Sarah's Tiny Cottage by the Sea, Gardenstown - Sleeps 4

“Cosy and comfortable cottage by the sea.”

Bill and I have visited Gardenstown before, it is an small fishing harbour on the NE Scottish coast that seems to have been kept as a precious secret. Sarah's Cottage is one of the old fishing cottages near the water's edge. Access is very limited but, providing one has reasonable mobility, this is not a problem. To unload we had to drive along a single width sea wall without a barrier, certainly set the heart racing! We had hoped to unload next to the cottage and then park but as there was a car behind us we had to park then unload. It is a few hundred yards to the parking so bring cases on wheels or a trolley. The cottage shares a delightful patio area with the cottage opposite, There are the facilities to use a small BBQ if you want to. There is a good view of the sea from the patio with a certain degree of privacy which most of the front cottages do not have. Downstairs is very cosy with a couple of two seater couches, TV and coffee table. The kitchen area has good equipment and there is a table and four chairs. The style is eclectic, no overall theme just a collection of furniture which make for comfort and cosiness. There is a wonderful log burner which really heated the place up on our one cold evening. There is wifi but the owner requests that no more than 30 hours a month are used unless extra money put into the piggy bank provided. In this day and age we did not find this acceptable. So we used extra wifi and paid up but we do feel this is unrealistic. Upstairs is reached by a very steep staircase, the elderly, the very young and someone with a slight disability would struggle. The double bedroom does not have a door, just a curtain, which could be a problem. The twin room was the most simply decorated and delightful because of it. The landing is, in our opinion, dangerous. The stairs are cut into the floor with out any rails for the top most step. Difficult to describe but a sleepy walker to the loo in the night could find themselves falling down the stairs. An extra one foot of balustrade each side is necessary. All in all, a delightful cottage in a great position but attention to safety needed and a hair dryer please. One tip take warm blankets with you, it is chilly at night. Diana June 2016

“Lovely cottage, very comfortable. ...”

Lovely cottage, very comfortable. A little trouble having enough hot water to have a bath (especially after walking and wanting to relax tired muscles) - even after putting the extra water heater on. Stunning location, but not easy for those with walking or back problems (like me) to walk up the very steep pathways and steps from the sea level where the cottage is, up to the top of the village where the only shop (Spar) is. The road that goes through the village along the beachfront where the ... - October 2016