Toll Bridge Lodge

Toll Bridge Lodge is a detached house on the south bank of the River Feugh, just outside Banchory. Everything happens on the ground floor: a living and dining space opens through French doors onto a patio, while the kitchen sits alongside with a full range of cooker, microwave, washing machine and coffee maker. One bedroom has two single beds; the other a double. A single bathroom with bath and shower serves both. The essentials—heating, electricity, linen, towels and wi-fi—are included, and there is parking for two cars on site.

The river crossing here gives the lodge its name and its character. The Falls of Feugh, where salmon leap upstream against the current, are directly opposite. On autumn days when the river runs high, the sound of falling water carries into the living room. Banchory itself is a mile away along a quiet road, offering shops, restaurants and a range of outdoor pursuits. The Royal Deeside Railway runs vintage steam and diesel trains from nearby Milton of Crathes, while Crathes Castle, a sixteenth-century fortress, lies within easy reach. The whisky distilleries around Glenlivet and Tomintoul make for a day's exploration further west. The lodge does not permit smoking, and one well-behaved pet may stay at no extra charge.