About Glencoldon Cottage – sustainability, nature, and family.

Wood-burning stove and armchairs in the cosy sitting room at Glencoldon Cottage in the Highlands

Wooden exterior of Glencoldon Cottage surrounded by native trees and wild garden in the Highlands

When did I fall in love with Glencoldon Cottage in this wild and beautiful corner of the Highlands?

Hello, I am Derek, your host,

Our family has loved this wild and beautiful place since 1964, when my parents built the cottage as the only home on the north side of the road beyond the (now long-gone) Craigard Hotel.

I was lucky enough to grow up exploring the forests, lochs and hills of Strathspey — adventures that shaped my love of nature and led me to study biology in the city.

Over the years, this haven became our gathering place — for peace, fresh air, celebration, and Highland adventures. Three generations have now shared in its magic, and we’re delighted to welcome guests who want to experience that same sense of wonder and wellbeing.

We have no doubt you will leave this magical area viewing the natural world in a totally different way, revitalised with a new sense of wellbeing from Strathspey, the Cairngorms National Park and all the beauty it has to offer!

Welcome and enjoy!

Derek and family

PS. If you’re wondering about the name or where Glencoldon is, it’s not a Highland glen, but a made up name from 1964! My mum’s name (Glenna), my brother’s name (Colin) and my dad’s name (Gordon) combined.

Alas, I wasn’t yet born to feature in the mix, but that may have been a wee bit tricky!

At the heart of Glencoldon Cottage

A Comfortable, Characterful Stay in the Highlands

Renovated in 2017 through a labour of love, the cottage blends warmth, simplicity and comfort — all surrounded by the beauty of the Cairngorms. Whether you’re coming for fresh air and forest walks, or just time to reconnect, it’s a place to breathe deeply and slow down.

You’ll find cosy corners, wood-fired warmth, thoughtful touches and a few playful quirks — just as it should be in a Highland hideaway.

See the before and afters images of the the transformation that won us the Gold Green Tourism Award.

Sustainability First…

Glencoldon Cottage provides self-catering accommodation within the Cairngorm National Park. In addition to ensuring that visitors have the most enjoyable and memorable visit possible, the owners believe that, in an area of such outstanding natural beauty, it is essential to achieve this whilst also delivering environmental, social and community benefit.

We’re proud to have received a Gold Green Tourism Award for the first time in 2017 and again in 2022, and we continue to evolve our practices to reduce our footprint year by year.

👉 Read more about how Glencoldon Cottage earned its Golden Green Tourism Award here.

Supporting Nature and the Cairngorms

There are enormous ranges of habitats and species in the local area which we help to support in many ways. Have a look at our blogs where we highlight some of our support of our Wild Garden Wildlife.

Red squirrels from the sofa, starry skies at night, and the occasional golden eagle flyby — we hope you’ll fall in love with this landscape just as we have. Check out all the wildlife you can see at Glencoldon Cottage, here.

We became an official fund raiser for the Cairngorms Trust, which funds conservation, community and cultural projects in the area. We match every guest donation, helping preserve this special place for generations to come.