different properties across Scotland during our 2 week trip, and this one was by far the crowd favorite. The house itself has such amazing charm in every corner, and makes you feel at home from the moment you enter. The owners clearly have a lot of love for this property, and provide great instructions on all aspects of making your stay an enjoyable one. The views and property around this cottage are simply unbelievable. Staying here was like taking a deep, cleansing breath. If you are looking for a place to get away from the chaos of the world, this is it.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

scottish paradise

best cottage during our Scotland trip!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alice M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing weekend away

Glenarder cottage is very welcoming and beautiful. We just stayed a couple of nights but we enjoyed the peace and quite and wonderful views. Yvonne is really a great host and the property has everything you might need and even more. We definitely recommend it and we'll certainly come back!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Julius H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful house

Kitchen is amazing! We made fantastic meal’s thank to the complet equipment. Excellent place to start your Whisky Tour. We do recommend this place!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Terrific stay in Speyside on the Whisky Trail

The property was delightful, and accurately described on-line. The check in and check out instructions were spot on. The house was very well equipped. The kitchen was quite adequate, the bedrooms were comfortable, and there was plenty of hot water for showers. The views were gorgeous! We all thoroughly enjoyed the quiet location and wished we had more time in our itinerary to stay there longer.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Saadia A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bliss in Ballindalloch Cottage

The house was charming and beautiful. The location was terrific for doing day trips to distilleries, castles and many other sites. Most mornings, we found lots of sheep right up against the inner fence - this was a personal highlight! Yvonne was a great host and I would recommend a stay at her amazing home!
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Bernadette S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing home in beautiful speyside

We had such a great time visiting neighbouring towns, fishing on the Spey River with our guide, touring local whiskey distilleries and enjoying the amazing scenery! We would go back anytime! Thank you to our wonderful host!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Melissa & Jim M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay!

We had a lovely stay in Yvonne’s picturesque cottage. No one but sheep around on this amazing property! She was super helpful with local recommendations including Distillery drivers. :) We would love to come back again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jeff M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning Luxury home in the Highlands!!

Beautifully presented home, great rural location in the Highlands, picture perfect in every aspect!! Thank you!!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jessica R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely magical! Our family of six adults stayed for three nights. When we arrived it was quite hot, but once opening up the windows and doors the heat cleared out nicely. The house has everything you need. We made a day trip to the beach! This wasn’t on our original plan, but there was a heat wave in Scotland! Our second day we drove to Balmoral Castle. The drive in any direction is beautiful! The landscape surrounding the house is stunning. We were hoping the sheep would come right up to see us, but we enjoyed watching and hearing them from a distance. The home was perfectly appointed and comfortable. We did some laundry, there were a lot of moths, we think they may have eaten through a towel and some shorts. Overall, the experience was magical!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Thomas H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Classic Scottish country cottage

This home is lovely. Very clean. Beautiful quiet countryside. Easy access to the Cairngorms. Coordinating with the host was extremely easy. Great spot for our family of 5 (all 3 children are young adults).
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marielle W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Escape to the Highlands

Just wow. We will be back next year!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

m. r.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very nice private house

Very nice cottage. Very quiet and a lovely 360 view. Perfect if you love the county site. Interior was cozy, the fire place was perfect. Beds were soft! Perfect The bbq is good, but a little rusty. Overall we were enthusiastic about the place. The best we stayed in.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

John B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our only regret was not staying longer!

Wonderful location, beautifully finished house with so many special touches. Kitchen had everything we needed and more, spices, oil, some coffee. We felt like we were at home and want to retire there! Yvonne was very accommodationg and quick to reply to any queations we had. We'd go back in a heart beat!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Stan J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!!!

There aren't enough stars to give this property. Hands down one of the best VRBOs we've stayed in, and we've stayed in quite a few. Communication with the host is excellent, and there are amazingly detailed instructions provided at the cottage itself. The location is as tranquil as can be achieved. Out in the middle of the countryside, with sheep all around. We scrapped an entire days worth of plans on one of the days we stayed, due to how beautiful the location was. We chose to simply sit outside that day and take in the beauty instead. The home is lovely, and it shows that they take great pride in it. Will absolutely stay here again!!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Tristan D.

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

So disappointing

We stayed here for Xmas eve and Xmas night and cooked dinner for our small family. The countryside and nearby towns are beautiful and the property is lovely. However, we feel compelled to rate at 1 star. It’s a shame this owner doesn’t seem to enjoy the experience of sharing her property. She provides copious pages of new rules the day before arrival (despite knowing we had been in a very long international transit) and another two booklets upon arrival contain further rules, as well as signs posted all over the house reminding you of what you can’t do just incase you couldn’t wade through the plethora of instructions already provided. For example, you are literally not allowed to use the kitchen sink incase of damage. A small plastic tub is provided as a substitute which doesn’t fit most pots and pans or oven trays in it to clean. As much as we are of course happy to respect someone else’s place and belongings, it really is impossible to read all the fine print and not end up upsetting the owner here unless you don’t wish to use the property for anything but sleep, and the feeling is generally unwelcoming and stressful. When we arrived, the house was freezing cold and the hot water not turned on, despite all the heating having timers and the cleaner having been there that day. Minimal firewood was provided and instructions to go back to town to get some, despite an entire barn of firewood next to the house. The accommodation was not as described, including on cleanliness, facilities, internet access etc. However, we got on with it, in the spirit of not complaining and enjoying Xmas and not bothering the owner at that time either. When we left, we were sent rude messages from the owner and charged an additional cleaning fee because the fridge and interior of the oven were dirty and we did not take the garbage bags to the outside bins, which are 150 metres from the property, in the pitch black and snow. It’s a bit much when it’s quite expensive and we had already paid a cleaning fee. Furthermore, when we tried to come up with a common sense and reasonable outcome for both us and the owner, we received personally insulting messages and no willingness to resolve the issue. I really wouldn’t bother with the risk of staying here and having your downtime compromised by the owner’s attitude to hospitality.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Petra K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sfeervolle authentieke woning op oogverblindende lokatie

Waanzinnig mooi gelegen heel smaakvol authentiek stenen huis. Heel sfeervol, goed gevulde diverse boekenkast, mooie kunst. Heerlijk verblijf
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Taste of the Highlands

A delightful cottage - exactly as described. Equipped with everything you might need - binoculars, picnic basket, spices. We were delighted from the time we arrived until we left. Cows on the hillside, sheep in the meadow. My favorite memory of Scotland!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Highland Cottage

The setting was beautiful and quiet. The cottage was beautifully decorated and very comfortable with all we needed. The nearby villages were beautiful.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrew W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thank you

We really enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

About the host

Hosted by Yvonne Mandel

Host profile image
Although I love travel I love home more. Through all this moving and travel Glenarder .....our wee house in Scotland has become 'our happy place'. We love the contrast between urban living in our daily city life and quite, peaceful Glenarder.

Mother of two. Fashion industry. Born in Aberdeen, Scotand, most recently we have been living in London, and Moscow. And for the present are are located between New York City, Canada and Glenarder!

Previous to our time in Moscow we lived and brought our children up in the beautiful city of Montreal where we enjoyed Quebec and N.E East coast US.

I love fashion design, sustainable design, property renovation, pop culture, reading, travel, cooking and interior design. I also own my a candle business called SPÈ Candle, candles inspired by Glenarder.

We have had many great experiences hosting meeting people from all over the world who bring their own energy and happiness into Glenarder, making Glenarder a place of positive energy and many happy memories in the making

Why they chose this property

Scotland is the home of my birth and all my family life there so trips home have been part of our family life, it is so special that we now have our own home in Scotland and it is a pleasure to share that special place on earth with other people.

We were looking for a holiday home and somehwere to call home in Scotland close to my family...we wanted remote and away from busy roads and human noise. As soon as we turned of the main road and headed due west towards the moorland behind Glenarder we knew we had found our place.

What makes this property unique

Views and tranquility!

360° unobstructed rural and wild views of glens, moorland and the majestic Ben Rinnes. Views from every single room will delight you. Complete tranquility and peace! Yet we are not so remote that we are to far from services. We are close to the beautiful town of Aberlour and Craigellachie which have a great selection shops, resturants and whisky bars.

On the Malt Whisky trail and central to walking paths, castle trail, fishing, golf. Located on the edge of the Cairngorm National Park with fabulous outdoor and nature activities for all the family including ski-ing. Easily acessable to Inverness and Aberdeen airports as well as being centrally located for touring Scotland.

Languages:

English, German

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback