Through the keyhole: Bluefolds Highland Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Glenlivet Scotland

Posted by admin on June 9, 2009 under Reviews | Be the First to Comment

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!)

There is no better place to enjoy this magic world than the Crown Estate of Glenlivet on the edge of the snow-capped Cairngorms in Moray.

“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.

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.

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

Find out more or book a holiday at Bluefolds

Through the keyhole…..Halwyn Holidays

Posted by admin on January 9, 2009 under Reviews | Be the First to Comment

Suzanne, our holiday blogger, meets Steve and Geraldine Dillingham, owners of Halwyn Holidays, Helston, on a family holiday in the Lizard Peninsula.

When Steve and Geraldine Dillingham decided to take the plunge and make their holiday dream of relocating to the remote Lizard peninsula come true, it was a leap of faith for the couple and their two children.

Their choice of home was the converted Halwyn holiday farmstead located along narrow lanes about 2.5 miles out of St Keverne, a small village “in the middle of nowhere”. They purchased the property in March 2006 and moved from Weston-Super-Mare where they had many friends.

Geraldine and Steve with Dog Somerfield

“Everyone warned us that we would feel isolated,” says Geraldine, who hails from Bedfordshire – “they also said that the Cornish people would not be friendly – but they were wrong. The people here love visitors and they are welcoming to anyone who wants to come and live and contribute to the community.

A visit to the Lizard Peninsula out-of-season proves that inland village communities such as St Keverne are full of life. We were charmed by the old-fashioned painted Christmas decorations around the village square, thriving high class butchers, friendly local shops - even a post office and a wonderful drop-in surgery (called upon after our eldest sprained her wrist skating at the Eden Project).

Time warp – the village square, St Keverne

It was important for the Dillingham children, then 11 and 16, to be part of the decision to move. “We all wanted Halwyn,” says Geraldine, “especially the kids – though we made it clear to them that it would be a family effort to run the complex and they would have to pull their weight – which they agreed.”

The Halwyn complex boasts an indoor pool featuring detailed animal murals by a local artist, and two acres of landscaped lawns with sub-tropical gardens around a stream and lake.

Halwyn was converted from a farm way back in the 70’s, but when the Dillinghams took over there was a lot of upgrading to be done. As well as the large farmhouse there is a grain store converted into matching two double-bedroom maisonettes, an ex-piggery hosting an indoor pool and a three bedroom courtyard cottage – and this all required a complete makeover. Now boasting well-appointed kitchens and bathrooms, and charmingly-decorated bedrooms and living rooms adorned with local artists’ images of the Cornish coast, the cottages create a very welcoming environment.

With the eldest child now in college, the gruelling round of cleaning, decorating, administration, marketing and maintenance that goes along with owning four homes keeps the remaining three Dillinghams fully-occupied year round, with help brought in only at the highest point of the season. “It’s about ten times more work than we expected,” says Steve cheerfully. Nevertheless, the couple still find time to run a B&B and evening meal service from the farmhouse, and entertain their visitors once a week with a barbeque on the terrace throughout the summer months. “We ask people to bring their own drinks. It’s a great way for everyone to make friends. Some families have ended up booking weeks together the following year.”

Geraldine has developed a special knack for the details that make sure guests are above all comfortable. “We made a list of all the best things about all the holiday places we’d been,” she said, “and we have tried to put them into practice.”

For our family - mum, dad and two under 10’s - an exhausted arrival after a 7-hour drive was lifted by the joy of finding a luxury box of thickly-coated chocolate biscuits to complement the supplies of fresh milk, tea and home-made mince pies. The pleasure only deepened as we found a welcome hamper containing a bottle of wine, packet of coffee and fresh fruit, then a bale of thick luxury towels on our very comfortable beds – and a nice “spa” touch - fresh towels by the poolside for our sauna and swim, laundered every time. (And just in case they were laying it on for Internet Cottages – I checked the visitors’ book!)

Child 2 enjoys a game of pooh-sticks on the stream

Other fun touches include a huge pile of board games and videos free to raid from the pool conservatory, and an instantly warming coal-effect burner in the lounge to create a cosy atmosphere. It was notable that despite the wealth of local beaches and visitor attractions, my two children were reluctant to go out some days. This may be not surprising given it was January and the weather was a little chilly (although several degrees warmer than the rest of the country) but there is a Halwyn effect - noted by Steve: “It’s amazing - so many people tell us that their kids don’t want to leave here. They’re happy making friends or playing board games – like they are rediscovering family life as it used to be”

I for one discovered why Halwyn has many devotees. If you want to discover a self -catering holiday combining family hospitality with five star touches at affordable cottage prices then you had better book ahead! Prices start from £390.00 for a week for four to six people. Bed and breakfast is available from £30.00 per person per night.

Link to Halwyn

Sorry if you found Halwyn already booked for your preferred week.

Try our full selection of Cornish cottages here.

Tags: Christmas Cottage Availability, cornish cottage, cornish people, cornwall cottages, family holiday, Helston, holiday cottage reviews, Keverne, lizard peninsula, new year self catering