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Rural north east Scotland holiday home at Lumsden Aberdeenshire

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Clayhooter and south-facing garden.
Clayhooter from the front
Clayhooter and the south facing patio
The south facing garden.
View from the sun-lounge.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Garage parking available
    Enjoy the convenience of garage parking - a rare offering in the area.
4 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 9

Popular amenities

  • Ski lift privileges
  • Garage parking available
  • Dog-friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue

Explore the area

View map
Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland., Aberdeenshire
  • Place, Kildrummy Castle
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Place, Leith Hall and Garden
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, Haughton Country Park
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Airport, Aberdeen (ABZ)
    ‪58 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 9)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Double Bed and 1 Crib

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Rural north east Scotland holiday home at Lumsden Aberdeenshire

The detached house of Clayhooter was built to a very high standard by the current owners 10 years ago and is set in its own grounds of over 2 acres.The property comprises four double bedrooms (and a cot if required), en-suite shower room, bathroom, lounge, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, sun lounge and downstairs toilet. The house has oil central heating, is double glazed and has an oil fired burner in the lounge.Outside there is a south facing patio area and a large lawn surrounding the house.
The property is set in very peaceful surroundings with uninterrupted views but is still within easy reach of the coast, Aberdeen City, the Cairngorm mountains, Royal Deeside,all the local facilities and tourist attractions.
The dining room easily accommodates eight adults and offers spectacular and uninterrupted views over the beautiful and peaceful countryside and hills, including The Buck and Clayhooter, either during breakfast or the colourful sunsets (and occasionally the Northern Lights) over dinner.
Internet access is now available and free to any residents at 'Clayhooter'.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings and birthday parties
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Pets are not allowed upstairs or on any of the furniture. Weekly charges are per pet ie 2 dogs pay 2 times £30 per week or part of.
At least five days notice is required for a booking. Minimum stay five nights.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 803066
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
Parties and events (including family gatherings and birthday parties) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 12
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Huntly

Located in Huntly, this holiday home is in a rural area and in the mountains. Cairngorms National Park and Haughton Country Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Alford Valley Steam Railway and Dean's of Huntly. Travelling with kids? Consider Insch Meadows Wildlife Area and Bennachie Leisure Centre. Enjoy the area's slopes with skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.
View more Holiday homes in HuntlyOpens in a new window
Map
Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland., Aberdeenshire

What's nearby

  • Kildrummy Castle - 9 min drive - 8.6 km
  • Leith Hall and Garden - 16 min drive - 13.9 km
  • Haughton Country Park - 18 min drive - 17.9 km
  • Alford Valley Steam Railway - 18 min drive - 18.6 km
  • Grampian Transport Museum - 18 min drive - 18.9 km

Getting around

  • Huntly Station - 21 min drive
  • Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Kildrummy Inn - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Rannes Hall Community Cafe - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Golden Pheasant - ‬12 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Rural north east Scotland holiday home at Lumsden Aberdeenshire pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much is parking at Rural north east Scotland holiday home at Lumsden Aberdeenshire?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Rural north east Scotland holiday home at Lumsden Aberdeenshire?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Rural north east Scotland holiday home at Lumsden Aberdeenshire?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Rural north east Scotland holiday home at Lumsden Aberdeenshire located?

Located in the mountains, this family-friendly holiday home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Kildrummy Castle, Cairngorms National Park and Haughton Country Park. Leith Hall and Garden and Ardmore Distillery are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

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. 19 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jenny H.

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

ClayHooters

Lovely spacious property, which was ideal for our big party. Great amenities and perfect location for exploring surrounding areas. Exceptional host, who couldn’t have been more helpful.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 25 October 2022
Thank you for your review, Jenny. I am glad you all enjoyed it. You are welcome to come back anytime. Best wishes, Graham Rait
Verified

8/10 Good

Ludvig Å.

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

Nice house with excellent host

This is a decent house on the countryside that matched our expectations. Our host was nice and welcoming. An extra plus that the beds were made when we arrived! It's not luxury by any means, but very cozy and close to nature.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

8/10 Good

Sami N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was as described, house was big and spacious,children enjoyed playing around the house and outside. The only thing would suggest is beds to be more comfortable. Other than that everything else was perfect.
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James C.

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

Just what we wanted

Very spacious property, ideal for our group of five adults and two dogs looking for a quiet place out in the country. It had everything we needed, including a well-stocked larder of goodies left by previous guests! Would definitely recommend, it really lived up to its billing.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 December 2022
Very glad that you enjoyed your stay at 'Clayhooter' and that everything was as promised at the house. You are welcome back at any time, - just let me know. Regards, Graham.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Monica C.

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

Excelent

Very friendly neighbours, property owner was all the time keep communicating and inform us about our stay, very nice and big house, everything provided and clean .Recommend this property.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

8/10 Good

Paul T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very Private we loved it! Great views and a quaint quiet location.. directions were amazing. Sadly the upstairs toilets are not functioning..but the downstairs one is fine! The windows had not been opened for some time, and needed attention.All in all a wonderful experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Archival

10/10 Excellent

relaxing retreat

The house is clean, light and airy and yet so cozy on those dull days. Spend time in the sun room soaking in the view and watching the wildlife. There is so much to do in the area castles (in abundance), mountains, distilleries (sample the goods!!! ) walk along the beach and then visit a charming cafe for scrummy fresh seafood. If you don't want to go far there are some lovely walks straight out of your front door
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
Thank you. Your comments are very welcome.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen K.

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

Trip to the highlands

We had a lovely stay at the Clayhooter! It was a spacious house that was comfortable and clean. Graham was very attentive to any questions as was the neighbor, Karen. We went on a wonderful hike and even met a friendly horse and some highland coos. I can’t recommend this place enough. Thanks so much!
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alan P.

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

Calm, Quiet, Well-Appointed with Stunning Views

We spent 6 nights at the Lumsden house and loved every minute of it. The bedrooms and beds are lovely. The bathrooms are very comfortable. The kitchen is nice and large, well provisioned. The views from the sitting and dining rooms are superb. The views of Clayhooter are fascinating and ever-changing, sometimes partially obscured by fog and low clouds. There are lots of little rabbits running about, the occasional deer and bird of prey. Very little artificial lighting outdoors at night so perfect for stargazing. We found the owner very communicative and the house very well managed. I'm planning on returning as soon as I can.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 7 August 2022
Hello Alan, Thank you for your review of your stay at 'Clayhooter'. We are very glad that you enjoyed the holiday, the house and the surrounding area. We do appreciate that you left the property so clean and tidy after your holiday. You would be very welcome to stay again at 'Clayhooter' at any time. Many thanks, Graham Rait.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hans-Ulrich B.

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

Schottland

Wir waren sehr zufrieden mit der Unterkunft. Es ist zwar etwas abgelegen, dafür, kann man in alle Richtungen Ausflüge machen. Die Wohnung (Haus) ist sehr geräumig und war gut geeignet für uns (nur 5 Personen). Es könnten bis 8 Personen schlafen. Die Räume sind wunderbar hell. Das Haus war sofort warm. Morgens haben wir Fasanen, Hasen und Rehe vom Fenster aus beobachten können. Sehr empfehlenswert!
Stayed 8 nights in May 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joanne C.

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

Christmas 2022

The property and location were all we could of asked for. Plenty of room for us all. Very cosy and like a home form home.
Stayed 9 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 January 2023
Very pleased that you found Clayhooter 'very cosy and like a home from home'.Thank you for leaving the house so tidy - you are welcome back any time. Happy New Year, Garham.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Katren N.

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

Peaceful Christmas break

Great second stay at Clayhooter. Spacious, flexible accommodation and brilliant property manager next door for any advice needed. Thank you, and see you again in future.
Stayed 6 nights in Dec 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Jamie W.

Fantastic rural setting

Very comfortable house, with lots of different spaces to spend time. It would be good to have more than 1 shower in the whole house - especially for larger parties.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Mark B.

Good sized well looked after property with big garden and beautiful views all round

Really enjoyed our stay really nice walks and very relaxing highly recommended and the property made it a really enjoyable stay .
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
Thank you for your review. I am glad that you enjoyed your stay. You are very welcome to stay again. Regards, Graham Rait
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Francis Neville W.

Superb location and spacious property ideal for a quiet getaway

Great property for a large family group, beautiful part of Scotland
Stayed 7 nights in May 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
Thank you for your review of your stay last week with your family at 'Clayhooter'. I am very glad that you found the property so suitable for you all. Many thanks for leaving the house so tidy when you left. You are very welcome to come for a return visit at any time. Regards, Graham Rait.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Vicky L.

Lovely property, great location.

A very comfortable house with everything you need. Cosy and welcoming. The Sun Room especially is fabulous. Lovely views and great to access all areas of Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
I am very glad that you enjoyed your stay at our holiday home in Aberdeenshire. You and your family are welcome back any time.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

6xTOw6zm0Olpycw0v6acC8YTi99VU7dqCXOurXKn5FhtpCry7Kj5+ZBgkFFN6JD1 6.

Thanks for a great holiday .

Clayhooter was exactly as depicted on line - it was spotlessly clean and well maintained with a fully equipped kitchen. Although in a rural area, it was surprising how close we were, by car, to Aberdeen, Royal Deeside, Banff,etc to the north, and in about 2 hours, we were in Dundee. There were many walks in the nearby districts. Unfortunately we couldn't dine at Glekindie Arms as it was closed and up for auction: however, there was Kildrummy Inn for Sunday lunch, Forbes Arms at Brig o' Alford, choice of cafes in Huntly, etc etc. Our favourite was lunch or afternoon coffee was at Kildrummy Castle Hotel, where, whether wet or fine, we were entertained by the squirrels. We travelled from Australia and had a wonderful holiday whilst based at Clayhooter. We;ll be back!
Response from VrboOwner on 26 April 2020
Taking up a booking in Scotland from Australia, when you have never been to the country before, is a bit of a 'blind date' but from this review the property appears to have met all their requirements. I am very pleased that they enjoyed their stay.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Merche C.

Maravilloso Clayhooter

Hemos pasado 12 fantásticos días en Escocia. Gran parte del estupendo recuerdo se lo debemos a esta casa que ha sobrepasado nuestras espectativas: acogedora, amplia, confortable, limpísima, con un montón de servicios, impecable estado. Perfecto. Estupenda la descripción del anuncio y la disponibilidad de su propietario. Los vecinos maravillosos, amabilísimos y muy tolerantes con los niños. Los campos alrededor fantásticos para que jugaran los niños que, también dentro de la casa tenían juegos a su disposición. En fin, hemos pasado todos unos días estupendos en esta casa altamente recomendable. Volveremos con toda seguridad. Gracias
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
This Spanish family thoroughly enjoyed their holiday at 'Clayhooter' so much that they extended their stay by a further week.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

"Clayhooter", Lumsden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

"Clayhooter" was a very comfortable and immaculate home, which met all of our requirements. The setting was gorgeous and perfect for long walks, birding, close to several towns and excellent restaurants. The village was a short walk for papers and basics. Our granddaughter enjoyed the games, books and puzzles that were available for her. TV was available for us, which we enjoyed in the evenings. Neighbors friendly. We could have just stayed! Definitely would recommend "Clayhooter to our Friends. The location was perfect for sightseeing. Many excellent castles and gardens were within a 6 to 20 mile radius. Day Trips: The drive across the top of the Cairngorms to Inverness and on to Urquhart Castle is totally spectacular; Castle Fraser; Fyvie Castle; Huntly Castle; Ballindalloch Castle & Gardens; Kildrummy Castle Gardens, and Leith Hall Gardens. The Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown was an interesting outing a bit farther away. Food: Kildrummy Castle and The Glenkindie Arms. Groceries: ASDA & Tesco - Huntly and Inverurie. The Grampian Transport Museum in nearby Alford was most interesting and the fish & chips shop almost next door scored high.
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
John, Thank you for your comments. I think you obviously appreciated that there are opportunities for holiday makers of all ages to have an interesting and enjoyable time while staying at Clayhooter. Please do come again.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great Idea for holidaying in Scotland

If you require a great home away from home, then this is it. The house is modern, cosy, had all the amenities one could wish for and on top of that it is situated at the end of a quiet lane with the most magnificent views from the house and from the superb sun room. Large garden, all around the house, therefore plenty of room for the children to play and barbecues to take place. Walks from the house are numerous and the beautiful coast and beach a short car ride away. A Shop and Pub in easy walking distance completes a really relaxing holiday with plenty of sights to explore in the area and beyond. Stables are nearby and therefore horse riding in a lovely area is also possible. I would recommend winter or summer, I could imagine the terrific tobogganing when the snow is on the ground. I look forward to repeating the trip sometime in the future. Jacque Matthews, Brixworth.
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
We are very pleased that you had a relaxing holiday. You are welcome back any time.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Perfect Family Get Away

The house is light, clean, spacious, very child friendly, more fully equipped than my own home and three bathrooms really helps on family holidays! The views are stunning and the setting is so peaceful that traffic passing down the lane is a novelty although the village with shop, garage and pub is just a 5 minute stroll away. We found there was so much to do: hill walking, paddling at the beautiful beach at Sandend, fresh seafood at Banff and visiting the Sea Life Centre, horse-riding (even for our one year old!), fly fishing, trips to Alford, Huntly, Ballater and Braemar, the Whisky Tour..., I could go on. The children were equally happy riding their bikes down the quiet country lanes, or pottering around the child-proof garden leaving Mum and Dad to enjoy a large glass of red (or two!) and a well earned rest. We certainly found the whole experience very relaxing - we even saw some deer in the garden! My only complaint was we didn't have long enough to do everything. We're visiting again this year and I can't wait!! I've heard the food at the nearby award-winning Glenkindie Arms is superb; just hope we can get there this summer. PS. For those who enjoy winter sports such as skiing and snow-boarding, the house is ideally located for the Cairngorms. PPS. A downstairs bedroom and toilet makes the house an ideal holiday venue for the less able as well as the active (access to the house is via a couple of steps).
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
We are very happy that you and your family are coming back to stay at 'Clayhooter' again. We hope you will enjoy your next stay just as much as your first visit.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Highland Haven !!

We had a fantastic holiday. The house has a lovely ,homely feel particularly as it had a large toy selection which was great to keep our todlers amused !! It was clean ,tidy and very spacious. It is literally built in the middle of a field so every view is of the Scottish countryside ! We walked through the woods went to a distillery and spent a day on the beach. We ate at the Alford Bistro (great for kids lunch.) steak and chips is superb. Thank you for having us !!
Response from VrboOwner on 27 March 2020
We are glad that you enjoyed your stay - you and your family are welcome again anytime.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra S.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025

About the host

Hosted by Graham Rait

Host profile image
Although my family, (one wife, Hazel, two daughters, two sons in law, three granddaughters, one grandson and a black labrador) now live in the English Midlands I was born in Aberdeen and spent my early years in Huntly,- about 12 miles from Lumsden, and I have great affection for Scotland. I am now retired and spend time in Scotland whenever I can.

Why they chose this property

We built this property 12 years ago, to our design, and we feel that it has all the facilities that you could want in a holiday home. We consider it to be a very user-friendly house with a very welcoming atmosphere and a very safe home and environment for children.
If you need any further information read the reviews from Australia, USA, Spain and the UK or telephone me on 01536 726623

What makes this property unique

Peaceful, safe, fantastic views, within reach of so many attractions from castles, mountains, distilleries, beaches, golf, fishing, walking, climbing, skiing, restaurants, etc, etc, and Aberdeen is less than an hour away. What else could you want on a Scottish holiday.

Languages:

English
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