Balmeanoch

It's a lovely farmhouse in Perthshire, aside of the loch.

We loved our stay at house and it was our 3rd time this year.. walking the mountain and countryside, kayaking the loch and relaxing in the beautiful location. Thanks again, Garry and Mirella

we waren bij de boeking vooral gevallen voor de rust en ruimte rond het huisje en dat het niet luxe zou zijn wisten we(en dat je regelmatig een muis ziet oke).

Wat vooral een afknapper was dat alles wat in de kasten stond plakte en vies was. we hebben eerst wat bekers bestek en borden gewassen omdat het allemaal plakte. langs alle plinten en onder kasten en bed ligt een flinke stoflaag. in de advertentie werd melding gemaakt van Wifi en een BBQ. dat de Wifi kapot was, kan gebeuren. maar dat het al door eerdere gebruikers gemeld was(in het gastenboek)en blijkbaar nog niet opgelost is geeft te denken. de BBQ was waarschijnlijk ooit door Ben Hur gebruikt en was nu gereduceerd tot diverse onderdelen verroest ijzer. we hebben een mail gestuurt naar de eigenaar over de wifi en de BBQ waar we nooit meer een reactie op hebben gehad. wel hebben we erg genoten van de omgeving en de rust.

Another lovely stay at the cottage!

! Fantastically quiet location, all you can hear is the stream running down the side of the property & wildlife/animals. The loch was very busy all week and never heard any commotion. The property had no internet due to lightning striking the property which was na bother. The hosts were upfront with issues at the property, broken TV, no telephone or the fore mentioned internet & faulty socket, which were all sorted. Only mobile coverage that is decent in the area is EE. There’s loads to do in the area. Will definitely look into booking for next year.

The cottage is in the most superb location and fantastic views in all direction.

Although basic amenities in the property you can't fault it for the price.

I have made a complaint about this property.

While it is in a beautiful location it is unsafe and unfit for purpose.

Lovely old cottage with amazing views and wildlife, like deer in the next field.

It has a well planted garden and nice outside seating area. The sitting room was warm and cosy with a wood burning stove. The bedrooms had comfortable beds and bedding. Generally the cottage was clean, apart from the kitchen with dirty utensils/crockery and mouse droppings in the cupboards. There was lots of hot water; the bath was great, but the shower unit was not adequate and it proved difficult to adjust the temperature. Parts of the cottage could do with some updating like the kitchen and toilet. One of the highlights was our visit to the gardens at Ardvorlich House, about ten minutes along the road, as part of the Scotland Gardens Scheme.

We loved this cottage - it feels lived in and historic rather than refitted and polished, and that's a plus for me.

Idyllic location up a track, away from the (already quiet) road with deer regularly seen in the mornings.

Our second stay at the beautiful Balmeanoch and another unforgettable week!

A truly magical spot with utterly stunning views and a lovely, cosy, warm cottage to enjoy them from. It was great to find some local goodies as a treat ( thank you…they were throughly appreciated) and as before, we would highly recommend this amazing house. Hoping to return very soon and thank you to the Stewart family for renting out this absolute gem.

Thoroughly enjoyed our one week stay in this historic cottage.

Enjoyed walks around Loch Earn and the location allowed us to drive to Glencoe, Loch Awe, Killin, Crieff and also to Balquhidder and Aberfoyle. Being the end of January, the weather was a bit wet as expected but the cottage was warm and the fire was very welcome. Would be looking at going back in the summer to enjoy the garden and the area even more. The pack of local produce was very welcome as well!

The location is absolutely beautiful and the cottage itself is beautiful.

There are beautiful walks to be had and you are miles from anywhere, which is perfect if that is what you are wanting. Great place as a base to explore other parts of Scotland, with Glencoe and Stirling being about an hour away. Unfortunately, when we got there (after a 9 hour drive), on the note left by the owners, there was information that we could not use the tap water to drink as it has lead in it. This information would have been helpful beforehand as we then had to go back out for another 40-50 minute drive to get bottles of water. The cleanliness in the property was poor and not something I would expect in a property being rented out. The cupboards that had the pans and dishes in were dirty and many of the pans that we used had dried food left on them. The crockery all had food on them. The cheese grater had cheese still in the grooves. In the bedrooms, the living room and the kitchen, was a lot of dust. There was some poor maintenance noted with one of the kitchen cupboards having a peeling surface, and the shower was duck-taped together. Overall, the accommodation was not great, but the location made up for this.

Excellent off the beaten track cottage and surroundings, drive up the track is a little rough but we'll worth it !

Loved all the wildlife especially the red deer who were around 1st thing in the morning and dusk. Lots different birds on the feeders, we topped up every day & even saw a greater spotted woodpecker. Cottage was really warm & we didn't even have to light the woodburner. Beds were really comfortable & everything supplied in the kitchen for your needs. If we are ever in the area again then would not hesitate to book again.

Beautiful quirky cottage in a fantastic location, way up a bumpy track through oak woodland on the hillside.

It was so quiet and peaceful; all we could hear were the stags roaring. Surrounded by wildlife and, when we visited, beautiful autumn colours. A welcome pack of local goodies was much appreciated. The cottage was super warm and cosy and we loved it. With a few small improvements it could be even better - the crockery, cutlery and kitchen utensils and cooking equipment all need replacing, bathroom could do with freshening up (especially the wonky shower) and the cushions and pillows are lumpy and need replacing. But none of that detracted from the beautiful location and we would stay again in a heartbeat.

We had a lovely week sketching and painting.

A new floor in the kitchen and good new windows have improved the propery, but some areas of cleanliness are still not attended to.If you want a cosy holiday with enough facilities to get by and dodgy plumbing then this place is in a stunning location. There is a small fridge and no freezer so bring tinned and dried food ...otherwise do a longish drive to nearest shops. The drive is stony and steep so walks are limited if you have challenged mobility.

Lovely cosy and warm cottage in the most beautiful surroundings.

The bed was really comfy. Lovely welcome letter and local products to try. I was dreading going in the end due to reading some bad reviews, but in the main it was clean. Some kitchen cupboards and crockery could do with deep clean. Bathroom had a fusty/damp smell-would benefit from extractor fan I think. Steep track up to the cottage, but worth it for the peaceful setting; sound of the burn running next to the garden; seeing loads of deer in nearby field; beautiful scenery. We would definitely stay again.

We find this place a perfect spot, with a warm welcome and very friendly contact with the owners.

Allso the scottish products we appreciated very much. However we did not use the old frying pan, it can possible be renewed. We very much like the joyfull house, with colourfull furniture and enjoyable paintings on the wall. Enjoying the garden, the vieuw and exploring the nature. And we love allso the rhodondendron garden. Whe can recommendid this house. We felt us welcome and at home. Thank you.

Fantastic, peaceful location and as listed.

The track is a little rough but fine in a 'normal' car. The house is picture perfect in lovely garden and just stunning surroundings. The house itself was warm, comfy beds and settees and had everything we needed. We were made very welcome and the owners were keen to make sure we could contact them if needed. As expected in an older property it is a little tired in places but a few cheap updates would fix some really minor issues (cracked dirty dish rack, new bathroom bin and sorting the door handles). Overall we loved our stay and would book again.

Another lovely stay at this beautiful location hope to be return soon to complete the set of all four seasons.

Lovely rural rustic cottage.

Very central so easy to travel to various places of interest. Cottage was lovely and warm and we made use of the wood burner in the evenings. The local produce left by the owner on our arrival was lovely. We particularly loved the fact that this property was rural and had no Immediate neighbours, it was very peaceful and surrounded by nature.

We had a great stay.

The cottage is cozy and comfortable. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you need. The location is very quiet and peaceful. Lots of great walks in the area.

A lovely cottage that we stayed 2 weeks in, we did visit 2 years ago for 1 week also.

There has been improvements made at cottage but there is cobwebs and mould which you do expect some in a property of this age. I do think however it should have a deep clean to bring up to scratch. That being said the cottage is lovely and comfy, log fires, heating everything you need in kitchen. It is very remote, we took a table top freezer with us as it only has a undercounter fridge with icebox. There are shops a few miles away, but we did most of ours at a farmshop and in Crieff which is about a 30 min drive away. Very dog friendly with lots of walks on your doorstep. Beautiful scenery, deer, sheep, cows and red squirrels. Dogs unless highly trained should be kept on lead for this reason. The cottage does have an enclosed garden so the dogs can potter. Loch Earn as right at the bottom of the track leading to cottage. We will be going again, if your looking for peace, quiet and gorgeous scenery then this cottage shouldnt be missed

A lovely cottage hidden well away from everyone, perfect if you want some quiet time.

Great location if you have a dog and want relaxing walking. The cottage itself has everything you'll need with a lovely garden. The loch and surrounding area is very pleasant. The what 3 words takes you straight to the gate. Then all you need to do is sit back a relax and enjoy the amazing views. This is certainly a place I would visit again.

Had booked the cottage for a friends 50th birthday surprise!

Yes it was a lovely little cottage in the middle of nowhere, couldn’t even hear the people fishing on the loch. Will definitely be returning! The hosts left a sample of local produce for us to try, that was extremely tasty. The only issue was the WIFI it was very hit and miss, in the end turned out to be a good thing. Highly recommend staying here. Thank you for letting us use your cottage for the week

For us, this place was total heaven!

From the steep farm track, to the splendid isolation - exactly what we wanted. If you’re a fuss pot or worried about driving up a farm track then maybe don’t bother….we 100% will be re-booking this gem of a place - total BLISS. Thank you to the owners for sharing Balmeanoch and thank you for the local goodies !

Had another wonderful time in Balmeanoch.

It was peaceful and felt like home away from home. Only thing I would mention is a few dead bugs hanging from the ceiling but didn't bother us. The rest of the house was spotless. We will definitely be returning.

Lovely place to stay; comfy and beautifully situated.

It was a nice, quiet and relaxing stay.

The landlords are very nice and were always available for us. Unfortunately, the cottage was in a shabby condition and could have been cleaner. However, if that doesn't bother you, you can have a great, quiet holiday here.

What beautiful place, the setting is breathtaking,tranquil and inspiring.

Yes the cottage is dated, however to the standard of cleanliness was dissapointing, on day two we went and bought cleaning items and spent two hours wiping surfaces, removing mildew,cobwebs,dead insects, we even had to wash the shower curtain it was black with mould,particularly as I have lung issues this was important. Other than that the place really was perfect for us and if a little time effort and investment was put into this property then we would certainly be back.

We had a great week in this quaint cottage, it had everything we needed and we were able to 'get away from it all' and relax.

Nous avons été charmés par ce lieu en pleine nature et d un calme réconfortant.

Nous avons bien profité de la nature environnante et de la proximité des lieux que nous avons visité. Le logement répondait à nos attentes. Merci beaucoup. Nous reviendrons. Bonne continuation à vous. Christine.

We enjoyed our second stay at Balmeanoch.

It's in a beautiful spot and we felt really welcome there. We had the most amazing week and have already booked next year!

This property should not be for rental in its current state.

Firstly the access to the property is unacceptable with a steep incline to the property on a very uneven road. The main reason for this poor review is the overall cleanliness. In the main bedroom there is a built up of dust around the chest of drawers. When we we stripped the bed the frame was filthy dirt and there also appeared to be remains of dog poo at the side of the chest of drawers. The main toilet has a lot of mould caused by damp and as a result has a musty smell.The shower head is cellotaped on so you can't move it. Even around the wood burning stove the slab was stained and could have been cleaned The fireside rug was damaged and was in poor condition. I have pictures if required. We cancelled our break and only stayed 2 nights. I contacted the owner on Monday and let him know about the keys . I did not go into detail about the property but did tell him that my wife had a knee replacement and as such the access to the property meant that we could not enjoy the walks we were looking forward to.

Hosts were very friendly and helpful.

The house had wonderful character and there was so much wildlife on our door step! We saw red squirrels from the window, as well as deer and lambs. The views and walking were amazing as well.

Such a lovely cottage.

Very comfortable and cosy, would highly recommend. Will definitely be back.

We found the directions hard!

I think the wording 'after the 2nd bridge' would have helped us (we looked for the gate after the 1st bridge) You'd have no chance finding it in the dark This is a very isolated place (which if that's want you want it's great) peaceful, nature all around BUT its 2.5miles of single, bumpy track to get back to the main A road and then you need to find the local town eg calender for a tesco /co-op. We suggest get your food on the way in (there is no freezer though, only an ice box) and again try and do the driving in the daylight Due to the age of the building and the remoteness don't expect broadband and 5g! And it gets cold when the heating isn't on (this review is from February though!) It's an older style interior which doesn't bother me, it fits with the style of house but it does need a good spring clean (get all those corners) Overall we had a very relaxing stay and the area is beautiful, just be aware of your expectations

Lovely cottage.

Owners were excellent. Views were great. Good enclosed garden for our boxer dog. Lovely walks, well placed for attractions and places of interest.

The cottage is nicely situated at the top of the hill and the track was not as bad as I thought it would be.

The cottage looks nice from the outside with a garden table and chairs on the patio area overlooking the garden. However the inside is AWFUL and in need of a thorough professional clean and refurbishment. We spent nine hours travelling to the cottage and you can imagine our distress to find how unclean it was inside. If we had been nearer to home, we would have turned round and left there and then. We did not raise it with the owner or Sykes at the time as we felt they would not be able to resolve the matter and we did not want to become involved in an argument with them. We spent the first hour cleaning the kitchen floor with neat disinfectant and used a packet of antiseptic wipes to clean the surfaces which were covered in dirt and grime. The microwave was filthy inside and the toaster appeared never to have been cleaned inside or out. The walls were dirty and the pipe work covered in dust. There was mildew at the bottom of the walls and the door looked like it had not been wiped down for years. The cupboard under the sink where what cleaning products were kept was filthy and again had not been cleaned for a while. The sofa's in the lounge were dirty and black in places and smelt. We went to use a throw we found in the lounge only to find it full of holes which appeared to have been caused by rodent infestation. There were no instructions or tools available on how to use the log burner or anything to clean up the ashes when we used it. We had good weather but the TV signal was so poor we could only watch it 30% of the time. I suggest the owner may want to mention the TV signal is poor in their description of the property. The bathroom had a layer of dust and dirt on the pipes and had not been cleaned for a long time. We could not open the bathroom window to allow steam out or fresh air to get in which has resulted in mildew on the walls and ceiling. The light pull cord was black with dirt and who knows what germs. We used the downstairs bedroom and found a layer of dust under the bed.The carbon monoxide device emitted a flashing green light which was very off putting when trying to get to sleep at night. We were horrified with the state of the pillows when we took the slips off at the end of our stay. They were badly stained and I suspect have not been changed in years which I find somewhat perturbing in light of Covid. We have been staying in cottages for the past 30 years and without doubt, this was the poorest we have ever stayed in. If you don't mind roughing it and want 1 star (if that) accommodation then this property will suffice but if you want three star and above, I would suggest you look elsewhere.

I don’t usually leave reviews but thought it would be useful this time for the both the owner and future guests as there are a few simple things that could be improved to make this cottage more comfortable and worth the weekly rental cost that we paid.

The property is truly secluded which was exactly what we had hoped for from our holiday in this beautiful part is Scotland - the cottage did not disappoint on this aspect. It was so peaceful and the views were incredible. Regarding the cottage itself, we generally stay in accommodation that is basic but clean so we are used to having what we need and not much else, which is what we expected from this cottage before we got there. The lounge is lovely with a great log burner- the tv is very small which is fine for us as we don’t watch much but might annoy others who rely on it more. It has a DVD player built in which is useful. The Wi-Fi, as you would expect in a remote area is sporadic but works fine in the lounge. The phone signal is the same but there is a landline for emergencies. The upstairs bedrooms are comfortable enough - the stairs are narrow which may limit access for some guests. The other downstairs rooms though were not up to the standard I would have expected for a property that was nearly £1000 a week in August. Although the toilet and sink were generally clean, the floor tiles felt very grubby ( it’s tough for floor tiles to feel anything but grubby sadly) and the pipes around the sink were covered in a grimy dust. There was mould above the window as you couldn’t open it easily so the room wasn’t too well ventilated although it was a large bathroom. There were lots of little issues with cleanliness throughout - lots of cobwebs and spiders (which didn’t bother us as such but would suggest a good hoover around the walls and corners every now and again would help!). Lots of the furniture was really tired and not always fit for purpose - this doesn’t normally bother us as we have pretty simple needs on holiday. But, things like the bedside drawers being painted shut so you couldn’t open them, windows painted shut so they wouldn’t open, ripped curtains that felt like they had probably been up since 1980… The boiler didn’t work for the first four days and we left it probably too long to call the owner as we though maybe we weren’t using it at the right time for hot water. He did send his son up very quickly and he fiddled about with it to get it working which was great. However, I sense that the cottage needs a new boiler and is on its way out so this might be something that guests need to be aware of. All these elements (amongst many others) made the cottage feel extremely tired and a little grubby which was such a shame, as it is truly an idyllic place to be. I get so cross with people who leave lengthy reviews that seem negative and appear to be overly picky. In this case though, I feel it’s necessary to let people know what to expect from the cottage and for the owner to know that, although we loved the location, it would probably stop us rebooking at that price in the future. We’re very easily pleased on holiday (we camp a lot so are used to the bare necessities!) and that’s why we booked the cottage in the first place as it looked simple and quiet. However, for the price, I think it needs some serious updating.

The road to property should no be used by cars - pot holes and rocks - farm track and ok for larger higher vehicles.

Cleanliness not so good - coud do with a deep clean - also no clothes pegs (for family wishing to do a washing if there for a week) and no mixing bowls - not many teaspoons etc., upgrade would be beneficial. Area lovely and site of cottage would be terrific if could get there safely by car.

Die Entfernung von der Abzweigung A84 ist nicht 2,5 Meilen + 300m wie beschrieben sondern 3,1 Meilen.

Hinweis: der SingleTrack Way ist SEHR eng und hat teilweise Passingplaces, die für aktuelle Autos nicht ausreichend sind. Dazu kam, dass viele Ausweichplätze durch Camper zugeparkt waren. Es wäre schön gewesen, die Strecke vom Tor bis zum Haus (450 m Offroad bergan) zu kennen. (Zum Glück hatte unser Fahrzeug gerade ausreichende Bodenfreiheit). Das Haus bedarf einer grundsätzlichen Reinigung und, zumindest in Teilen, einer Renovierung (Fenster teilweise nicht zu öffnen, vieles machte einen heruntergekommenen Eindruck). Vor 2 Jahren sollte das Haus ca. die 1/2. kosten, da wäre der Zustand zwar nicht schön, aber preislich zu akzeptieren. Mit dem aktuellen Preis passt das nicht mehr zusammen.

Very disappointed with the cottage, sharing our stay with the mouse infestation ruined our holiday!

!! On the first night they ate through our food, we trapped 9 during our stay, and there was still more in the property when we left, they live in the kitchen, they are a health hazard!!! The mice leave dropping over all work surfaces in the kitchen, live under microwave and kitchen cupboards. This property needs a tiny up and clean, there is far to much clutter within the property which does not need to be in a holiday cottage, and the cleaning needs working on, dust should not be present on bookcases, bed heads etc The windows need sorting, they should be able to be opened, having only 3 windows on the ground floor which can be opened is appalling. Ventilation is very poor, with the windows not opening, the property needs to have extractor fans in toilet & bathroom, and really could do with a cooker hood. With the location of the property from local amenities, this property would really benefit from having a full size freezer to help with food storage and lasting during your stay, there is space in the property for one. When discussion our issues with Sykes themselves, the feedback we received later follow discussion between themselves & the property owner, implied that as we had said we were bring a pet, (which sadly could join us in the end) the use of poison to treat the infestation could not be used, feeling like we were been blamed for the lack of rodent control, but also them admitting that they knew there was an issue but were doing nothing about it!!! Following this feedback we still have no confidence in Sykes and the property owners in addressing the issue and resolving it for future guests. If your looking for a peaceful, rural location this property is just that, on its own, only house on track which is a decent distance from the main road, so no road noise either. Only traffic was the local farmer checking on his land & livestock.

Just such a wonderful peaceful place.

Fabulous for wildlife watching, you don't have to go any further thank sitting out in the Garden :-) . Brilliant stove for lovely comfortable evenings. It could do with a better fridge freezer as the size means you have to shop a bit more often. Our second visit and definitely one of our favourite places to stay.

This was a lovely holiday cottage.

We so enjoyed our stay. It was simply perfect for our needs and loved the fact it wasn’t really done up and over manicured. Simple, cosy and quiet.

A great property set in spectacular scenery .

This is probably what people imagine thinking of a quaint Scottish cottage . It does tick all the boxes . Thoroughly enjoyed watching the antics of sheep and lambs from the window . Lots of wildlife on view . Hares , Pheasant, Grouse even Deer . There’s plenty of space outside too for dining if the weather or midges allow! Trickling stream by side of property ,it really is idyllic . Only point to note is that property is up a reasonably long and climbing farm track . That’s what gives it its spectacular location . However if you have a low slung car or one that’s well laden you could have difficulties , certainly something to consider . No problem for an SUV though. Only other feedback for owners is that a fridge with a larger freezer compartment would be useful. Overall a superb stay .

If you like simplicity and solitude (which we do) and you have a car that can handle a bit of off-roading (which we had!

) then this place comes highly recommended. We had such a grand time, loads of wildlife to see, very friendly and helpful owners, nature a feast for your eyes.

Lovely little cottage with stunning views.

Had everything we needed. It is very out of the way which is exactly what we wanted but it is something to consider if your looking for some with a bit more of a built up area close by. The walks are stunning with a large variety of wildlife to marvel at. The only negative I would say is that the cottage itself is in need of a lick of paint and a little sprucing up but this is a very minor issue and in no way detracted from our stay and I would most definitely consider coming back again.

Property was lovely and amenities were good,only concern was that there were many cobwebs throughout and we spent a couple of hours dusting and hoovering otherwise all was satisfactory.

Balmeanoch is a lovely cosy cottage set in the most beautiful of settings.

We were apprehensive after reading a very long negative review of the cottage on the Sykes website, however none of the review appeared to relate to our experience. The cottage was clean, tidy, and warm, with an enclosed garden and beautiful views. The bedrooms were spacious with very comfy beds and the kitchen had everything needed for us to enjoy home cooked meals every night. If you want modern, luxurious furnishings and state of the art utilities then Balmeanoch is not the place for you, but if you want a warm, comfortable and cosy highland hideaway this is the perfect place and we will definitely be returning. The drive up the track to the cottage was a challenge in the snow and ice which may not suit everyone, but for us is all part of the adventure of a highland holiday. The owners were the perfect hosts, leaving welcome treats, giving us the space to enjoy our holiday in privacy, but also calling us to check we were ok when snowed in.

Balmeanoch is a characterful but, very sadly, dirty cottage.

Balmeanoch's setting is stunning. There are 360 degree glorious hill views from the windows. The cottage is remote and set on a wood and moorland hill side. It is reached by a long, steep rugged track which for us added to the appeal, but may not be a plus point for all. Shops and fuel are 20 minutes away which made the lack of freezer a disadvantage. The loch is immediately accessible at the bottom of the track, and a 3 mile narrow lane runs along the loch to civilisation. The exterior of the cottage is very pretty and appealing. Balmeanoch is amply supplied with efficient radiators and a limitless supply of logs for the woodburner. It is very warm and cosy. There was plenty of silky soft hot water at all times. 2 of the 3 bedrooms and the bathroom are spacious. The back garden is secure and a good size for a dog, or sitting outside. Welcome gifts of jam and biscuits were left for us. Unfortunately there is a big 'however'. The fact that the cottage interior is very dated and in need of decorating throughout was unimportant to us. In fact it added to the character and quirkiness. But the complete lack of proper cleaning and resultant level of dirt and debris definitely did matter. We hesitated to book Balmeanoch (a year before our dates) because of the consistently poor reviews re cleanliness. But the location was very tempting. I rang Sykes and was reassured it would be monitored and addressed. So we booked. But the negative comments re hygiene continued over the following months. 2 further phone calls to Sykes were not productive. The final call a few weeks before we went was antagonistic and hostile. We arrived at 2.45pm armed with cleaning kit. Sykes info stated access was from 3pm. But as we knew we'd be cleaning and the door was open, we made a start. All of the grime in the cottage has clearly built up layer on layer over years. It is not just 1 or 2 sets of guests worth. The fridge was dirty and needed cleaning before I could put the shopping away. Every surface in the cottage needed wiping before use. Not what you need after a 10 hour journey. At 3.05pm the person we assume was the owner (living very close by) appeared to put fire extinguishers in the house and said we were not allowed in until 4pm. I twice tried to say that Sykes had told us 3pm but this was ignored. Strangely the whites in the bathroom were absolutely clean. But the bathroom itself and all other rooms have a thick margin of general debris and grime around the edges of the carpets and on skirting boards and pipes. We were unable to do anything about this as the hoover only picks up light, loose debris sitting on top of the carpet pile. The carpets downstairs were embedded with dog hair. In the corners of all windows and ceilings were dense, ancient cobwebs containing long dead, desiccated large spiders and flies. We removed these. Kitchen cupboards were dirty inside and out. We cleaned sufficient shelves to store our food. Kitchen equipment is limited and some is not clean. Some crockery is chipped. As there is no dishwasher and items are clearly not checked, guests are at the mercy of previous guests! Eg wine glasses had dehydrated red wine at the bottom. The downstairs double has a poor quality, stained mattress and the wardrobe dimensions make it virtually unusable. However there is a good sized chest of drawers. Upstairs there are no wardrobes and limited drawer space. Difficult in winter when bulky clothes are needed. Upstairs mattresses were clean and more comfortable. Light switches, kitchen cupboard doors and other touch points are grey and greasy. None of this is acceptable at any time, but post covid it becomes a safety issue. The area is utterly fabulous and has so much to offer. Ben Vorlich start point is 10 minutes walk from the cottage. There are any number of beautiful walks of all lengths, and for any level. The Potting Shed is a café bistro in the grounds of The Roman Camp Hotel in Callander. It's an absolutely charming, tiny candlelit bistro serving a high standard of food at fair prices. The hosts at The Courie Inn, Killin are so friendly and helpful. The environment and food are super. There's an excellent outdoor equipment shop in Killin. We drove to Dunblane (40 minutes) and took the excellent train service to Edinburgh for the day. Well worth doing. In a day we managed Arthur's Seat, Dean Village and Camera Obscura (a must). Then back to the beautiful wilderness. It's an absolute shame that the cottage is not properly cleaned as it spoils an otherwise gem of a property. We have used Sykes for previous holidays but will not do so again as this is the 2nd Sykes property we have found where consistent reviews indicating a lack of cleanliness have not been acted on. There was an irony to the email from Sykes at the end of the week requesting we leave the property in a 'safe' state for cleaners, and 'as you found it, in a clean and tidy condition'. It was in neither a clean or safe condition when we found it.

What a wonderful, tranquil place.

Beautifully quiet and amazing views all round. Stunning wildlife on your doorstep. We loved every moment and hope to return soon.

Balmeanoch is a characterful old cottage on a working farm at the end of a track which means you're completely secluded.

It's ideal for walking and wildlife, and a great place to relax with a book tucked away from the dreich on a gloomy day. It may not be up to hotel standards but it's very comfortable, warm, and reasonably well equipped. We really enjoyed our stay.

Cottage setting was lovely but it wasn't clean.

Very dated furnishings that haven't been cleaned for years. Damp in kitchen and bathroom. Dead flies everywhere. Frying pan and tins rusty. Oven not clean.

This is the first time I've visited Scottish Highlands and was looking for a cottage beside a Loch and this fitted the bill perfectly and totally exceeded my expectations in every possible way.

You couldn't ask for a more cosy cottage. The welcoming gifts of shortbread biscuits and jam went down a treat. The views were simply breathtaking. Very large main bedroom that you can light a log fire in which is a nice touch. The single bedroom is a good size as is the twin. It's a shame you can't post pictures to go with reviews on here . Bed was really comfy and cosy as was the lounge and it had a lovely log burner in which was lovely. Bathroom is massive and has a lovely bath and shower. There's another toilet downstairs if needed. Kitchen is large and well appointed and has everything you really need . I cooked most days and found equipment very good. The garden area is great with a large wooden table and chairs and there's a charcoal kettle style bbq and previous occupants had also used as a fire pit which is a good idea. Cushions for the patio chairs are kept on the windowsill just as you go in the first doorway. In response to a couple of previous reviews by previous occupants, I found none of the issues raised but each one of us is different I suppose. If there were any recommendations to make for improvements it would be to fix the bathroom and lounge windows so they can.open again purely for ventilation particularly in bathroom but it's a minor point and I'd have no hesitation in recommending Bslmeanoch to anyone after a lovely holiday in this area. I've fallen in love with this place and can't wait to book again but Sykes, please allow it so people can post pictures

We banged our heads on the door frames, so anyone over 5'9" beware!

The TV was small. We understand peoples concerns about the track to the cottage, but we had no problems driving carefully in a conventional car. It was a bonus to find two munros (mountains over 3000'), that could be walked from the front door. The cottage is also good for a cycling base, there is a disused railway close by (and Scottish drivers are much more courteous and patient than the English or the Welsh). The cottage is in a great location (secluded from crowds that may be on the shore of Loch Earn).

Cottage is very comfortable although I dudnt give it top Mark's for cleanliness it was because cottage is old and paintwork could di with a lick of paint and dirt sticks to paintwork kitchen units could do with a good clean inside of them.

Apart from that rest of house was spotless .Its a very warm house fantastic scenery your a 5 minute walk away from the loch my 4 year old grandson loved it .We will definately be back

The cottage was comfortable, the location stunning = idyllic.

I don’t think the Sykes website does it justice.

Nice touch to leave some eggs and honey when we arrived.

Everything was in good order and clean on arrival. The house has everything you need, quite spacious, decent value for money and we really enjoyed our stay. Some great walks and anyone into fishing or water sports has the loch almost on their doorstep. The fridge has a missing salad compartment which made putting some things in a bit awkward. Location is attractive as well as private. The drive up from the road is quite steep and I’d be nervous if my car had a lowered suspension!

Email complaint already submitted and acknowledged.

Summary as follows: 1)the kitchen needed a good clean. 2)There was dust everywhere. 3)The cupboard under the sink was filthy and full of what I believe to be mouse droppings. 4)Some of the cupboards were falling off, 5)the toaster was needing a good clean out. 6)Walls, door and radiators were dirty too. 7)A few of the windows opened but not all. 8)The single toilet made a horrendous noise when flushed. 9)A number of light bulbs didn’t work and we had to move bulbs from other places. I had read the review from what I am assuming was the previous holiday maker back in March who had pointed out that things needed a good clean and so we were disappointed to find that this had not happened. I really don’t understand why this wasn’t done. The price of the cottage is not cheap and to be honest I would expect a much higher standard of accommodation for the price asked, even before there is a discussion around cleaning. Finally I would urge you to also point out to prospective clients that the road to get to the house is very much a steep rough track and not in great repair.

Road to COTTAGE is not very safe for cars no frezzer cooker filfy oven and grill not fit to use toaster not any better pillows disgusting no warning about steps down into property.

onthe whole the COTTAGE needs a deep clean

This is just the place to go if you are looking to get away from it all.

Cosy, secluded and in such an amazing setting you won't want to leave. The extremely efficient log burner and lashings of hot water are an added bonus. There are plenty of walks for all abilities in the vicinity and distillery tours for when the weather is inclement.