The Mews Insch

The Mews is part of our house. The main house is from 1687, and your bit was added on in 1842. It's on the north side. You get the garden to yourselves, which is walled, and the parkland out front. We have miniature Shetland ponies in the parkland, and there's a small lake down there with an island.

It sleeps eight. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms. It's got a 3 Star rating. It's clean and comfortable but it's an old layout. There are no upstairs bathrooms. The building is listed so we can't add one.

The stairs are steep and narrow in places. There are two separate staircases. On one side, two of the bedrooms are connected, so you have to go through one to get to the other. That's fine for a family but not for two couples who want privacy.

The kitchen is well-equipped but not huge. It seats four at the table. There's a 48-bottle wine fridge in there. The separate dining room seats eight comfortably.

The local shop is about 500 yards away. The pub and restaurant are about 800 yards. Insch and Inverurie have more shops and places to eat.

You're right in castle country. There are 14 castles within a reasonable drive. The Hill of Bennachie is good for walks. The Lochter Centre near Inverurie does outdoor activities like archery and go-karts.

Facilities wise: there's parking, a washing machine, a dishwasher, a woodburning stove, and a BBQ. Bedding and towels are included. We can take up to two dogs. There's a highchair and a stairgate if you need them.

Useful links if you're planning: Visit Aberdeenshire and National Trust for Scotland at Bennachie.