Ivy Cottage Crossbrae

Ivy Cottage is on the Mountblairy Estate near Crossbrae in Aberdeenshire. It's a detached stone cottage, so you're on your own. The main thing is the setting. It's quiet, and you look out over fields and woods. The River Deveron runs right through the estate, so you've got good walks straight from the door.

The cottage sleeps four. Two bedrooms, one bathroom. Both rooms have single beds but we can make one into a double if you let us know when you book. It's got a 3 Star rating. It's clean and comfortable, not a show home. There's an open fire in the sitting room. We leave you logs and kindling.

The kitchen has what you need: electric cooker, fridge, microwave. There's a washing machine. The sun porch is a nice spot. We see red squirrels out there quite often. If you're really lucky, you might see a pine marten in the field. The cottage runs on renewable electricity.

You can book fishing on the River Deveron separately. There's a golf course nearby. The coast is about eight miles away if you want a beach.

For days out, Aberdeen is roughly a 45-minute drive. Royal Deeside, for castles like Balmoral and walks, is within half an hour. The Malt Whisky Trail distilleries are around a 30-minute drive too.

Facilities: parking, garden, TV with Freeview, WiFi, bedding and towels are included. You can bring up to two dogs.

Useful links: National Trust for Scotland Aberdeenshire and Visit Scotland Malt Whisky Trail.