West Cottage - Tarvit

Comfortable cottage on spectacular grounds.

Handy base for day trips in Fife and Tayside.

Exactly as described.

Very well equipped, clean, and very comfortable. The gardens and parkland of Tarvit Mansion are lovely, and the Hickory golf experience is not to be missed. Good central location for the East Neuk.

This is at least the 6th time we have stayed in the West Cottage at the Hill of Tarvit.

We keep coming back because it is so cozy and fits us perfectly. From our very first stay we have felt so at home there. It's a great location for a home base while we visit Scotland. Besides the cottage itself, we love being able to wander the grounds of the Hill of Tarvit in the evenings and enjoy the quiet beauty.

Another lovely stay at Hill of Tarvit.

I usually stay in the flat in the mansion house, but that was unavailable this year and I was extremely happy at West Cottage. The house was immaculately clean and comfortable, and very cosy and welcoming to come back to after a day out. When I managed to lock myself out, Dan, one of the property managers turned up really quickly to let me in and show me how to sort it out if it happened again. Thank you very much Dan! I should also thank the people staying at East Cottage who kindly invited me for dinner if there was a long delay getting back in. Not needed, but very kind and very welcome. I'll certainly be back next year.

We had a lovely week in West Cottage.

A proper home from home with lovely surroundings. We have been to the Hill of Tarvit cottages before and love it there.

Loved it, 2nd time and booked again.

Have family in Scotland in Fife so ideal place to stay. Have two dogs, who love it. Estate staff very accommodating, had power (storm) dropped round torches etc

Very good location and good value.

We had a great holiday. Thank you

Very nice cottage in a lovely location.

Great walks around the estate (but take a head torch if you're there during the winter and the dog needs a late walk), easy access to lots of places around Fife. Thought it was a bit mean that for a 4 night stay we were only left two logs and two pieces of kindling for the open fire given that provision of fuel for the fire was advertised during the winter months.

Quality well presented property with all you need for a great holiday.

We have stayed a number of times and the interior is excellent and luxurious and often updated.

Fabulous cottage, just as described.

Well appointed, cosey warm, comfortable beds, tastefully decorated in a fabulous setting. Great communication, lots of property and local information made available. Would book again.

My second stay at West Cottage - absolutely loved it yet again.

Very responsive hosts (National Trust) when I put in special request. Felt very welcome and looked after. A gem of an estate to stay on - beautiful tranquil setting and the wonderful Mansion to visit as well.

Great place, two suggestions though, a non slip mat for the shower and a baking tray.

Place was spot on in a lovely location.

We have stayed in West Cottage several times and it is a lovely area.

We were disappointed that the house did not have refreshments open at all. We were told that we would be able to get a coffee at the Golf office but this was disputed by the ‘gentleman’ at the golf office. His excuse was that the facilities were only for the paying golfers. As a volunteer for National Trust over many years I resented his attitude which did not in my view represent National Trust.

Totally brilliant holiday staying in this comfortable cottage for two weeks.

A lovely peaceful spot but also a perfect place from which to explore Fife. Fantastic views of the surrounding countryside from the hill itself which we climbed a few times during our stay. It was good to be able to visit the Hill of Tarvit Mansion and explore the garden and surrounding estate at leisure. We particularly enjoyed the private cottage garden and the many butterflies and birds visiting that visited it. We visited a number of historic houses, gardens and seaside towns all within easy reach. We also visited V&A Dundee and took the train from Cupar into Edinburgh for a day at the Fringe.

We enjoyed our stay at the property which we found to be well maintained.

Highly recommended❤️

Great property in great location

Another fantastic National Trust for Scotland property.

A stunning cottage fully equipped with everything you would need including treats for our dog when we arrived. Everyone on the site was incredibly friendly and the site itself is stunning and so very well maintained. If I could give 6 stars for this cottage and location I would.

Lovely cottage in a beautiful setting.

Very pretty woodland walk that can be taken straight from the cottage. The cottage is ideally located to explore all of Fife.

The cottage was everything we hoped for, clean,comfortable and attractively furnished and equipped.

It is in a beautiful setting and we were very lucky with the weather, so full use of the gardens. One thing that would have been helpful, would be a grab rail and bath mat; would have felt a lot safer with the shower being over the bath.

West Cottage was perfect, really well equipped and so comfortable.

We felt at home from the moment that we arrived. We went to sleep listening to an owl hooting and woke to the most magnificent dawn chorus. I am recovering from an accident so the walks were perfect for me. We could hear woodpeckers and the snowdrops were amazing. We would love to come back in the not too distant future. Thank you.

Excellent cottage in a lovely setting .

Lots of lovely walks on the doorstep and close to amenities . Would recommend .

Really lovely place to stay - wish we could have stayed longer.

Loved the cottage, great location near Cupar.

In the middle of Fife made it easy to reach everywhere we wanted to go. We have stayed in Glenrothes, Anstruther and largo before, but this was the easiest base to get where we wanted to go. Loved the cottage, ideal for dog owners. Nice walks on your doorstep, literally, to get dogs tired out before going out. Good size for three people will take 5. Now there is a train station near Leven, can get in for the day and it's only 20 mins to the train station So nice we are going to book again

Lovely setting and good walking country.

The cottage and location is excellent and the peace and quietness and walks are beautiful.

We have stayed here several times before and thorough enjoyed the cottage and the area hence returning several times a year.

Our heating stopped working on the one of the independent radiators and its was promptly replaced so we couldn't fault the care.

A Cozy Retreat at West Cottage, Hill of Tarvit - A Mixed Bag of Experiences I recently spent seven days at the West Cottage, Hill of Tarvit, booked through Sykes Cottages.

Overall, it was a charming getaway with a few standout moments, but there were also areas where the experience could have been better. The Good: Location: The cottage is nestled in the beautiful grounds of Hill of Tarvit, offering a serene and picturesque environment. It’s perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in nature. Historical Charm: Staying within the estate of the Hill of Tarvit Mansion was an enriching experience. The opportunity to explore the mansion’s interiors and the surrounding grounds added a unique historical element to our stay. Private Garden: The enclosed garden at West Cottage was a lovely feature. We enjoyed setting up an outdoor tent and hot tub, which provided a nice way to relax and enjoy the outdoors, even when the weather wasn't ideal. Family-Friendly: The cottage worked well for a family holiday. The kids enjoyed exploring the grounds, engaging in various activities like a woodland walk, and even a pillow fight in the cottage. The spacious layout accommodated us comfortably. The Not-So-Good: Check-In Timing: The check-in time of 5 PM felt quite late, especially after a long journey. It would have been more convenient to have access to the cottage earlier in the day. Kitchen Facilities: While the kitchen was functional, it could have been better equipped. We ended up preparing a mix of home-cooked meals and takeout, but a few more utensils and appliances would have made cooking more convenient. Weather Considerations: As expected in Scotland, the weather was unpredictable, which slightly limited our outdoor activities. While the hot tub helped mitigate this, it’s worth noting that outdoor plans might need to be flexible depending on the weather. Communication: There was a minor hiccup in communication among our group, which led to some tension. It wasn’t related to the cottage or Sykes Cottages, but it’s a reminder to ensure clear communication when traveling in a group. Final Thoughts: West Cottage offers a lovely escape with plenty of historical charm and a peaceful setting. It's a great choice for families or small groups looking to unwind. However, be prepared for the Scottish weather and ensure you have everything you need for cooking if you plan to self-cater. The late check-in was a bit inconvenient, but overall, the stay was enjoyable, and we left with many fond memories of our time at Hill of Tarvit.

When we arrived the television was not working.

We contacted the OOH team and the following day they provided a replacement. The only iassue we had with the holiday was that a Contractor (Scottish Water) wanted acceass to the property for a survey at 08.00 on the Thursday morning. I refused entry as the timing weas not convenient and we had no notice of the visit. Other than that the property was excellent and ideal for our purposes.

Where we stayed was not the same as the photo.

But it had everything that was described. It’s a gorgeous house, on the grounds of an estate with a golf course. It’s got a few wee bits of forest for dogs to run about in. The house itself was imaculate. Gorgeous secluded garden, no noise, friendly helpful staff that we initially met. We didn’t need them after that but were aware that they were available at all times. I would highly recommend especially if you want peace and quiet

Loved our stay, the grounds were well maintained, the cottage comfortable, clean and well kept.

Excellent cottage.

Furnished to a high standard. Access to very pretty grounds for local walks worked very well with 2 dogs .

Lovely cottage , staff very helpful , delightful setting , great holiday.

Very warm and comfortable cottage.

Well stocked and it had everything we needed for our week long stay. Enjoyed the location and the dog walks to the top of Hill of Tarvit and around the perimeter of the golf course. The tour of the Tarvit house was interesting and we had a great week despite some wet weather.

We really enjoyed West Cottage thank you for a wonderful holiday.

Everything lovely at Hill of Tarvit very peaceful and friendly perfect. Also a really nice area to visit Thank you.

The listing was accurate and honest.

We had a small problem with one of the appliances- and this was sorted straightaway. Claudia up at the house gave us a lovely introduction to the history of the building, and the guides in each room were friendly and informative. Everyone me met on site was lovely. I noted from a previous review that there was no cafetière- so we brought one with us. My only constructive criticism would be that some of the knives seem quite worn and missing fastenings- perhaps check these and replace as necessary. There was plenty to do in the area- including four visits to Janetta’s ice cream in St. Andrews and two to the Scottish best chip shop (2023) winner, The Wee Chippy in Anstruther. Lovely scenic walks, close to Edinburgh and Dundee and all mod cons, save for Wi-Fi, in the cottage. We did find decent mobile signal (Vodafone) in cottage and around the estate. All the sights and conveniences of Cornwall without so many people.

Exactly what was expected , peaceful break ,quite isolated ,glad we had transport ,dog loved it .

No complaints . Cottage had everything we needed .

We all loved West Cottage including the dogs!

All of the staff at the main house, Hill of Tarvit were helpful and we had a really enjoyable holiday.

Love this cottage and the setting.

Have stayed in this and the East Cottage a few times.

The only thing missing in the cottage was a cafetiere to be able to make a decent cup of coffee otherwise we had everything we needed for a great stay

Really enjoyable break in lovely cottage and grounds, Nice personal touch with our New Year card from Claudia.

A gem of a cottage.

Comfortable and set in the most beautiful countryside. Perfect for an autumn holiday nestled among trees and woodland. Can’t recommend highly enough and a fantastic location to visit Falkland, East of Neuk and the wonderful Kellie Castle.

Very nice and clean cottage in a lovely area, well maintained and well equipped.

Staff most welcoming and helpful. Would highly recommend.

Lovely property everything you need is provided comfortable beds everything clean and fresh

A fantastic place to stay in tremendous surroundings.

Definitely recommended for a quiet, peaceful, and comfortable break.

Great location, lovely cottage and central to a lot of places

We visit west cottage every year and always enjoy our stay, this year we appreciated the new mattresses on the beds which were very comfy and the new washing machine was great too.

The house would benefit from some new patio furniture as the old stuff is falling apart! We have to say that Claudia who worked in the mansion house was very helpful, she made sure we we’re having a pleasant stay. She’s a credit to the nts and in all the years we’ve been staying here she’s been the most helpful. Very kind, friendly and funny, what a lovely lady.

Lovely cottage in lovely surroundings.

Perfect holiday for us as family were nearby. Cottage was a home from home. We will definitely be booking again.

Accommodation was lovely and set in beautiful surroundings.

The only issue I have is that the accommodation does not have any internet. I think the property owners should be providing this.

Great location and quiet

We loved our short break here.

The cottage is well equipped and cosy. Instructions to find it and for the facilities we're brilliant. As listed there is no WiFi, but we got by with data from O2 (it was patchy, but that was what they described). Lovely walks for the dog too.

Had a lovely holiday at West cottage.

Everything was as described, comfortable, clean and beautiful grounds to wander in. Only downside for us , there was no light outside the kitchen door. (sensor broken). Made it difficult exercising the dogs in the garden in the evening.

The cottage setting is outstanding.

The facilities are sufficient for a comfortable stay. The accommodation needs a deep clean and essential maintenance carried out. The heating is poor and the broken bathroom fan is causing substantial staining of the walls.

Overall we had a lovely holiday helped because of the good weather.

The cottage didn’t have a working bathroom fan so with 4 people using it became very damp. Lounge had long white dog hairs stuck in the carpet. Twin bedroom had black mould around the window frame and pink sticky sweets stuck in the 2nd drawer of the chest of drawers. The garden had 2 areas where our small dog could escape so we had to use the deckchairs to block these gaps.

Sykes sent 'end of holiday' reminders which were unnecesary and an irritant.

Sykes should stop assuming their holidaymakers are too thick to realise that their break is coming to an end and not tell people what they should do prior to leaving.

The extractor fan in bathroom was not working when we arrived.

There is a lot of black mould round windows in single bedroom. We found it noisy in mornings due to work vehicles moving around close to cottage.

Lovely walks right outside cottage.

Nice garden to sit in. Double bedroom had electric meter in it which ticked loudly very irritating first few nights but wouldn’t stop us going back. Lots to do in surrounding area. Highly recommend

Excellent Cottage, clean, well eqipped and warm.

Nearbye NTS staff very helpful. Dog friendly and in pretty location.