North Firbank - Culzean Castle

The cottage is ideally placed away from this busiest parts of this country park to allow us to enjoy relative peace and quiet.

It is a short distance either to the beach or to the country park facilities. Outwith opening hours it was relatively free of people except for a small invasion of motor cyclists one evening. That said, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would happily do so again.

Marvellous stay in beautiful grounds, Culzean Castle was a wonderful place meriting 2-3 days to properly explore in itself, with a secluded sandy bay at the end of the lane and lots of forest trails and coastal paths to explore.

Perfect!

Lovely characterful cottage.

(Worth noting it is semi-detached.) Whole house spotless and kitchen very well appointed with everything you might need. Large safe enclosed garden, so is perfect for dogs. Added bonus is location - super close to the beach and once the park is closed to visitors at end of each day it’s like having your own private estate! Only minor bit of feedback - the fire door between kitchen and lounge is very difficult to open due to shape of door handle - anyone with a weak grip may find it hard to use as the door is very heavy.

North Firbank cottage was a fine place to stay for us, everything that we needed, in good condition and very clean.

The location was excellent for a family with kids, ready access to the Castle Estate and playground, lovely walks right on the doorstep and was a good location for me, as a cyclist, to explore the coast and inland hills & forest trails. We enjoyed our visit to the castle and visits to the on-site facilities, as well as the Ayrshire towns.

The cottage is in a fantastic location,the beach and castle grounds are beautiful.

The kitchen is very well equipped,large fridge/freezer,dishwasher and washing machine. Beds are comfortable with plenty of storage space. The bathroom needs updating,needs a towel rail and the floor replaced-it’s a shame as it really lets down the cottage. There are steep steps down to the garden but no hand rail,so not ideal for people with mobility issues. Could also do with a washing line. But overall I would definitely recommend and I would stay again. Great places to eat nearby are The Wildings Souter’s Ropes bistro

This property requires to be lived in by an employee to test out the setup.

We have never had such an expensive property, and so expected it to be extra special. Sadly our experience was great disappointment. Firstly getting the car through the very heavy wooden gates was a challenge as the left hand gate was not fully on its hinges and had to be dragged back and forth each time for entry or exit. By the end of the week, the gate broke free from the fencing altogether. (We tried to report this to staff on the estate, but nothing happened.) We knew there were two steps from the kitchen to the livingroom but did not know a very heavy fire door was on the steps. We had to block it open with a chair weighed down by heavy pots and pans. We did close the firedoor when heading to go out or go to bed. There were then two more firedoors in the livingroom and the bedroom - why?. In the bathroom there was no means of hanging up bath towels. We made use of a very wobbly dryingscreen found in the kitchen cupboard. Also no toilet paper holder. Outside there is an attractive garden with picnic furniture available. We thought it very remiss there was no handrail, or handrails to go up and down six or seven steep steps. There was also a garden gate into the garden round the far side of the ground - this gate too not working as snib broken. Outside, during a downpour, we discovered that a downpipe from the roof near the kitchen was blocked, and rainwater was cascading down the wall of the building. Not too good for the maintenance of the premises. The livingroom was very stark - a small electric fire would cheer it up. We also found there were no instruction manuals for the TV which was quite a drawback. We looked everywhere, including the drawer in the kitchen, but no joy. The pictures on the walls were small photos of Culzean, it would have been so much nicer to have some of the paintings for sale in the Art Gallery, and artists might find their pictures sell when on the cottage walls.

Lovely property with everything you need.

Had a wonderful sunny weekend stay! Just beware the steps behind the door down into the kitchen - might be useful to put a sign on the door to warn guests about the steps.

This was our second stay and we enjoyed it even more than the first time.

Really pleased the shower has been updated as that was the only disappointment last year. It was like doggy Disneyland for our dog on site and on the beaches in walking distance. Good base to visit other places like Dean Castle country park. Galloway forest park and Loch Doon. And when you don’t fancy going anywhere you have 600 acres to explore on site. I think I ate my body weight in empire biscuits from the cafe. Of a night time you hear owls hooting and the pheasants let you know they are awake of a morning. We will be looking to book again in a couple of years time.

Had a great time in the cottage it was perfect.

Amazing setting. Only thing I would criticise is the back garden needs a bit of TLC especially for the price I paid. Not completely secure for dogs.

Had a fantastic stay at Culzean Castle and could easily have stayed another week.

Our initial impression was that the cottage was a little plain, but it was comfortable and became a real home from home. Super comfortable beds, good water pressure for the shower, well equipped and a lovely area to be in. Would definitely stay again

We have really loved everything about our stay at north firbank cottage - it’s perfect for families and dogs.

The grounds of Culzean are amazing to explore and we even spotted Seals on the beach! There were no negatives - it’s been a perfect stay. The children loved the beach and adventure playground. The cafe is dog friendly and does delicious food. We found the booking and instructions easy - really would recommend and hope to return!

Great place to go on holiday, very calm and peaceful.

Plenty to see in South Ayrshire.

Had a brilliant few days here - despite wind and rain!

Just a 5-10 minute walk to Maidens beach and 15-20 minute walk to Culzean Castle. Very clean home and comfortable. Lovely to have a Tassimo coffee machine and complimentary coffee pods. The only point I’d raise is the kitchen door leading to outdoor space was ill fitting - there were high winds and heavy rain during our stay and there were pools of water on the kitchen floor which we had to mop up with towels. The kitchen was cold on the windy days as the howling cold wind came through the gaps in the door fitting. This did not spoil our stay and we would stay again without hesitation - just mentioning so that NTS can carry out necessary repairs.

Loved my stay at Firbank cottage, immaculately clean and all essentials you would need in the kitchen to cook up your meals x

To be able to stay in the grounds of Culzean Castle was a dream come true for me.

The cottage was exactly as described with everything in the kitchen you could possibly want for a short stay. It was very clean and the key process was very easy. My only issue was that when I contacted Sykes about a small query I had, firstly, I waited over 30 minutes on the phone and then secondly, the person I spoke to was very rude, didnot understand my question and was very unhelpful so I gave up with my query. Would definitely now hesitate to book with Sykes again.

Excellent location and amenities.

The cottage is very well appointed and comfortable. The addition of a lock on the bathroom door and a rail/ hooks to hang wet towels would make the accommodation absolutely perfect.

We had a great week at North Firbank.

It was peaceful, private & the grounds at Culzean are beautiful. The house is simply furnished but has everything you would need. It was warm with good beds, good shower, well equipped kitchen & safe garden for the dog. 5 minute walk to a beautiful beach, the weather was tricky but it didn’t matter. Hope to return.

Beautiful place to stay.

So comfortable.

We had a fabulous stay in North Firbank - thank you.

The whole process .of booking, staying and leaving has been straight forward and the house was beautiful. As dog owners, it was wonderful to have the extensive fenced garden. The surroundings were also second-to-none. Culzean Castle and the Country Park were amazing and every member of staff we came into contact with was friendly and helpful. Full marks - we would definitely recommend this property.

Generally very good.

Everything worked in both kitchen and bathroom. Bedroom comfortable. Some very minor imperfections: Towel rail in the dining kitchen miles away from the kitchen area. Only 1 tea towel and only one cloth - no floor cloth for minor spills just a mop. Bathroom - given lots of towels - no towel rail and only one hook to hang stuff on. Nice bathroom cabinet but no where to put stuff once out of the cabinet so perpetually opening and closing the cabinet. Bath seemed to have dropped and bath side not fitted correctly.

This cottage is simple, but clean and well equipped (especially in the kitchen), and it’s in a great location, convenient to walk to the beach, trails, swan pond and the rest of Culzean Castle, and beyond that the rest of Ayrshire and the coast.

We would rent again.

Had a lovely stay at Firbank.

Out first stay there but not in a NTS property. As previous reviews have said, definitely seating/table outside the kitchen door. The steps down to the grass level are steep and with no handrail dangerous. Can totally understand why folk wont venture down which is a shame. The beds are definitely NOT the comfiest! We like a firm mattress but this was like a brick! Water scalding hot so need to be aware especially for children. Otherwise a lovely comfortable cottage with enclosed garden close to the beach and in idilyic location. We had an issue with the shower on arrival but was replaced the next day without any problems at all.

Wonderful stay at North Firbank.

Lots of beautiful walks around the Culzean estate, the cottage is handy for the beach too. The cottage location is pretty quiet with a few people passing by for the beach & walks but no vehicular access, it was busier when the overflow car park at front of cottage was in use.but otherwise it was NT staff we saw who were all friendly and helpful. The cottage is well equipped and had a welcoming feel, we used our own camping chairs on the area by kitchen door, the steps to lawn were a little steep with no handrail and the views were better from the top patio from where we saw roe deer and other wildlife. The gardeners were busy during day hours managing trees & borders on the estate and cutting the grass on overflow field and North Firbank lawn, the noise was intermittent and grass cutting literally took 5 mins. There’s so much to do around the cottage you don’t need to leave the estate, however we had a lovely evening in Dunure looking at castle, harbour and anchor inn for lovely meal and hospitality! We wish the cottage could accommodate more people so we could return with family!

The cottage was really lovely and we had an amazing stay!

! What a location to be inside the estate and we had a fantastic time. The only issue with the property was the beds were very uncomfortable - even my husband (who likes a hard mattress) had to get a duvet that we weren't using and put that on top of the mattress. Small things like having a doorstop for the kitchen and sitting room doors would have been useful. The shower could also do with an upgrade but at least there's a bath. None of this would put us off coming back - it was a perfect spot for a family break and our 2 year old had the time of his life. Culzean is an amazing place to stay.

We had an amazing stay in North Firbank at Culzean Castle and will be returning.

The cottage was as advertised and very comfortable. There was a good sized secure garden. A couple of doorstops for the living room and kitchen door would be good and the only real negative was that the shower wasn’t the best with quite low pressure. As for the site it sits on, that was fabulous. There is a beach 5 minutes walk from the cottage which even at high tide is good for a morning stroll. Then there are the 600 acres of the site with miles of paths to explore. The cafe also has a good range of food and snacks and we enjoyed the view of the sea and Arran from the picnic tables behind while we ate. We could have easily spent the whole week on site and never gone anywhere else.

Really enjoyed our stay at North Firbank.

The cottage was clean, comfortable and had all that we needed for our stay. We will have to return to see the rest of the Estate as there was so many walks and paths to follow. I would suggest a door mat at the back door as with the dog we used this the most. We could have moved the front door one. We hope to return, thanks again for the offer of the extra night due to storm Eowyn even though we did not take up the offer. Yours sincerely Alex Campbell

Just back from a lovely week at North Firbank.

The cottage had everything we needed and more. Such a nice and relaxing cottage, we would quite happily move in there to live :-) One thing which would be a bonus is a bench or seating near the kitchen door. I’ve a bad knee and didn’t want to risk the steps down to the bench on the grass area. Even though it was December it was mild enough to have a morning coffee outside. We will no doubt stay again.

This is a lovely place to stay and you are well-looked after by the NTS team.

However, we do wonder about value for money as it is very pricey for somewhere so basic. But none of that would stop us from coming here again. We had to run the dishwasher twice a day many days because of the shortage of crockery and cutlery. The bedding is definitely on the cheap side and neither the duvet nor the sheet really fits the bed. And a few door stops would be really appreciated as we had to invent ways to stop all the doors from closing themselves all the time.

We were more than happy with the cottage.

It was very comfortable and spacious. We loved the garden too and it was safe for our dog to explore too which she loved. The access to the castle grounds and the beach at the end of the lane made this a wonderful experience. Thank you!

The concrete steps down to the sunken garden (lawn) are dangerous and require a handrail.

Clients should be advised that ticks are about due to the presence of deer in the woods, as well as in the deer park. (personal experience). The weeds outside the property were killed but not removed, and were coming back to life. No instructions about coffee machine.

The cottage's location is amazing, a short walk from the beach and right in the forest with lots of wildlife.

Some nice walks in the area. The garden is secure so good for dogs, but the floors are rather slippery so dog owners might want to bring some anti slip vet beds or the like, the steps to the garden are also very steep but it can be accessed from the back. Doorstops would be amazing. The only thing that really annoyed me was people coming to cut the grass twice during our stay with zero warning meaning we couldn’t enjoy the garden or the cottage with people right there. We left a day early due to this as couldn’t really relax not knowing whether someone will just walk in!

Fantastic stay, incredible location and the cottage itself is clean, well appointed and feels very fresh.

The directions to the property were clear and we found the place very easily. We felt a couple of things could be added - a bath mat (especially useful for young children) and door stops.

Lovely cottage in a perfect location.

Very peaceful and with everything you would need.

Lovely cottage in a wonderful location – and with not one, but two fenced gardens for the dog, and neither of them were wet and muddy!

This is our second New Year at North Firbank.

Fantastic cottage.

Ideal location for children with play area and beach within short walking distance.

Windows difficult to open and main bedroom door difficult to close (new carpet?). The bathroom would benefit from a makeover!

We have had a lovely holiday on the Culzean Castle estate.

The Farm Cafe was excellent, as was the Farm Shop! We enjoyed staying at a Scottish National Trust property and visiting the local community. Great to be so near the sea and immersed in nature.

The property was good but it was expensive but unfortunate the weather was against us.

The water in the shower was very low and it stops a couple of times around 5pm. A scouring pad would it be useful to clean the pans.

Lovely holiday

I cannot recommend this cottage highly enough.

It is very well appointed with good quality beds and linens. The whole place was spotless. The real value though is its position. The beach is a few minutes walk, the cafe, pond and play park are on your doorstep. If you have a dog, it’s just wonderful as there is so much safe space for them to run in. The garden is also completely enclosed so you can relax knowing your dog can’t come to any trouble. I will definitely be returning. The only suggestion I would have is that the owners should add a handrail to the steps in the garden . They are pretty steep and are not gated

We really enjoyed our stay, wonderful location and the accommodation was excellent in all respects.

The staff were brilliant throughout our stay. They were particularly kind and efficient in returning some property we left behind by mistake so we cannot thank them enough.

Perfect property in an ideal position.

Well kept, clean and uncluttered and well equipped

A beautiful place to spend your holiday.

Great location. The property is immaculate and very well equipped

Excellent location.

Excellent cottage. Excellent wildlife. Woodland walks excellent. Coastal walks excellent. Would we like to go ago - most definitely.

Love this property it has everything you need inside & outside.

Very cosy, clean, good size & stunning grounds. We could easily live there.

Excellent

North Firbank is in a superb setting on Culzean Castle Estate, close to a beautiful Beach, woodland rambles and formal gardens.

Such a peaceful setting and loved the dark skies at night! Great coffee to be had at the Home Farm Cafe. The Cottage was clean, well equipped, and comfortable and worked well for me with having mobility difficulties. I brought my own bathing safety equipment to enable me to safely access the shower over the bath. My mobility scooter managed to negotiate the grounds pretty well. What would have been really appreciated is a Patio table and chairs by the Kitchen door side to be able to relax in the lovely setting outside. Unfortunately anyone with any kind of mobility issue would not be able to get down the steps to the lower garden. We will definitely be back, Thank you!

Lovely cottage , spotlessly clean and fabulous location.

Small point, the sunken garden is a lovely space but would have been great if you could add a rail on one side of the steps down to garden (wrought iron would be ideal and in keeping with cottage). This would be so helpful for elderly as well as young children. Also a little gate at top of the garden steps would be great. Also although The cottage details did warn of a few steps down from living room to kitchen, please can you put much brighter strip across the few steps for safety? It is almost impossible to see them until too late as they blend in with flooring . Aside from these small points, we loved our stay at North Firbank and will definitely be back.