The Secret Retreat Log Cabin
Gamrie
Near Gardenstown
Aberdeenshire
Check Availability / Book Now
A Remote secret retreat Log Cabin with Private Hot Tub set in deep countryside, within 3/4 acre private grounds with stunning 360 degree picturesque views over the Aberdeenshire countryside.
This unique detached Log Cabin lies within 2 miles of the lovely picturesque coastal village of Gardenstown and Pennan made famous for the film with Bert Lancaster ‘The Local Hero’ The Secret Retreat Log Cabin also has a burn running through the grounds of the Log Cabin therefore no children under the age of 12 are permitted for safety reasons.
So welcome to the land of Macbeth and literally miles and miles of beautiful coastline to explore with numerous caves and ruins of castles providing homes for a wide range of wildlife. This location offers a peaceful countryside location with fantastic views and easy access to multiples of golf courses, shooting, fishing, shopping, pony trekking, historic buildings, castles and whisky distilleries (The Whisky Trail)
Availability and Secure online bookings – please enter your dates below
Check Availability / Book NowGeneral Enquiries
- Unique Remote detached Countryside Cabin sleeps 2 people
- Countryside location panoramic views
- Open Plan Lounge Kitchen Diner
- TV / DVD & CD Player
- 1 Double Bedroom
- Bathroom with bath / shower W/C and Washbasin
- Fitted kitchen including Oven / Hob, Fridge, Microwave
- Free Broadband WiFi
- Sitting Room with Sofas and TV / DVD Player
- Full Central Heating
- Free Off road parking
- Outdoor private Hot Tub inclusive of charges
- Semi enclosed Deck area with Hot Tub
- Bedding and Towels
- Single Night midweek hire from £152
- Inn village shop Restaurant and Beaches 1.5 miles
- Great place to see the Northern Lights, sample the Whisky trail and some of Scotlands finest Beaches
Sleeps 2 – Sorry this property no longer accepts pets
Log Cabin with Private Hot Tub Accommodation
Check Availability / Book NowGeneral Enquiries
The double Bedroom is stunning comprising hand carved furniture. There is a double bed with ample hanging and drawer space, plus stunning views
The Lounge has comfortable settee, wall hanging flat screen TV and hand carved coffee table, from the settee you can see the rolling countryside.
The Kitchen is solid oak with silver finishing and brushed steal appliances and gas hob. Other essentials such as glasses, crockery, cutlery and a corkscrew are also provided for your convenience.
The bathroom has a bath, quadrant shower, sink and toilet, all of which are in white and set off with black flooring and white and black wall tiles.
The Hot Tub is exclusive and private to this secret retreat Cabin as is placed on the outdoor decking it also has a full size umbrella to cover it from elements when in use.
Secret secluded retreat The cabin is in the deep countryside and set in its very own 3/4 of an acre of land, this accommodation offers 360% stunning views. This accommodation is NOT part of a site and therefore it offers you total peace and quiet and yet it is within very easy reach of Aberdeen and Inverness which are both well worth a visit whilst staying in this area. There is a burn running through the grounds of the Log Cabin therefore no children under the age of 12 are permitted for safety reasons.
So for a relaxing holiday and somewhere to wind down and relax, look no further, this accommodation offers you that and so much more.
The Locality of Gardenstown
Check Availability / Book NowGeneral Enquiries
The picturesque coastal village of Gardenstown (known locally as ‘Gamrie’) Gardenstown is easily accessible from Aberdeen along the A947 heading north via Banff or just three and half hours’ drive from the airports of Glasgow (Prestwick and International) along M80. Again from the Scottish capital of Edinburgh via M90 motorway in three hours time.
Gardenstown’s main business is fishing; however, there is a tourist market too, partially due to the many local golf courses. Gardenstown has a pub and Restaurant The Garden Arms Hotel Tel 01261 851260, a bakery, a butchers, a post-office, a small art gallery and a very good fish restaurant (which only seats about 12 people and gets booked up well in advance) The Harbour Restaurant, Gardenstown Tel 01261 851690
Aberdeenshire and Moray – their Fantastic Coastlines
Aberdeenshire has some of the most wonderful rural scenery to offer for you, along with the pretty local village of Gardenstown, there are also the coastal villages of Cullen, Findochty, Portsoy and Banff. So If you are looking for a relaxing holiday, somewhere to wind down and relax, then look no further, this accommodation offers you that and so much more.
The Moray Firth coast is also haven for wildlife, and you can often see dolphins, seals, otters, whales and falcons throughout the year. Roughly one half of its border consists of amazing coastline ranging from the awesomely rugged to the most wonderfully beautiful. The sunsets on the Moray coastline in themselves are renowned for their beauty as many a visitor will testify, its Northerly latitude and position making it a good place to even see the mysterious “Aurora Borealis” Northern lights.
The Landscapes
The land border runs through tremendous countryside, craggy mountains and desolate moors all indicating the feast of wonder and enjoyment held within an area of outstanding natural beauty. Aberdeenshire is awash with history and historic buildings, Neolithic stone age circles, iron age pictish carved standing stones, vitrified forts and medieval castles and keeps. Spend time touring the Moray cost, 16 miles away, with its picturesque fishing villages. fishing heritage centres, sea aquarium and historic harbours. Just a short distance away the Cairngorm National Park has an excellent selection of Skiing walking and cycling trails including hill, forest and river walks.
Skiing in the Cairngorms – yes you can !
Is within easy reach and on a clear, sunny day and with good snow, you can enjoy some decent skiing. However, at weekends, in conditions like these, expect the slopes to be very busy. Glenlivet ideally placed in the Cairngorms, offers easy access to both alpine (downhill) and nordic (cross-country) skiing, as well as the increasingly popular snowboarding. The high season is from January to April but it is possible to ski from as early as November to as late as May. (3 and 7 day Special prices available…please ask for details of availability)
The Lecht Ski Resort
Within and easy 60 minute drive you can reach the Lecht ski resort www.lecht.co.uk Tel (01975) 651440. This fantastic activity centre is best suited to beginners and intermediates, featuring an excellent Dry Ski slope. The longest natural run being 900m, there is also a network of short lifts on both sides of the A939 Cockbridge–Tomintoul road. Straddling the A939 on the famous Cockbridge to Tomintoul road, the Lecht 2090 sits feet above sea level amid the beauty of the Eastern Cairngorms. This natural playground offers exciting outdoor activities throughout the year from Deval Karts / ride (incl. Uplift), Quad Bikes / session, Fun Karts / session, Kiddie Karts / session, Chairlift / return ride, Summer Ski or Board.
Resort altitude: Top: 793m – bottom: 643m. Lifts in area 14 – up to date snow reports also the www.lecht.co.uk/wap
Evenings out and the Locality
Check Availability / Book NowGeneral Enquiries
This secret retreat Log Cabin is located 2 miles from the Coastal Fishing Village of Gardenstown with food store, two cafes, a restaurant, pub, bakery, a post office, surgery and traditional crafts shops are all nearby. multiples of golf courses, shooting, fishing, shopping, pony trekking, historic buildings, castles and whisky distilleries (The Whisky Trail)
Exploring the Moray Coast Video
Local Activities
Check Availability / Book NowGeneral Enquiries
Turriff
Close by is the market town of Turriff gained burgh status in 1512. Over the years, Turriff has developed as an important market town and service centre for the agriculture sector. Modern day Turriff is still the main centre for its rural farming hinterland, with a range of local shops, swimming pool, golf course, caravan park and sports centre. The cottages are close to nearby Turriff and give easy access to golf, shooting, fishing, shopping, pony trekking, historic buildings, castles, whisky distilleries (The Whisky Trail) and some of the most wonderful scenery that rural Aberdeenshire has to offer for you and your family. Turriff Show is perhaps best known for the ‘Turra Show’. Dating from 1864, this annual two-day agricultural show in August is one of the largest in Scotland, regularly attracting around 40,000 visitors per annum, and serving to highlight the importance of agriculture to the local area. Turriff Golf Course is a well-established parkland course with wonderful views. Founded in 1896 and extended to 18 holes in 1976, its lush, green fairways have been sympathetically laid out on the southern banks of the River Deveron.
The Wildlife and Nature in this region
The sandy coastlines of Morayshire and Aberdeenshire stretch from Stonehaven on the East coast to Nairn in the west. Short stretches of cliff run from Hopeman to Covesea and from Portknockie to Findochty and populations consist of Fulmars and Kittiwakes with a smaller number of Shags and Black Guillemots. The best rocky shores are between Burghead and Hopeman, at Lossiemouth and between Portgordon and Findochty.
Inland the areas then extend southwards to the Cairngorm mountains. Nearly half of the land exceeds 250m altitude and is therefore upland in nature. With the higher hills exceeding 600m including the arctic-alpine Cairngorm plateau, home to Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting and Dotterel. The extensive lower moorlands hold a good variety of scarcer species such as Merlin, Twite, Ring Ouzel and Whinchat. Golden Plovers are locally numerous, joined by a few Dunlin in wetter bogs. The extensive woodlands are largely composed of conifer plantations and in many areas these are sufficiently mature to have been colonised by Crested Tits, Siskins and crossbills. Capercaillies survive in small numbers. The younger moorland plantations hold breeding Black Grouse and Short-eared Owl and the birchwoods of the upland glens ring with the song of Willow warblers, Tree Pipits, Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers in spring.
Winter waders include Purple Sandpipers in the muddy estuaries and the wide expanse of Findhorn Bay. In the Lossie and Spey rivers a wide variety of wildfowl, gulls and terns feed and roost on the estuaries and fishing ospreys are a regular feature in summer. Offshore, Burghead Bay and Spey Bay are well known for their flocks of wintering sea ducks with impressive rafts of scoters, Long-tailed Ducks and Eider. You will find some great viewpoints along the way, in particular looking over the broad sweep of Cullen Bay with its lovely golden sand and the Fiddle Rock – a curiously shaped rock formation – and past the opening known as the Whale’s Mouth.
The Moray Whisky Trail and Highland Games
Dufftown is famous for 2 annual Whisky Festivals in May and September. Dufftown itself is at the very heart of the Malt Whisky Trail. Whisky nosing and tasting sessions can be arranged all year at the Dufftown Whisky Shop. A chance to sample 6 different whiskies and to learn what makes them so different. The Whisky Festivals in 2006 are: the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival from Friday 28 April – Monday 1 May and Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival 22 – 25 September. From May to September each year, there are whisky nosings on Tuesday evenings and Ceilidhs on Thursday evenings. The Glenfiddich distillery is open to the public (free) while close by is the picturesque ruined Balvenie Castle with it’s renaissance facade maintained by Historic Scotland. Other local distilleries to visit and whiskies to taste include Macallan, Glen Grant, Glenfarclas, the Glenlivet (free tours), Aberlour and Cardhu.
Each year the village of Braemar, Scotland invites people from all over the world to attend the Braemar Gathering and Highland Games. The Gathering is always held on the first Saturday in September and it is perhaps the most famous and finest Highland Games anywhere. It features the finest Pipe Bands, pipers, Highland dancers, and athletes in a beautiful setting surrounded by hills. The patron of the Gathering is Her Majesty the Queen.
Activities on your doorstep
Here is a summary of attractions within this local area. Golf Courses this location provides easy access to many other wonderful golf courses; Huntly, Banff, Macduff, Oldmeldrum and Ellon to name but a few. Equestrian Activities – Aberdeenshire has the largest concentration of horses in Scotland and is the second largest in the UK. With this in mind you can imagine the amount of equestrian activities that are available around Turriff and the surrounding countryside; pony trekking, horse riding, driving and indoor & outdoor equestrian centres to name but a few.
Hill Walking and Climbing – One of the best ways to see any area and take in the splendour of the open countryside is on foot. From costal walks on the moray firth, to viewing the iron age vitrified forts while hill walking, or just simply enjoy and take in the spectacular views of Aberdeenshire. For the climber the Cairngorms are only an hour and a half’s drive from Turriff and offers some of the best climbing and Skiing that Scotland has to offer.
North East Scotland Falconry Centre – Offers an amazing opportunity to spend time with birds of prey. Enjoy learning basic falconry skills and handling techniques, meeting the birds and gaining an insight into the history of falconry. After an initial lesson you will be given the opportunity to handle and fly a selection of birds under the expert supervision of one of their experienced falconers. Or simply visit the centre and watch their experienced handlers display and fly the birds.
The Finest Scottish Castles
Fyvie Castle – Ghosts, legends and folklore are all woven into the tapestry of Fyvie’s 800-year history. Each tower of this magnificent Scottish Baronial fortress is traditionally associated with one of the castle’s five successive families – Preston, Meldrum, Seton, Gordon and Forbes-Leith. You can see their influences today among the medieval stones and the lavish Edwardian interiors, and imagine what castle life must have been like for the families and their royal guests – among them Robert the Bruce and Charles.
Delgatie Castle Turriff – Most recently the home of the late Capt. Hay of Delgatie, Feudal Baron, and is the Clan Hay Centre, this uniquely Scottish Castle has largely been in the Hay family for the last 650 years. It was taken from the Earl of Buchan after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, when Robert the Bruce routed the invading English army. Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Delgatie for three days after the Battle of Cirrichie in 1562. Her bedchamber is on view to the visitor. Aden Farming Museum – Relive the story of our famous farming past in the beautiful surroundings of Aden Country Park. Start at the unique, semi- circular Home Farm steading by exploring the “Aden Estate Story” and the “Weel Vrocht Grun” exhibitions. Visit Hareshowe, a working farm set in the 1950s. Award-winning displays & audio-visual shows, Guided tours and costume guides, See oatcakes baked at the Horseman’s House and verity of other Exhibitions Aberdeenshire has a rich culture and has so much to see and do, from visiting the Pictish Standing Stones going back nearly 3,000, follow the Whisky Trial and visit some of Scotland finest distilleries, the Moray Coast with its bottle nose dolphins and small picturesque fishing villages. There is so much to visit, we can guarantee you wont be disappointed.
Further afield there are literally dozens more Castles to visit from Ballindalloch Castle near Aberlour on the river Spey to Balmoral a beautiful drive over the mountains to Royal Deeside where you are spoilt for choice with Drum, Crathes, Craigevar or castle Fraser. Between Forres and Nairn is Brodie and Cawdor Castles and to the east of Dufftown is the ruined Huntly castle and close to Turiff is Fyvie castle above with its 5 towers and 5 centuries of history, further a field castles such Balmoral, Braemar, Crathes and castle Urquhart on Loch Ness or cities such as Aberdeen, Elgin, Forres and Inverness are easily accessible.
Fishing the Rivers – The Deveron, Spey and Findhorn
Two wonderful rivers, the Spey and the Findhorn, lend much to the character of the area and many smaller rivers and streams drain the interior into the Moray Firth. Typical breeding species are Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Common Sandpiper. Goosanders inhabit the smaller upland tributaries with a few Red-breasted Mergansers breeding on the lower reaches. There is relatively little standing water in Moray & Nairn but Lochs Oire, na Bo, Loy and Spynie provide winter wildfowl interest; Loch Spynie in particular holds a spectacular winter goose roost, and a rich wetland breeding bird community in summer. The Deveron River, situated at Turriff is mid way between the river mouth at Banff and the headwaters above Huntly and offers the angler some of the finest salmon and trout fishing in Scotland. Bookings can be arranged via Frank and Carol Henderson, Turriff Tackle & Trophies Tel 01888 562428. Aberdeenshire also supports two other fine rivers the Dee and the Don and sea fishing can be obtained on the Moray Coast.
General Enquiries
Check Availability / Book NowGeneral Enquiries
The Secret Retreat Log Cabin with Hot Tub
Hire charges only include all Heating, Gas, Electricity, Towels, Bedding and the use of the Hot Tub.
Pet Friendly – sorry this property no longer accepts Pets
See More North Coasts & Orkney Cottages ?
General Booking enquiry – please note this does not constitute a booking
‘Property Reference ’44’