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Kinnaird House

(Ref. 1041106)

Grantown-On-Spey, Northern Highlands & Cairngorms National Park Show on map

3.9

Sykes rating

  • 12 Guests

  • 6 Bedrooms

  • 2 Bathrooms

  • Pets Yes

Features

  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • house (8)
  • bed (6)
  • our (6)
  • beds (6)
  • good (6)
  • stay (5)

11 Customer Reviews

  • "For such a big group, a dishwashers and a coffeemachine would be nice."

    Reviewed by WilmaOct 2023

  • "The home was clean and enjoyable."

    Directions to the property made it easy to find. The key box worked well, but the door locks themselves are old and a bit hard to open. The top lock takes a special touch to get it unlocked and we were afraid of breaking the key. I tried to call the phone number as listed on my email from Sykes but was told by the person answering the phone they no longer managed the property for Sykes. So without a good phone number to call we continued to fiddle with the top lock until one person got it to open. Later on the top lock was again a problem with one in our group when they tried to get in but couldn't get the lock to open so they had to wait for another party member that knew the trick to getting it open to return before getting in the home. I would suggest a new top lock. Other than the door lock we enjoyed our stay and were excited to find someplace that could accommodate our large group. We would stay here again.

    Hi, WE are so glad you enjoyed your stay. We have had someone in to look at the lock and have it oiled and repaired for the short term. And once the main season ends we intend to replace the lock. I am sorry you were unable to get through on the telephone. And have double checked with Sykes, but they say they have the correct number on records. Trying to work out where i was in terms of network access, which can sometimes cause issues. But glad you were able to deal with the lock. Cheers Alastair Property Owner

    Reviewed by CindyAug 2023

  • "Just completed a lovely family (10) birthday weekend in this let in Grantown."

    The house was a great size, especially the large dining room and lounge. Bedrooms were also a good size and the beds really comfy. Bit of a strange entrance to the house and we arrived in the rain which didn't help. Good selection of dishes etc in the kitchen but the cooker was really small and the hob a bit slow. Could really do with a dishwasher and a kitchen revamp. One or two little repairs like the bathroom lock would also improve what could be a fantastic family or large group getaway.

    Thank you for your valuable feedback Patricia. We hope you and your family enjoyed the birthday celebrations. We have plans in place to replace doors and are continually revieiwing what needs upgraded to the property and will take into account your helpful suggestions to ensure the property and facilities meet guest requirements and expectations. Property Owner

    Reviewed by PatriciaMar 2023

  • "Holiday was amazing ,very big house,clean,but very cold in the house!"

    Hi Cristina, Yes we think the place is amazing too and as you say very big. We had asked the previous holidaymakers to leave the heating to come on twice a day for your arrival. I am sorry this does not appear to have happened. We are currently looking at "Smart Controls" for the property to help avoid this type of issue in the future. We appreciate your feedback and are glad you enjoyed your holiday. Property Owner

    Reviewed by CristinaJan 2023

  • "We had a brilliant stay at Kinnaird house, great location for exploring the Cairngorms and the Higlands, and we loved it as our base of operations!"

    Well stocked, really comfortable beds, super spacious, and brilliant price for what you get as well! Highly recommend the Cairngorm Butchers downstairs, the meat was amazing quality and we used them multiple times. The only slight issue we had, which I believe has been mentioned before, was the water pressure in the upstairs bathroom, but we got round this by communicating when we were having showers. We all didn't want to leave and will definitely be back to stay in the future!

    Thank you for your feedback Amber. We are glad you enjoyed your stay. The location is indeed perfect for exploring the stunning Cairngorms and we look forward to welcoming you back. Thank you for pointing out the pressure issue in the upstairs bathroom. We are currently looking at ways to improve the water pressure and hope to have a solution shortly with the help of Colin Lawsons, our local builder. Property Owner

    Reviewed by AmberOct 2022

  • "The cleaners had not attended the property before our arrival and we were met with piles of used towels and bed linen."

    We were not able to contact the owner or the cleaning company, and in the end opted to go and buy cleaning products and clean the property, change all the beds, etc. ourselves. It really spoiled our holiday. Sykes staff were easily contactable and pleasant, but I had to relate the problem three times to changing staff members as they sought to resolve the issue. In the end we accepted a 20% refund of the sum we had paid. Quite apart from the issue with the cleaners, I wouldn’t recommend Kinnaird House. The noise from the fridges in the butchers downstairs means that the back bedroom on the lower floor isn’t really useable. And if anyone turns on a tap while you are showering, the water cuts out. The location on the high street is good, but it felt more like a bunkhouse than a holiday home.

    We apologise. Following an investigation and communication with the Cleaning Company. We have parted company and are building a relationship with a new Cleaning Company. The Red Sock Cleaning Company and Laundry Service are based in the High St, Grantown On Spey and have many years of experience. We look forward to working with them to ensure the needs of all our future customers are met. The situation with the change of Cleaning Companies has also led us to carry out a full review of Kinnaird House, the service we provide and the systems we have in place to ensure all our customers have a full and happy stay. Property Owner

    Reviewed by LucyJul 2022

  • "Unfortunately as a group of 6, we all felt the same that the our experience at Kinnaird House fell a long way short of what we expected for the price we paid."

    Firstly, however I would like to thank the incredibly accommodating Victoria for cleaning the property early to enable us to drop off our bags before walking. She was great at replying to our enquiry promptly and reassuring us that we could leave our Bags early to enable us to start our walk. Also for cleaning the flat the best they could. The issues we had with Kinnaird House were the following - Access- there were no instructions that the property was accessed at the side through a small courtyard. Clear signage would make this easier. It was not clear which keypad was for the flat and a few had to be trialled. The key for the flat was difficult to use and needs to be fixed or replaced. It took us a while to manage to unlock the door. Decor - dull and uninviting, clearly needs updating. Some of the doors were so badly damaged they have been repairs with black tape. Some carpeting is stained and looks unclean. Looking out of the kitchen window the gutters are cascading with weeds and the whole house has a feeling of being neglected. We felt the dining room looked like a funeral directors as it was so dull, bland and uninviting. The blinds in one of the downstairs bedrooms did not keep the early morning light out, so resulted in wakening with the sun. Showers - one of the main issues were the poor showers. The upstairs shower kept running out of water mid wash with soap or shampoo! The sink also ran out of water mid tooth brushing. The downstairs electric shower switched from scolding hot to freezing cold in 5 second intervals so could not be used. I contacted the owner directly about this due to health & safety concern. Comfort - the sofa was old but ok and the beds were fine as was the bedding which was clean. In summary as a group of walkers we stayed in 7 different accommodations throughout our long distance walk and Kinnaird house was by far the most expensive but also the most disappointing stay. It cost us over £84/ person per night. As a comparison we stayed in the Norland B&B, Lossiemouth for £50 each, beautiful decor, fantastic sea views, all rooms en-suite with good showers and a full Scottish & continental breakfast in the morning. I hope this feedback is useful for encouraging the owner to make the required improvements or to reduce the cost and change the description to reflect the accommodation on offer. It annoys me that tourists visiting may think that this is the level of accommodation we provide in Scotland. In our view the accommodation felt more of a bunk house, which is ok if that is what you are expecting and the price reflects that. We would not recommend Kinnaird House to any friends or family unless there were significant improvements.

    We are reviewing the information and the way it is presented by Sykes our booking management company. This should avoid any further confusion. We are sorry you found the decor dull, having sought professional advice in regards the decor. We are reviewing this and are gaining further advice in regards making the place feel more homely, for all. Thank you for informing me directly in regards the shower. It was the Thermostatic Valve. And we had the shower replaced, by Colin Lawsons Builders, Grantown on Spey. Property Owner

    Reviewed by DorothyJun 2022

  • "Property was in an excellent location in the centre of Grantown on Spey with local shops (co-op with excellent selection of products - including vegan!"

    ) Grantown on Spey is a lovely area with lots to offer from local wooded walks to painting pottery. The house was spacious enough to not feel on top of each other, however stairs to the different floors may cause difficulty if someone had mobility difficulties. No outside area to sit out on a morning (which we were aware of) however grassed area in main square and woods are close enough to enjoy. The house smelt exceptionally clean on arrival, with fresh towels and bedding, however when looked at a little closer some tidying behind beds may need taking into consideration. Some house-keeping issues - although we had booked for 12 (luckily we did not have everyone turn up) only 11 dining chairs and not enough cups.The water system caused us some difficulties when taking a shower and using water elsewhere. The first floor bedroom at the rear of the building needs a heavy sleeper as a noisy fan extractor from the shop below comes on early in the morning! These were things which our family could manage and overall we felt we had good value for money.

    Thank you so much Donna for your feedback. We are now in the process of carrying out a full review of Kinnaird House, the house-keeping service we provide and the systems we have in place to ensure all our customers have a full and happy stay. We are putting a new check list in place in regards to breakages so that we can ensure we have the appropriate equipment, cups, cutlery etc, and we are carrying out a full audit and review of what else we need to take into consideration, when it comes to ensuring replacements are kept up to date. We have improved the water system with the help of our local builder Colin Lawson , Grantown on Spey, and changed our house -keeping to The Red Sock Cleaning Company and Laundry Service . They are based in the High St, Grantown On Spey and have many years of experience. We look forward to working with them to ensure the needs of all our future customers are met. We are also looking at ways to improve noise reduction in the first floor bedroom at the rear. We are pleased to hear that overall you enjoyed your stay and everything that Grantown on Spey and the area has to offer and thank you again for your invaluable feedback. Property Owner

    Reviewed by DonnaMay 2022

  • "An ideal house for an extended family."

    All beds, duvets and pillows very comfortable. A large Co-op just across the road and really good carry out meal places and pubs. So many lovely walks above and below Grantown. Landmark Forest Theme Park and Highland Folk Museum worth a visit lasting a whole day. (Grandparents can stay at home!) Grantown Museum very good too - lots of costumes for the kids to try on. Paint pottery at the start of your week so that it can be glazed and fired ready to take home as a souvenir. Aviemore and the Strathspey Steam train both within easy reach though we didn’t need either and have been to both already. It was a great holiday week.

    Thank you Jan for your feedback. We are so glad you enjoyed your stay. As you have identified Grantown On Spey and the surrounding are offers so much, with something for everyone. Property Owner

    Reviewed by JanApr 2022

  • "Beautiful surroundings"

    Reviewed by WillemAug 2021

  • "It was a pleasant stay and suited the amount of people in our family group 11."

    Just a couple of downsides. One of the sofas in the lounge was uncomfortable due to a broken part . There was a lack of cutlery for the amount of people in the group. The refuse bins were overflowing on our day of arrival meaning that we had to store our waste in the house until departure and carry our general waste and glass to Aviemore when we left.( the recycling bin was emptied on the morning of our departure so at least we could put the recycling in the bin) It would seem to be advisable to have more bins available for the size of let. Otherwise we really enjoyed our stay and the area .

    Reviewed by JanisseAug 2021

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Summary

  • Duplex apartment
  • Six bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x second-floor double, 1 x second-floor twin, 1 x second-floor single, 1 x family room with double and single, 1 x bunk room
  • Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
  • Second-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
  • First-floor kitchen, dining room and sitting room
  • LPG central heating
  • Electric oven, grill and ceramic hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer, TV, WiFi
  • Fuel and power inc. in rent
  • Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Two well-behaved pets welcome
  • Roadside parking available
  • Sorry, no smoking
  • Shop and pub 0.1 miles

The property

Situated off the vibrant high street of Grantown-On-Spey is this fabulous apartment spanning over the first and second floor, sleeping a party of 12 during a memorable stay to the Scottish Highlands and the Cairngorms National Park.

The interior amenities of Kinnaird House rest on the first and second floor, with the entrance a well-kept secret set behind the neighbouring butchers and bakery.

Make your way up to the first floor and find welcoming living spaces for you and your guests to spend evenings inside after a long day of exploration, let the chef of the group rustle up a Sunday roast in the well-equipped kitchen, fitted with all the essentials needed for a self-catered stay.

The formal dining room can be used for your home-cooking delights, or as a base to tuck into a Saturday night takeaway before enjoying a competitive board game party.

After this, head over to the cosy sitting room, kicking back on one of the plush sofas in front of the large TV, surrounded by beautiful décor.

Also on this floor is a spacious shower room where you can prepare for a days fun in the relaxing walk-in shower or head up the second floor and unwind into a lazy tub of bubbles in the sleek shower room. Take your pick between six charming bedrooms dotted throughout the first and second floors, with a double room and a family room resting on the first floor, whereas upstairs you will find a double, a twin, a single and a bunk room, all are decorated to a high standard with pretty features and ample storage throughout.

Step foot out of the property, turn left and you are welcomed onto the bustling high street of Grantown-On-Spey, boasting an abundance of fantastic shopping facilities, lovely restaurants, lively bars, cafes, a painting studio, bookshop, as well as boutique stores and takeaways.

Turn right and head a few hundred yards down the hill and you are in Anagach Woods, with a range of foot and bicycle paths on offer.

It is an easy walk through the woods to the banks of the River Spey where you can sit and enjoy the tranquillity of the river as it flows past.

From Grantown on Spey, you can venture out on the Malt Whisky Trail of Speyside, sampling traditional Scottish whisky before heading out to the scenic countryside of Speyside.

Alternatively, visit the many various activity centres spread around the area where you can discover a range of summer and winter activities such as Kayaking, SUP, walking, biking, climbing, hiking, as well as the opportunity to enjoy snow sports all year round at Lecht Ski Centres.

Alternatively, pop along to the Cairngorm Ski centre along the road at Aviemore.

Landmark Forest Family Adventure Park is just eight miles away by Carrbridge, the amusement park with a range of attractions, from Dinosaur Land to Roller Coaster provides fun and adventure for the whole family.

Strathspey Steam Railway, operates nearby from Nethy Bridge, should you wish to take a step back in time and go for a ride on the Steam Train as it transports you through the picturesque highlands along the rebuilt tracks.

Journey to the Loch Garten Nature Reserve for a delightful day with your loved ones, packing together a lovely picnic and taking a leisurely stroll around this beautiful setting.

Drive over to the sensational Moray coast, rich in wildlife and sea animals, as well as sandy beaches, thrilling water sports, and a striking waymarked trail from Forres to Cullen, with attractions including Tugnet Ice House, Findhorn Heritage Centre and Bow Fiddle Rock at Portknockie.

Set out on an adventurous escape or even a last minute weekend break with a large group to the Cairngorms at Kinnaird House, there is something for everyone.

EPC Rating: Band F

EPC Rating: Band E

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About the location

GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY

Aviemore 12 miles; Inverness 35 miles.

In the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Grantown-on-Spey has much to offer. There is a variety of shops, bars and restaurants in the town to tempt visitors, or use it as a base for exploring the varied pursuits of the area. Enjoy mountain biking, fishing, golfing on the area’s five courses, walking in the surrounding hills and woodlands, birdwatching and of course following the Castle and Whisky trails. In season, skiing is a popular activity at the nearby Cairngorms and Lecht Ski Centres, while the scenery of the Cairngorms National Park offers tranquil respite from a hectic life, no matter what the season.

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Winter
  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas