Through the keyhole: Bluefolds Highland Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Glenlivet Scotland
Posted by admin on June 9, 2009 under Reviews | 
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Forget Alton Towers – live adventurously with the Canny Scots
Compared to England, Scotland may appear to lack theme parks – but then who needs theme parks when you have adventure on a real life scale – from skiing and mountain trekking to river canoeing and true Wildlife safari (you can even get a pot shot at some of the animals if you are that way inclined!)
The Ancient bridge over the Livet - just five minutes drive from the cottage
“But it all sounds a bit exclusive – and rather expensive,” you might think. Admittedly it is a bit classy, being Royal and all that – but I can guarantee you will not meet a snob and you can have a whole lot of fun for very little outlay. Let me tell you about one of the best value for money holidays you could ever have.
With no entry fee you will have free ranging access to idyllic riverside walks complete with exciting wobbly wooden bridges built by officer training corps (Prince Harry perhaps?), deserted castles with eagle eyries, forest trails for foot, cycle or wheelchair and hidden waterfalls. Not only is this glorious adventure-land bereft of queues – it is practically deserted of human beings. Time and again on our Whitsun break we turned up at a holiday attraction to find ourselves one of a handful of visitors – to be treated with the utmost grace by the courteous and welcoming Scots.
Steve & Elizabeth Oliver
If this tempts you then you will want to stay somewhere really inclusive. Bluefolds holiday cottages located on the edge of the estate provides a really warm welcome for people from all walks of life. Owners Steve Oliver – an Englishman who fell in love with Moray while stationed in RAF Lossiemouth, and his wife Elizabeth, a native Scot, have made Bluefolds and the Glenlivet Estate their pride and passion. Converted from a set of farm buildings in the 90’s Bluefolds includes four luxuriously- appointed properties set on a lush green hillside with a commanding view of the Estate to the mesmerising peaks of the Cairngorms.
No photograph can do justice to the view - the first thing to lift our spirit after an exhausting journey. Then there was “Dronach” the cottage itself, warm and pristine, complete with solid fuel stove stoked with coal for the chilly spring evening and a very acceptable bottle of red. Shortly after arrival Steve appeared, concerned that we should all be made to feel at home. Within minutes he had ascertained that my partner was a whiskey fan and was hatching a plan for a “by appointment only” tour of a local distillery.
Was Steve laying it on for Internet Cottages? I picked up the guest book, and there my suspicious mind was exposed as I read page after page of thanks for Steve and Elizabeth’s hospitality to their spoilt visitors. With constant references to the “hosts” the comments seemed more fitting for a guest house than a holiday let. This is all the more remarkable when you consider that the Olivers live several miles distant from the site.
This warmth and friendliness continued throughout the length of our stay. True to his word, Steve organised a free trip to the Tomintoul distillery for said husband and the group in the neighbouring cottage, Glenlivet, who turned out to be Bluefolds devotees on their seventh visit, with tasting skills honed to perfection. I shall say no more.
A short walk up the hill from our place was the larger detached Folds Cottage inhabited by a lively family group. Arriving in a van bristling with canoes and bikes, they had a programme of relentless adventure planned. I felt a little envious of their energy and obvious holiday organisation skills somewhat lacking in our arty lot, but I don’t think my two kids had any less fun. They were happy watching the birds feeding from the tree by the front door, spotting bunnies, red squirrels, deer, pheasants and river life – including a pair of oystercatchers; colouring in their pictures from the wonderful Elgin museum - visited on a rainy afternoon - and composing a lavishly-illustrated essay for the visitor book. When they weren’t feeling creative they vegged out with the massive telly and repeats of Britain’s Got Talent on Sky.
The view from Dronach
Various excursions took in the Speyside Cooperage - where we watched brawny men hand-making barrels for the Whiskey industry, the Falconry Centre near Huntly where we held birds of prey, the Macduff Sealife Centre and Banff beach on the Moray Firth. Our last evening was spent eating the best haddock and chips in the sun on the beach at Portsoy, a quiet fishing village with more charm than St Ives but none of the tourist trappings. All these attractions were excellent value for money, and at no time on the holiday did we ever feel we were there to be milked for our money by the Scots who seem to honour a hospitality long lost to England, sad to say.
On the day we left the weather turned hot, and Steve turned up to wave us off, having checked the internet for the whereabouts of Alma, the local golden eagle, who is often spotted on thermal currents rising from the valley bottom. Sadly we didn’t see her, but we hope that one day we will.
Bluefolds Highland Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Glenlivet Scotland has a 4 star rating from the Scottish Tourist Board, and a bronze level Green Tourism award.
What to do in Glenlivet
Follow the Whiskey Trail
Annual Whiskey Festival (organised by Steve)
Skiing
Trout and Salmon Fishing
Castle Ballindalloch
Walk the Speyside Way
Free Adventure Playground
Canoeing
Find out more: www.glenlivetestate.co.uk
Surrounding region:
40 minutes to beaches, sand dunes, marinas, seals, dolphins on the Moray Firth
www.morayfirth.org
Sealife centre at McDuff,
www.macduff-aquarium.org.uk
30 minutes to Aviemore, River Spey and the Cairngorms
www.visitaviemore.com
