Craigclunie

Craigclunie works well for couples or small families wanting a base in the Cairngorms without sacrificing comfort. The detached cottage has two bedrooms (both with 5ft king beds), a bathroom with roll-top bath and separate toilet, and sits on a quiet residential street in Ballater village. One dog is welcome. You get the whole property to yourself, with a private enclosed garden facing south and a patio where you can sit out.

Downstairs there's a living room with a wood burner, a dining room, kitchen with electric oven, induction hob, dishwasher and all the usual appliances, and a conservatory that opens onto the garden—a natural place to spend time in warmer months. Heating, hot water, bed linen, towels, Wi-Fi and logs for the burner are all included. There's bike storage and off-road parking.

Ballater sits on the River Dee with good shops, pubs and restaurants within yards of the cottage. The location suits people who want to walk or cycle the Deeside Way, explore local distilleries, fish, or use it as a base for visiting Balmoral Castle and the wider Cairngorms. In winter, the wood-burning stove makes the living room the natural gathering place after time outdoors.