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Shiel Cottage

(Ref. 1061046)

Thornhill, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway Show on map

4.4

Sykes rating

  • 4 Guests

  • 2 Bedrooms

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Ground floor bedroom
  • Open fire
  • Garden / Patio
  • Washing machine
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (16)
  • no (13)
  • location (9)
  • some (9)
  • lovely (9)
  • garden (8)

20 Customer Reviews

  • "We had an amazing time at Shiel cottage."

    It was exactly type of holiday we were looking for and our dog enjoyed it ! The garden is fenced off, which was helpful to keep an eye on our dog. Supply of wood for a logburner was good. The cottage was clean, well equipped but remote. It was extremely quiet, picturesque and tranquil, just what we needed. You can access in a normal car like we did, but SUV is beneficial due to the state of the road in some places. A little bit of cooking oil, pepper and some cleaning stuff (cloths, cleaning liquids) would be beneficial, so that we could do our own cleaning and cooking as shops are far away. That's the only things that were missing. Thank you for providing a comfortable & relaxing stay.

    Reviewed by TanyaFeb 2024

  • "We wanted some peace and quiet and this place delivers."

    Complete and utter silence except for whatever tune nature plays! The location, for us and our high energy Staffie, is perfect, just stunning. Plenty of sheep around but long stretches of countryside we could let him run free - great idea until he found a dead pine marten (?) to eat! The cottage is the picture perfect country cottage and we found everything (apart from only 1 loo roll) to be spot on. Can’t comment on the tv system as we never turned it on, why would you somewhere like this! The wood burner easily heats the whole cottage and the u/floor heating is a nice bonus. All the furniture and bed are comfy and we had no issues at all with cleanliness, towels clean and fluffy, bed well made, all good. We’re already planning our next trip because it is such a beautiful, peaceful place. Yes the walking routes aren’t great, in options, but are stunningly beautiful, and the road, a good 30 minutes long, is one of the worst I’ve driven on but it’s all part of the charm, you are forced to drive slowly which prepares you for the tranquility of the cottage. Loved it, loved it.

    Reviewed by DavidNov 2023

  • "We absolutely loved our stay here and will be back!"

    We could not have asked for a more idyllic setting and the owners gave plenty of information so we knew just what was available and expected. Very comfortable beds and furniture, plenty of what you need in the kitchen and lovely complimentary toiletries. Only two tiny things that would have made it perfect and easier for us: a dishwasher, and some help with recycling/rubbish removal. Taking our rubbish and recycling all the way back to the farm at the end of our stay alongside a jam packed car, two kids and a dog was not ideal (but was doable)! If you ever think about selling this place please let us know! Thank you for getting it ready at such short notice too, much appreciated.

    Reviewed by JenniferApr 2023

  • "We had a wonderful week at Shiel Cottage."

    We had booked based on the location but based on some previous reviews were concerned it may not be especially clean. It was. The cottage was absolutely lovely, clean, comfortable and warm. The peace and quiet of this remote location was perfect for us.

    Reviewed by ClaireMar 2023

  • "There was no information in the cottage re."

    how the heating works, apart from a sheet about how to light the wood burner. But the lighter to light the fire didn’t work, so couldn’t light the fire. The website gives details that the cottage has “Electric central heating with underfloor heating in kitchen/diner and bathroom”. So we assumed that there would be instructions of how to control the central heating, when in fact, there isn’t central heating but portable radiators. The underfloor heating in the kitchen/diner was not working, until we discovered the switch hidden behind the kitchen door. But with no information, how would we know? There is a sign saying the water is OK to drink, but no information to actually know what to expect – cold water brown and green bits in the hot water. The ‘Preparing for your holiday at Shiel Cottage’ email listed ‘Helpful items to consider taking with you’ includes ‘bin bags and oven gloves’. We knew it was an isolated cottage so brought everything with us, so that we didn’t have to drive the 12 miles to a shop. Why doesn’t it say ‘matches and fire lighters’? And a couple of things that would have helped: A larger cafetière. A drainer for crockery, to be on the draining board.

    Hi many thanks for your comments, we now have information sheets in the property information file that is in the sitting room - including all the above we would be delighted to welcome you back to The Shiel Cottage Property Owner

    Reviewed by MarkDec 2022

  • "It’s our second visit to the cottage."

    It’s a lovely place to stay. The enclosed garden is great for the dog. There are no cleaning supplies provided (mops etc…) so cleaning the property for departure is harder than normal which is frustrating as there is a £200 cleaning bond. If you need strong wifi do not book. It’s great for an escape from life and has stunning views. We were comfy and the kitchen had most of what we needed.

    Reviewed by RachelOct 2022

  • "Hoover left full needed emptying before we hoovered the carpets and kitchen floor, bag of dusters left out on trunk with kitchen cleaner spray in which appeared to be watered down bleach not what was stated on bottle."

    cardigan left on back of bedroom door. Very few cleaning products in fact none in property. Mould on bottom frames of bedroom windows. Cobwebs on lights dust on mantle pieces and hearth needed sweeping as debris left. Whole property needs good clean.At least Beds were made up with clean linen . Sykes need to inspect these type of owned properties for standards of housekeeping.

    Thankyou for posting your review and I hope you had a lovely holiday Your comments of cleanliness has surprised me as my cleaning company are normally very thorough and I will review your points and address accordingly. Please may I remind all visitors that we do not provide cleaning materials Property Owner

    Reviewed by LindaSep 2022

  • "Beautiful well equipped cottage in complete seclusion."

    Cleaning pre arrival wasn’t perfect with cobwebs on the light fittings and 2 of the kitchen draws had crumbs in them. The location is potentially challenging to get to in winter without 4WD. the lack of a standing shower was not a super but would be a welcome addition. Watching the Red Kites around the area and in the garden was a great surprise. Unfortunately no deer for us. The listing stated prefect for walkers but with only one walk on the road available from the cottage we would disagree, we didn’t expect to have to drive to be able to walk!

    Reviewed by SimonSep 2022

  • "Beautiful cottage delightfully decorated in a fabulous location."

    I was a bit nervous about booking Shiel Cottage due to some of the reviews online about the "track" to the cottage, lack of various things, etc. In fact it was lovely. Yes, the road to it is single track and seriously potholed, but it's tarmac all the way and you hardly meet anyone else. Plenty of soap, loo rolls and milk on arrival, definitely has wifi, underfloor heating easy to operate, there are chairs to sit outside, so really dont understand others complaints. Loved it - takes ages to drive in along the valley, but it's a beautiful valley (complete with Belty bull) especially in evening sun and the cottage's remoteness is part of its charm.

    Reviewed by ChristineJul 2022

  • "Cosy cottage in a Wonderful location."

    Great dark night skies.

    Reviewed by PhilipMar 2022

  • "A warm and cosy cottage in a beautiful remote rural setting."

    Reviewed by RogerFeb 2022

  • "We had a fantastic stay in October in this wonderful remote,cosy cottage."

    Very comfortable and well equipped with a lovely big garden surrounding the cottage. One negative though which I relayed to Sykes who, in turn, relayed to the owner: I was told by Sykes a couple of days prior to our arrival that a new wood-burning stove was due to be installed on the Monday at 10am. That was all I was told, no details about arrangements for access for the workmen. I waited in on the day to let them in, they had to return following day at 10am to complete the job but they were late. I had to take our hired bikes back by a certain time the same day. As I could not leave the cottage till the workmen returned, I incurred extra expense from the bike hire place which the owner, at my request, reimbursed but with no apology! To date I have received zero acknowledgement from the owner for the inconvenience of having to stay in - it goes without saying that it is not the role of someone holidaying in a cottage to help out in such a situation! Plans obviously should have been made by the owner to minimise any inconvenience caused and I am upset about the owner's lack of courtesy.

    Reviewed by SarahOct 2021

  • "Great cottage in a lovely area."

    The scenery is great and the area is really quiet and peaceful. Close to Drumlanrig castle and some good walks in the region. The cottage has a good, enclosed dog friendly garden. We had deer, foxes, rabbits and pheasants visit the garden during our week, along with lots of birds for the seeds. Great stay and hope to return.

    Reviewed by JasonSep 2021

  • "Lovely house great area."

    Really quiet and peaceful.

    Reviewed by TimAug 2021

  • "Toilet not working (One day without a working toilet) One bed not fully made up (caretaker brought later, which we made up) Drive to the cottage, rough not suitable for low or sports cars Single track road for about 7 miles (Be careful some massive potholes) One toilet roll No first aid kit No dishwash soap, small milk etc on arrival Cottage is very nice with the exception of the fake deers head Views from the cottage are stunning Nature and wildlife around the cottage plentiful Fantastic location."

    Bring some midge repellent in the summer months Nice garden with lovely old trees to wander around, could do with a outdoor seating area Nice friendly gardener, very helpful

    Reviewed by MarkJul 2021

  • "Sheik Cottage is a wonderfully equipped holiday home in a remote and peaceful location far from the nearest neighbours or village."

    The cottage is surrounded by stunning views in all directions. Sheil cottage exceeded our expectations - everything seemed new and the owners had made a real effort to equip it to a very high standard. Lovely diffusers and quality items throughout We used it as a base to walk each day in the unspoilt countryside. You need to be well organised here as the nearest shop is a good 90 minutes round trip so bring everything with you. We arrived to find NO toilet roll or hand soap - thankfully we had brought these with us. Little touches were evident - bird feeders in the garden attracted a large variety of birds. The gardens were immaculate but maybe an outdoor table would add to this? We worked out that there was wifi and how to get hot water but maybe some helpful instructions could be left for users of the cottage? Overall a well equipped cottage in a stunning remote location in the heart of nature. Would highly recommend to those who want to escape the madding crowd and want total peace and isolation. Would give it 10/10 David and Claire (and Marley the border terriër)

    Reviewed by DavidJun 2021

  • "Only problem was having to travel 3 miles to get a signal on phone so could use the internet"

    Reviewed by DarrenJun 2021

  • "The cottage and location was absolutely wonderful, took a while to work out the under floor heating in the kitchen."

    Disappointed no WiFi had to travel 3 miles to get a 4G signal on the phone to plan for the days activities. But if you want total seclusion with no technology, it’s perfect. But does need WiFi. Otherwise we had a wonderful stay. Managed to get out and about even had a resident male pheasant to wake us early.

    Reviewed by DarrenJun 2021

  • "The cottage is very well equipped and extremely comfortable."

    However, as another review has mentioned, the underfloor heating in the kitchen does not seem to be working. And the wood burner smoked and set off the fire alarms. But an idyllic spot if you enjoy remoteness and beautiful countryside.

    Reviewed by EileenMay 2021

  • "The area is stunning and the cottage is set in a magical location, very quiet and peaceful, which was just what we wanted."

    The interior of the cottage is fitted out to a high standard, it was both warm and comfortable. The obsessive decorative theme focussing on deer and antlers in every room isn't really my thing, but I expect some people think it adds some degree of authenticity. I think it would be useful to provide a bit more information on arrival about using the facilities - we got a little bit confused in the first day or two about the water controls - I'm guessing the cottage has a borehole system, with a control panel on the wall, and also the underfloor heating controls seemed a bit erratic. We met the cleaner / gardener later in the week and she was really friendly. But really enjoyed our stay and we are already thinking about making a booking for next year at the same cottage , possibly for two weeks this time.

    Reviewed by TimothyMay 2021

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Summary

  • All ground-floor
  • Two bedrooms: 2 x double
  • Bathroom with bath, hand held shower, basin and WC
  • Kitchen/diner
  • Utility
  • Sitting room
  • Electric central heating with underfloor heating in kitchen/diner and bathroom and woodburning stove
  • Oven and hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, WiFi, TV with free channels
  • Selection of complimentary organic ishga body wash/shampoo/conditioner - pleas do not remove the bottles
  • Fuel, power and starter pack for stove inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Ample off-road parking
  • Lawned garden with seating
  • One well-behaved dog welcome
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop 12.8 miles, pub 12.9 miles
  • Note: Check-in is from 4pm
  • Note: Dogs only allowed in the kitchen/diner and the living room and not in the bedrooms
  • Please advise to take 4G simcard or pay as you go card as you can now get reception on the track road but not at the house at present
  • It is advisable to download google off line maps on your phone or tablet as helpful having the information without internet connection in the area
  • Note: Property is a remote location and accessed via a track which can become in passable during the winter months
  • Note: property has its own water supply via a bore hole
  • Note: Tap water not for drinking, would be advisable to bring bottled water for consumption.

The property

Thornhill 12.7 miles.

Enjoying a remote location, which is 45 minutes away from the nearest village, up a one-way track is this character stone bungalow, Shiel Cottage.

Detached and resting within complete tranquillity, this delightful cottage offers couples a relaxing getaway, as well as being perfect for walkers and cyclists, to a quiet part of Scotland.

After parking up in the large driveway, take a moment to appreciate the serene location, with miles of the rolling hills enveloping the cottage, before stepping inside.

Enjoy the cosy settings of the sitting room sat atop the fabulous sofa, with the alluring wood burner opposite, providing a gentle warmth, cuddle up with your loved one and slowly drift to sleep with a good film on in the background.

Move into the kitchen/diner where you will find all the essentials for a self-catered break; whip up a tasty feast whilst the rest of the group prepare the dining table with crockery and a rewarding bottle of wine.

There is also a small utility room with a washing machine to use after your muddy adventures.

Choose from the two well-presented bedrooms, both of which have double beds and plenty of storage space, as well as bedside tables and a lovely electric fire for those harsh winter months.

The bathroom, with underfloor heating, comes as an all-white suite, boasting a bath with hand held shower, so you can get ready ahead of your afternoon, or simply relax after the sunsets.

From some ‘me time’, wander out to the lawned garden where you can unwind with a favourite drink whilst the tranquillity of the Scottish Highlands puts you at ease.

Get to know your surroundings further by embarking across the many cycle and walking routes of Thornhill as well as the trails of the Forest of Ae.

Thornhill offers your nearest amenities including independent shops, a supermarket, a pub and a local café if you fancy a spot of lunch.

History lovers will appreciate a visit to the ancient Drumlanrig Castle, regarded as one of the finest examples of late 17th Renaissance architecture in Scotland, while literary buffs will delight in a visit to the seaside town of Ayr, to explore the famous poet Robert Burns’ House where he wrote some of his best-known poems.

Take a drive into the centre of Dumfries for a range of popular tourist attractions that are a must-see during your visit.

Shiel Cottage is a wonderful romantic choice for couples eager to escape their normal routines and relish in the gorgeous Scottish countryside.

EPC Rating: Band F

EPC Rating: Band E

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.

View on map

About the location

THORNHILL

Dumfries 15 miles; Ayr 42 miles; Glasgow 66 miles.

The quiet village of Thornhill is in the Mid Nithsdale area of Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland, and is an ideal place for a relaxing break. Surrounded by wonderful scenery and the low hills of Carsphairn and Lowther, there are plenty of opportunities to walk and cycle these ancient hills. In the centre of Thornhill village is a column supporting a majestic winged horse, which is the emblem of the Dukes of Queensberry who own the surrounding land and also the magnificent Drumlanrig Castle. Set on an 80,000 acre estate comprising a country park and Victorian gardens, Drumlanrig Castle is regarded as one of the finest examples of late 17th century Renaissance architecture in Scotland and also boasts an internationally renowned art collection. Thornhill’s location means that it is ideal for a day trip to the seaside at Ayr or a day’s shopping and sightseeing in cosmopolitan Glasgow.

Please note: This property has a Good Housekeeping Bond of £200.