Glen Dye Cabins & Cottages
- Premier host
- Banchory, Aberdeenshire
- See on map
- Sleeps: Varies (2-7)
- Bedroom: Varies
- Bathroom: Varies
- Minimum stay: 2-4 nights
If you’re in the mood for celebrating with your favourite people in tow (and the dogs, of course!), Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages – recently featured on Channel 4’s Extraordinary Escapes – offers a scenic and refreshing antidote to all those soulless hotels.
Nestled in the glorious centre of a 30,000 acre estate just 40 minutes from Aberdeen, you’ll find a characterful collection of cabins and cottages that promise to suit just about every taste.
Surrounded by a spectacular natural landscape of soothing wilderness forest and rugged moorland, you’ll wake up to some of the most magnificent views Scotland has to offer. And that’s just for starters!
Beautifully set in a small pine wood, The Saw Mill is a stunning wooden building, originally crafted in the late 1800s as a refuge for the estate’s foresters. These days, you’ll find an instantly welcoming, completely modernised lounge, kitchen and dining room – while your sleeping quarters are to be found in a refurbished 1955 American Airstream Safari trailer!
Oh, and you’ll also enjoy your very own wood-fired hot tub and a refreshing outdoor shower…what could be better? Well, there’s always the outdoor covered kitchen, equipped with a Big Green Egg barbecue and pizza oven – perfect for those times when only a sizzling al fresco supper will do.
Meanwhile, the North Lodge and River Cabin forms part of an exquisite Victorian shooting lodge positioned on the banks of the River Dye. Originally home to the Glen Dye Lodge caretakers, this historic haven now sleeps up to six guests in contemporary comfort. Curl up around the woodburning stove by evening, or take a stargazing dip in your very own hot tub (after a spot of wild swimming and a tasty Green Egg-cooked barbecue, of course!)
Cottages No4 and No5 are impeccably stylish, eco-friendly holiday homes, transformed from derelict farm buildings and each sleeping up to seven guests. Along with the standard wood-fired hot tub and barbecue both cottages have access to their own private ourdoor spaces, and No 5 also has exclusive access to The Smiddy – a spectacular stone building housing a games room for everyone to kick back in after a hard day exploring the area.
Keep readingAt a glance
- An imaginative collection of converted cabins and cottages sleeping from 2-7 guests, nestled at the centre of a 30,000 private forest and moorland estate in Banchory, Scotland, 40 minutes from Aberdeen.
- Easily accessible by road, rail and air. Hire a car, or arrange with the owners to be collected from Stonehaven or Aberdeen stations, or from Aberdeen airport.
- All accommodation is equipped with an outdoor hot tub and barbecue. Towels and linen are provided, along with firewood, books and games.
- Hire the cabins and cottages separately, or exclusively as a group. There is a communal building, The Byre, available for everybody to eat, drink and dine together.
- Take a dip in the river, hike or cycle in the forest, or head slightly further afield to explore the Highlands or Balmoral.
Features
Dog Friendly
Family Friendly
Hot Tubs
Large Groups
Facilities
The Saw Mill: Converted wooden building with lounge, kitchen and diner, large bed on site, housed in an Airstream trailer. Outdoor covered kitchen with barbecue and pizza oven. Outdoor shower.
North Lodge and River Cabin: Converted Georgian house, sleeps up to six guests in two kingsize beds and two singles.
No4 & No5 Steading Cottages: two converted farm buildings, each sleeping up to seven guests in two kingsize beds, one twin room, and one single. Both have private outdoor areas with Swedish wood fired hot tubs, No 5 also has use of The Smiddy games room.
The Byre at Glen Dye: this beautiful room houses Glen Dye’s very own library and is available for guests to meet, relax, read, enjoy a coffee… It can be transformed into an amazing dining space that can be used when booking the whole site – allowing friends and family to come together to celebrate in style.
All accommodation: Private hot tub, WiFi, unlimited firewood, welcome basket, books and games, record player and records, Big Green Egg barbecue.
Local Activities
Hiking, cycling, fishing, wild swimming, nature watching, castles, sightseeing, remote outdoor activity.
More information
The best thing about this slice of outdoor paradise? While it feels blissfully remote, there’s also plenty to do right on your doorstep. Let’s start with mile after mile of walking, cycling and running routes, through some of the most beautiful forest and moorland you’ve ever clapped eyes upon.
While away a sunny afternoon trout fishing, swimming or canoeing on the River Dye, or head for the famously breathtaking beauty of the Highlands if you prefer wandering slightly further afield. Landmarks including Dunnottar Castle and Balmoral – the Scottish home of the Royal Family – are in ridiculously easy reach, too.
You’ll find it hard to choose a favourite activity, but the greatest thing of all is that you get to pick something completely different tomorrow!
Things to note
Dog-friendly. Holiday arrival/start days are Monday or Wednesday for midweek stays (minimum 2 nights), and Friday for a weekend stay (minimum 3 nights). Regular four-day camps are available, including foraging trips and creative activity – check the website for details.
The Sawmill can be booked for a minimum 2 night break midweek and 3 night weekend stay at £450/£675. North Lodge and 4&5 Steading Cottages have a minimum 4 night stay, costing £995 and £945 for four nights respectively.
Where you'll be staying
Banchory, Aberdeenshire
What the guests of Glen Dye Cabins & Cottages say
“We loved our weekend at Glen Dye. It was one of the most relaxing weekends we’ve had, and Mac thought he’d gone to dog heaven. Walking around the grounds is wonderful – you have some of the most amazing trees I’ve seen in a long time. Everything about our stay was perfect. I’m so glad I found out about Glen Dye.”
“I just wanted to say we had a fantastic time at Glen Dye Saw Mill. It has been Bobs ambition to have an airstream and staying in one the same age as himself was the icing on the cake! Thanks again for making us feel so welcome.”
“Just wanted to let you know that we had a brilliant stay at Glen Dye, the Saw Mill was brilliant and had everything we needed for the weekend. We actually didn’t do as much walking as we had planned as we were happy just relaxing at the Saw Mill and around the Glen Dye Estate, and we were in the hot tub every night, and loved chilling out with a few good records.”
