Mountshade Whitestone

This is Mountshade. It's a detached lodge up near Whitestone in Aberdeenshire. You get a good view of Cairn O'Mount from here.

It sleeps four, in two bedrooms. There are two bathrooms, which is handy. It's got a 4 Star rating, which just means it's well kept, not overly fancy.

The main living space is open plan, with a high ceiling. Big concertina doors open from the living room straight out onto a deck. You can sit out there with a drink and just look at the view.

The lodge is on its own bit of land, with other lodges nearby but spaced well apart, so it's private. The whole place is set in eight acres of woodland.

Inside, there's a woodburning stove for cooler evenings. It's got a dishwasher, washing machine, TV, and WiFi. Bedding and towels are included. There's a cot if you need it. You can bring one dog.

For a pint or some shopping, you'll need to go about five miles. Banchory is the nearest proper town, also about five miles away. It's got shops and places to eat.

You're right on the edge of Royal Deeside here. There's walking, cycling, and fishing all around. Balmoral Castle isn't far if you want to do the tourist thing. Aberdeen is about a half hour drive for city stuff, like shops or the theatre. If you ski, the Lecht and Cairngorm resorts are reachable in season.

Some useful links if you're planning walks or days out: Visit Aberdeenshire and Cairngorms National Park.