Reviews of Property: EDIN=30mins: INCREDIBLE+FANTASTIC+SPECTACULAR BY OUR GUESTS PETS OK

Description Cottage, 80 m²,
2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6, 1 Bathroom
Facilities near the sea, rural, garden, pets considered, internet access, TV
Rates per property (GBP)
£55 - £125/night 
£275 - £575/week 
Douglas Gray
+44 01368-863035
+44 01368-867117
Speaks: English

21 Reviews of Property 90710 in Edinburgh & Lothians, United Kingdom

Rating
5 out of 5

The best cottage we could choose

Abi09 Deutschland
Review Submitted: May 27, 2009 Date of Stay: May 2009
To reside in Barnyards Cottage with my three friends was the best decision I´ve ever made. The house was all clean and tidy when we arrived although we had come a day earlier than expected. The house is just cute and contained everything we needed. The owner´s description of the cottage is well fitting, everything is as beautiful as promised. There are no complaints to add, everything worked perfectly. We didn´t have a single problem, neither with the house nor with the owner Douglas. He was very friendly, often offered his help in case of any trouble and did everything to make us enjoy our stay. Because Douglas knew we had no car, he came to pick us up at the train station in Dunbar and also took us there at the day of our departure. He also took us to Dunbar and explained to us the ways to the train station, the supermarket, the beach and everything else we might need to know. Douglas also gave us a plan with departure times of the local bus leaving just a few metres from the cottage. He was always there for us in case of any emergency. Before our journey I had contacted Douglas and he gave me so much information about trains, buses, prices etc. that it was impossible for us to get lost on the way to Spott although we were a group of four female teenagers staying in Scotland for the first time. We enjoyed our visit to Spott very much and we could relax very well because there were no problems, no trouble, nothing to complain about.
We also enjoyed the beautiful landscape and the numerous possibilities to learn something about Scotish history and culture. We visited Edinburgh and Glasgow which are two cities full of interesting monuments, museums and nice places.
I advise everyone thinking about a holiday in Scotland to come to Barnyards Cottage, no matter whether you come alone, with your family, with a pet or just with your partner. We had a great time in Spott and I am quite sure that I will come back there sometime.
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Adventure Seekers, Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: A great review from these very very nice young ladies.

We like to help our guests as much as possible - and the girls have recognised this.

They were a very nice group - just completed their final exams at school and were chilling out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They reckoned that it was the perfect 'SPOTT' to chill ou.

They were exceptional - They left the cottage in perfect condition, no problems no mess, no noise - nothing at all !!

We were fortunate that we accommodate them : they arrvied a day early, but it all worked out OK for everyone.

We all went on a Landrover trip round the surrounding area - which they enjoyed.

We wish all of them good luck in their jobs/careers/studies.

They are all very nice people.

Best wishes

Dougie + Christine
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Rating
5 out of 5

lovely cottage, spectacular nature

Fabian&friends Witten, NRW, Germany
Review Submitted: October 22, 2009 Date of Stay: October 2009
We had an amazing trip and awesome weather!
The pictures don't promise too much, the cottage is as lovely as it looks. The house was equiped with everything we needed and we had a very comfortable stay.
Dougie and his family were very nice to us and gave us a warm welcome. Many thanks to Dougie again for picking us up at the airport so we didn't have to drive on the left for the first time in the middle of the night.
He also showed us the area for nearly 3 hours and explained a lot about the area.
The landscape was spectacular and we definitely need a second visit to really see everything (even tho a lot of it is only 2 miles away from the cottage).
We are already looking forward to our second stay in Spott.

Thanks for everything,
Fabian&friends
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Adventure Seekers, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
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Rating
5 out of 5

Thanks for a wonderful start into our holidays

Ulie Hannover, Deutschland
Review Submitted: October 16, 2009 Date of Stay: August 2009
Dear Doug and family (esp. Kirsty),

finally our resumée on our stay at your place: it will be kind of a love letter :o)

Another guest wrote that she could only use superlatives to describe her stay at your cottage and Moni and I totally agree with her!
It´s been marvellous, wonderful, great, PERFECT!! Everything was just perfect, i can´t stop repeating it.

From our telefoncontacts (with Kirsty, which were kind of entertaining ;o)) to your emails towards us, we felt very, very welcome and at home when we hadn´t even stepped on scottish ground.
And when we met your family on the first evening, it was absolutely lovely!

Thanks for taking your time to show us your country! Thanks for being such great hosts to us.
We felt very comfortable.

Your cottage is very beautiful! Very well-equipped and very, very lovely (lovingly ?) decorated. It´s very tidy and a perfect house for 4 people.
Thanks for having us as your guests!

We met a lot of people during our stay in Scotland. All were very warmly and nice towards us, but still your family is on top of that list of nice people!

Moni and I are still very sorry that we didn´t stay longer, but we do intend to come back!
And we are sooo going to recommend your house to friends and family.

Thank you very much for such a great start into our holidays!

We wish you all the best!

Ulrike, Monika and Dunja (the fluffy Keeshond)

Dougies Cottage ist ein wunderbares Ferienhaus. Supertolle Einrichtung und sehr sauber. Gut für 2 und 6 Personen, perfekt für 4 Personen.
Dougie und seine Familie sind phanstastisch.
Mietet das Cottage und habt einen schönen Aufenthalt!!
Recommended for:  Pet-friendly, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Families with Young Children
Owner's Response: Very nice guests with a very nice dog!!

It is excellent that our guests continue to appreciate the quality and atmosphere that the property has.

We enjoy helping and advising our guests to explore the area.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Lovely!!!

mara76 Cologne, Germany
Review Submitted: August 9, 2009 Date of Stay: August 2009
I can recommend this cottage to all Britain-Lovers, for it's such a lovely, adorable and cute "Scottish" home.
It was such a pleasure to spend time there, everything was perfect.
Douglas, the owner, is such a nice and caring person, always a great help for everything and to everybody.
We felt very much cared about and so comfortable staying in Spott - with its beautiful nature around, very nice landscape - the sea always in view.
There's so much stuff you can do there - hiking, sightseeing, trips to the coast, getting to know more about Scottish history or just relaxing on the beach or in the beautiful garden.
If you go to Sotland - this is the place to be!!!
You won't be disappointed, it will be an oasis!!
Thanks to Douglas again for making our stay so wonderful, we'll come back!!!
Take care!!!
Many "sunny" greetings from Germany
Marissa, Dominique & the kids
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Adventure Seekers, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: A very nice family - and very inerested in the area. They travelled a lot and seen many interesting and entertaining events.

They are very well travelled across Europe - it is a great pleasure for such a positive review, bearing in mind their experience of holiday locations and accommodation.

Many thanks from everyone at Spott, Scotland. (it is very sunny and warm today)
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Rating
5 out of 5

Total bliss-peace & quite, plus fantastic weather!

Incola Leicestershire
Review Submitted: July 7, 2009 Date of Stay: June 2009
Our stay at The Square in Spott was the best ever. The cottage was beautiful with everything one could want and more. Dougie & Christine have pulled out all the stops with this enchanting cottage. The decor and fittings are first class, comfortable, clean, modern yet in keeping with the cottage. Loads of hot water, towels, kitchen equipment, barbecue, garden furniture - you name it and it was there. Every amenity.

A lovely touch was the welcome package of flowers, wine and a few essentials to start the holiday off to a good start. Dougie also treated us one evening for a trip in his land rover to take in all the scenery and wildlife. Search as we may we never did find any deer, but Dougie assured us they were there! Our dogs had a wonderful time on the beaches and over the fields. There is also a lovely walk along the cliffs in Dunbar, which was great with access to a big park.

The cottage is very easy to find. Near to Dunbar with loads of good restaurants. Close to loads of places to visit. There is a large supermarket just 2 miles down the road if needed.

The weather was simply wonderful and we enjoyed lots of sun, walking, sightseeing and having a lovely rest. Our usual attire for Scotland of wellies, jumpers and coats stayed in the car and were never used! In fact if the weather had not been good I would have been quite content to stay in the cottage with my book, as it was so lovely. We have been to this area many times but never had such weather and comfortable accommodation.

So I can truly recommended a stay here. Dougie & Christine made us so welcome and were always on hand if we had any problems – which we did not. Everything was perfect.

Thank you for such a lovely stay.
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Adventure Seekers, Sightseeing, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Many thanks for the very positive review.

A very nice family group who certainly enjoyed the area and the cottage. It is great to see people enjoy the cottage and the immediate area.

They had some fantastic weather - in fact that is probably the reason why the wildlife were so hard to find - just too bright and sunny and just too hot!!! The deer were probably lying in the shade somewhere cool - we should have done the same.

I think the Landrover trip is now standard............it certainly helps everyone find out were to go what to see and is a bit of a small adventure. There are so many beautiful walks, beaches and places of interest locally that even I forget some of them.

I'd better clean out out the old Landy again!!

Hope to see you all again.


Christine + Dougie
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Rating
5 out of 5

Birdwatching Cottage

Fernando & Eugenia Seville Spain
Review Submitted: June 28, 2009 Date of Stay: May 2009
The cottage is like a fairy tale house, full of details, with wonderful gardens and great beds where you can rest very comfortably. There’s a modern and fully furnished kitchen to feel at home. The surroundings are marvellous, with forests, the sea and cereal crops. Tens of birds arrive at the feeding boxes that are installed in the gardens. The place is very peaceful and it only takes you two minutes by car to get to the hypermarket ASDA in Dumbar.
Moreover, Dougie and his family are wonderful people. They were always solicitious to help us, and they made their best to communicate with us since our English is not as good as we would wish. 100 per cent recommendable.


La cabaña es como una casa de cuento, llena de detalles, con maravillosos jardines, con camas estupendas en las que da gusto descansar. Una cocina completamente equipada y moderna. Para encontrarte como en casa. Los alrededores maravillosos, con bosques, el mar y cultivos de cereal. Las aves llegan por decenas a los comederos instalados en los jardines. El lugar es muy tranquilo y tienes el hipermercado ASDA en Dumbar a dos minutos en coche. Y si fuera poco Dougie y su familia se portaron maravillosamente siempre atentos para ayudarnos y hacerse entender ya que nuestro inglés deja mucho que desear. Recomendable cien por cien.
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Adventure Seekers, Girls Getaway, Tourists without a Car, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Fantastic guests and a fantastic review.
Many thanks to Fernando for the pictue of the puffin that he sent to me. The picture was taken on his visit to the Isle of May, on a bird watching excursion. I am showing it on my own website - please have a look.

Great people, I hope they visit again!!!!
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Rating
5 out of 5

The Best Spott in Scotland

JR Canada
Review Submitted: May 2, 2009 Date of Stay: February 2009
What a wonderful week we had in Dougie’s fantastic cottage. This is the perfect place to get away from it all, very quiet location. The cottage has everything needed and more. We were out everyday to explore Scotland and coming back for dinner and evening was just like going back home. Dougie has lots of information on what to visit, where to go, what’s around and even gave us a ride around to see the surroundings, very interesting. I would definitively go back but for longer.

Très belle semaine dans un endroit très calme. Cet endroit est idéal pour se reposer du stress quotidien. Le chalet dispose de tout et plus. Nous avions le sentiment de retourner à la maison après avoir visite toute la journée. Le propriétaire est une excellente source d’information pour les endroits à voir et visiter. La prochaine fois ce sera deux semaines.
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Adventure Seekers, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Many thanks to JR and family for the very nice comments.

The Best SPOTT in Scotland...... I like it very much.

They are a very nice family - with many interesting activities. They love to travel and explore the surrounding country.
They visited Loch Ness, Glencoe and Inverness. They also visited Edinburgh, Stirling and other historical places of interest. Spott was a great base for them to travel from.
We would love for them to visit our cottage again.

We had an enquiry from one of their friends - unfortunately we were fully booked for the period that they required.

We are happy that they enjoyed the cottage, and that it fully satisfied their expectations.

Best regards
Christine and Dougie.
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Rating
5 out of 5

A Spott of tranquility

Carol&Steve Darwen, Lancashire UK
Review Submitted: February 21, 2009 Date of Stay: February 2009
We had a lovely time at this cottage. It was perfect for that peaceful getaway, with everything you could need just a short drive away. Great for exploring the area, including Edinburgh.
Dougie, Christine and the family were very friendly and helpful.
We are sure to visit again and would definitely recommend it to friends.
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Adventure Seekers, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Caroline and Steve booked the cottage at very short notice and arrived as agreed, with no prior booking arrangements. Just a quick phone call confirming availability and price - they arrived within 20hours!!
They are a very friendly and helpful couple, undemanding and enjoy travel & breaks.
The cottage was recognised by them as being of a very good standard.
They have a good manner and are very easy to deal with.

On leaving the property, they left it neat, clean and tidy - almost like they had never been staying!!!

Good guests, nice people.

Dougie
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Rating
5 out of 5

Scotish Country Cottage

GaryStaffs Staffs UK Nashville USA
Review Submitted: February 1, 2009 Date of Stay: January 2009
Had a very good time at the cottage, excelent location in a pretty village with views of the coast but only minutes from the town of Dundar & a short drive to the centre of Edinburgh. The cottage is very clean & well equiped & with all the up todate things like new kitchen & bathroom, very comftable beds & relaxing lounge.
Christine & Dougie the owners are very nice people & very willing to help with anything at all.
Would recomend the cottage 100%!!!
Gary
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Adventure Seekers, Girls Getaway, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Gary visited the cottage for a week during January. He is a very entertaining person and it is clear that he has lots of experience relative to travel and hospitality.

We are pleased with his comments about the cottage.

We look forward to him visiting again or better still, visiting Gary in Tennessee!!

Dougie
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Rating
5 out of 5

October break 2008

dazzal Rugby, Warwickshire
Review Submitted: November 2, 2008 Date of Stay: October 2008
Well where do I start..
We had a fantastic time, the cottage was perfect, Dougie the owner was great, he spent half a day driving me round to show me all the great places I wouldn't have found without being shown.
We went for many walks, on which we saw deer, pheasants, foxes, buzzards, hares & rabbits, all of which were just a stones throw from the cottage. We even saw a woodpecker using the birdfeeder just outside the window.
We had a meal at 'The Rocks' in Dunbar, this was excellent, great quality, service & portions.
With Edinburgh just up the road we ventured in for the day, there's a small carpark in Calton street by the railway stn which was a £ per hour & only a few hundred yards from the 'Royal Mile'. Great city steeped in history (& shopping!!!)
The Ocean Terminal shopping centre by the docks is also good with views to the royal yacht Britannia.
All in all a really good relaxing week.
Once again many thanks to the owners for their kindness & helpfulness.
Darren, Nicky, Jemma & Lewis
Recommended for:  Age 55+, Pet-friendly, Sightseeing, Families with Teenagers, Families with Young Children, Romantic Getaway
Owner's Response: Very nice guests, great to see visitors enjoying the wildlife, which can at times - as said by Darren - be only a stones throw away.
We think that the cottage is excellent family accommodation, and this is another family that seems to agree!!
Darren and family are very nice people and were excellent guests.

We have set ourselves a standard that we would expect if we were the visitors.
Quality, in respect to helping guests enjoy themselves, passing on information, offering suggestions, being available and providing a very comfortable and appealing cottage, is what we are tring to provide.
Happily, every review to date has acknowledged our commitment to standards and care.

DOUGIE
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