-
5 Guests
-
3 Bedrooms
-
1 Bathroom
-
Pets No
Features
- Off road parking
- Ground floor bedroom
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Sky TV
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
19 Customer Reviews
-
"Excellent stay, great location, there was a bit of a problem with TV and they were very responsive."
Would definitely stay again, thank you
-
"Very nice place, close to the Highlands with a lovely garden."
Highly recommended
-
"We had a great stay at cottage Fia."
The kitchen and bathroom facilities were great. The cottage was super clean and the owner sent out very useful information prior to our stay.We were super cosy and the cottage was a great base for exploring parts of the Nc500 and Inverness. We would stay again.
-
"On arrival at Cottage Fia, I was very disappointed to see the unsightly overgrown garden, front and back which had clearly had no attention for some time."
The concerns raised by previous guest reviews about repairs and maintenance of the inside of the property had not been rectified. There is still peeling wallpaper in the living room, a broken pane of glass to the left of the front door, broken blinds in the kitchen, badly cracked sealant round the bath, marks on carpets, a broken curtain rail in a bedroom and the general decor needing refreshed. I emailed the owner, Mr Hossack who lives oversees and attached photos of the garden. He was unaware of the issues at the property. Hopefully now that he is aware that there is more attention needed than just from a cleaner, the required work and maintenance both inside and in the garden will be carried out. Until this happens, I wouldn't recommend staying just now.
-
"The cottage was in a great position for exploring the area."
Was reasonably priced The first thing we noticed on arrival was the broken glass to the side of the front door. Access to the key safe was difficult as it was at the back and the side gate was broken and was propped at an awkward angle. The cottage was clean, but there was a terrible smell like wet dog and damp. The beds were very uncomfortable We left a day early as the smell does not entice you to stay.
-
"No recent reviews so rang Sykes who said this was due to property refurb."
Unsightly front garden on arrival. Access to key box at rear, through overgrown/unusable back garden (rusted BBQ, rubbish, trip hazards everywhere) - very disappointing. Property very clean but overwhelming smell in living room (the plug-ins/diffusers unable to mask damp/dog odours?). Bathroom floor and uncarpeted areas very slippery. Dated internal decor. No can/bottle opener (purchased and left). Bowls chipped. Wok unusable. Some of the maintenance issues mentioned in past reviews unresolved. Photos on website not representative of gardens' current condition. NO OBVIOUS PROPERTY REFURBISHMENT! No visitor/tourist info. Would have been good value if property better maintained as it was a lovely location.
-
"The property was very warm and welcominf when we arrived."
It was very clean and confortable. We had a good week which was supported by the very good accomadation.
-
"On arriving we noticed the garden had not been properly tended for a long while, everything was over grown with suckers and weeds."
the back door looked worse for wear and has had many poor repairs. entering the house, on the surface it seemed clean, but really needed a deep clean, all maintenance was a bare minimum, which ruined the cottage. the coffee machine is broken. and while we were out the gardener broke the glass next to the front door. although a deep clean was needed, there was no smell to the house. it had all the facilities you could need fro a 2 week stay, but as the garden was unusable there was no line to hang washing. The major problem was the bathroom window, the house is not secure because the bathroom window would not lock shut as there was no closing mech/handle. this was mentioned in the visitors book and would hope that the owner knows. While it didn't ruin the holiday, I would not stay here again, as I would fear non of the repair done and the house would be in worse condition. Its a shame as the house has much potential, great location, and friendly neighbours.
-
"A lovely and well positioned cottage."
This was equipped with everything we needed and we enjoyed some wonderful nights in front of the open fire talking and generally relaxing. Some aspects of the property are in need of cosmetic updating i.e. broken kitchen drawer front, a few lightbulbs that were blown, kitchen blind was broken, twin room wardrobe door handle broken to name a few things but this didn’t diminish our stay and we look forward to returning in the future.
-
"Warm, comfortable, peaceful and everything works."
Good shower and a nice welcome hamper. Generally a very nice house in a good location. But I note that several guests have noted in the visitors book that the house looks "tired" and I agree with them. It would be good to do some maintenance on the house very soon before more serious problems arise. Some of the problems I spotted: I think there is a leaking/blocked gutter; the bath sealant needs replacing very urgently; some of the wallpaper is peeling badly in several rooms; some of the paintwork has been damaged; cooker hood lightbulb needs changing; uplighter bulb needs changing (requires steps); double mattress is worn out. Sorry if this sounds critical but I am trying to help. Might be good to be a bit more generous with the starter pack for the fire.
-
"It's a lovely and cosy cottage with all you need for a nice holiday."
When we arrived we found a generous welcome pack waiting for us and milk in the fridge! Really nice of the owner. Perfect location for outdoor activities. Close to the mountains and distilleries and golf courses. Loch Ness and the Great glen, lovely forest walks and waterfalls a short drive away. Inverness is not too far either!
-
"A really quiet location but perfect for accessing the NW Highlands"
-
"We booked the cottage as it was within our budget and were aware it was a 3* cottage - in reality it should have been a higher rating."
The cottage is warm, spacious and exceeded in all amenities that we would normally expect. The owner contacted us in advance with details for the holiday and was available if required - although we never needed them. Beds were comfy, everything in good working order (except the shower head, which was previously broken and we were advised of this) and everywhere sparkling clean. We would recommend this cottage and would willingly return again in the future. Great access to most of the local attractions around the NC500. Thank you.
-
"Well equipped cottage in good location."
Would definitely return and would recommend..
-
"I am sorry to say that the cleanliness and general state of repair of the cottage was really disappointing."
The place needed a deep clean, there was a used tissue under the bed, the bedroom was very dusty and the bathroom light fitting was full of flies. The downstairs bedroom and kitchen both smelt strongly of damp, the bathroom window wouldn't open, the sealant around the bath was mouldy and the wall paper was coming off the wall and ceiling in the lounge. We were unable to empty our recycling into the bin for collection as this was full. This hadn't been emptied by the council as it had glass in it. I reported both this and the bathroom window to the owner and also contacted yourselves about the bathroom window as soon as I arrived. Neither issue was resolved during our stay. We would have liked to have left the property in a cleaner state, but the vacuum cleaner was ineffective and I had to resort to using a dust pan and brush on the lounge carpet.
-
"We have used Sykes before and booked this holiday as we felt Sykes could be trusted to deliver a good standard of accommodation."
However on arrival at the cottage we were very disappointed. The fence bordering the cottage is falling down and the back garden was overgrown to the point that we couldn’t even get into the ‘pretty seating and barbecue area’ that was advertised. After two days a gardener arrived and cut all the weeds back but I still had to clean down the outdoor seats which were covered in algae and bird waste before we could use them. Inside the rooms were as advertised and we were quite comfortable. However it felt in desperate need of redecoration. Wallpaper was peeling off the wall and ceiling in the living room and many of the carpets were stained. One of slats on the double bed was broken, although the mattress was actually extremely comfortable. We were also concerned about the general cleanliness of the cottage - there were dirty oven gloves and tea towels in one of the kitchen drawers, the cushions on the kitchen chairs were filthy and dirty tissues were found under beds in two of the bedrooms. The cottage is in a lovely area with lots to do and has a playground opposite which makes it good for children.
-
"The cottage is in beautiful and quiet location and has been well equipped with good facilities."
If there was any criticism about the cottage I’d say the mattresses are quite hard so we didn’t have a particularly good sleep. Even met the neighbours who were very friendly and gave good ideas on places to visit.
-
"Great location."
Close to Black Isle Show and lovely play park for little ones across the road.
-
"Great location for Dingwall, Inverness, Loch Ness and Black Isle."
Lots of great walks and scenery to enjoy nearby. Also a fine base for exploring the mountains and a wonderful north golf coast.
Summary
- Three bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x twin, 1 x ground floor single
- Ground floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
- Kitchen with dining area
- Utility
- Sitting room with open fire.
- Oil central heating with open fire
- Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, TV with basic Sky, WiFi, selection of books
- Fuel, power and starter pack for fire inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Off road parking for 1 car, plus roadside parking beside cottage
- Lawned garden with furniture and BBQ
- Sorry, no pets and no smoking
- Shop 2 miles, hotel with bar 5 mins walk
- River 5 mins walk.
The property
This sweet stone semi-detached cottage is located in the quiet and friendly village of Marybank in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
With roses next to the door, Cottage Fia is deceptively spacious and is ideal for a family or group of friends who will enjoy exploring this unspoilt part of Scotland together.
This delightful cottage has a generous fitted kitchen with dining area together with a useful utility room, which has direct access out to the rear garden.
There is a nicely presented sitting room with welcoming open fire and a single bedroom and bathroom at ground floor level, whilst on the first floor is a twin and double bedroom.
With a small private garden to the front along with a parking space, there is also a large rear garden, mainly lawned with a pretty seating and BBQ area.
From the rear of the cottage there are views to Ben Wyvis and the surrounding mountains and hills.
Guests will most certainly appreciate the outdoor space here and enjoy opportunities for some alfresco dining in the summer months.
Marybank lies close to the River Conon, a very popular fishing river and permits are available locally.
It also has a small hotel just a very short walk from the cottage, which is ideal for visitors who want to enjoy a relaxing drink at the end of an active day.
Muir of Ord is close by and offers a great selection of shops and hotels, as well as a riding stable.
Ideally situated for touring the Highlands, visitors will enjoy Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness with its excellent visitors centre or perhaps venture up to Culloden Battlefield and soak up the rather special atmosphere and history there.
With so much to see and do and with beautiful scenery and wildlife in abundance makes this cottage an enjoyable base at all times of the year.
EPC Rating: Band E
EPC Rating: Band E
About the location
MARYBANK
Muir of Ord 4 miles; Beauly 6.5 miles; Inverness 18 miles.
The small village of Marybank in Ross-shire is the gateway to the valley of Strathconon in the Scottish Highlands. The village has a hotel, whilst just two miles away is the larger village of Contin which offers a shop and church. Just four miles away is another village, Muir of Ord, which is situated close to the Beauly Firth and boasts the Glen Ord Distillery and Visitor Centre and a pretty high street, plus also close by is the town of Beauly where you can find quality shops which sell the finest Scottish tweeds, knitwear and crafts, as well as smart boutiques and intimate restaurants. In the area you will find the Glen Affric, a National Nature Reserve, which is ideal for walkers and cyclists to explore, and within reach is Inverness, the capital city of the Highlands. A convenient location for exploring this part of the Highlands.
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas