The Glebe Duthil

The Glebe is our place up in Duthil, near Carrbridge. It's a big, stone house from the 1700s. It was a church house and a girls’ school a long time ago. Sleeps nine, so it’s good for a big family or a few friends. Five bedrooms, three bathrooms.

It’s got a 4 Star rating. It's comfortable, not a show home. The garden is enclosed and big. There's a private bit of pinewood right there with red squirrels and deer. You often see them from the kitchen window.

The layout is a bit all over the place, which I like. You come in and there's a proper boot room for dumping wet coats. The kitchen is a farmhouse style, big enough for a few people to cook. The dining room looks out into the trees.

Two bedrooms are downstairs. The main one is huge, with an old stone fireplace covering one wall. The twin room downstairs has its own shower. Upstairs is a really large living room with another big fireplace. Three more bedrooms are up there: a twin, a double, and a single. The twin and double have their own bathrooms.

Carrbridge village is two miles away. It's got a pub, a couple of good cafés, and a restaurant. The old stone bridge is there. The village has walking trails in the ancient pine forest, and there's an adventure park for kids. You might see capercaillie if you’re lucky and quiet.

Within half an hour you can get to Aviemore for the ski slopes or mountain biking. Boat of Garten is nearby, famous for the ospreys at Loch Garten. Grantown-on-Spey is close too, and that's where you’ll find some famous whisky distilleries if that's your thing. The Cairngorms National Park authority site is useful for planning.

For facilities: there's parking for four cars. Wood-burning stove in the living room. Washing machine, dishwasher, WiFi, TV. Bedding and towels are included. We've got a cot, highchair, and stairgate if you need them. The entrance and main rooms are on the ground floor and are wheelchair accessible. We take up to two dogs.

That's about it. It's a good base. A week goes quickly.