Looking for a greener break with wellbeing boost built in? Glencoldon Cottage is award-winning sustainable tourism accommodation in the Cairngorms National Park – the only self-catering with a Green Tourism Gold Award in the Aviemore / Cairngorm Mountain area. Immerse in nature and experience the real essence of Strathspey and the Cairngorms!
Licensing:
From 1 October 2023, all self-catering accommodation in Scotland must have a licence. Our Short Term Let Licence Number is HI-70366-F.
Cottage Features to Enjoy:
Extra warmth + natural light, energy efficiency + renewable technologies, and gaining a closeness to nature, whilst also enhancing views to the Cairngorms and surroundings, were top of our thoughts when planning our cottage upgrades to modern high-spec. We think we’ve created a bright and cosy Highland hangout immersed in a wildlife wonderland!
We realised that holidays are about much more than just having a few days off, and that many people come to the Highlands to get away from it all, immerse themselves in the natural world and leave with a sense of wellbeing! We think we have thought of most things to turn your next Highland trip into an experience that will live long in the memory.
Highlights: Powered by Nature!
- Bright, open-plan sitting room and dining area, fully-glazed south-facing
- Living space opening to balcony deck area with views to the Cairngorms
- State-of-the-art kitchen with ultra-efficient appliances
- Modern bathroom and shower rooms (2 WCs!)
- Bike shelter with secure locking facility (see Cycle Haven information)
- 1-acre child-friendly “wild garden” with huge diversity of animals + plants
- Wildlife watching – enjoy:
- “Nature Immersion Zone” – covered seating immersed in garden!
- Path network to “rewilding” + biodiversity hotspots!
- Wood burning stove (local logs, from sustainable source, fully supplied)
- Solar-heated hot water
- Solar-powered electricity (incl. solar charging of electric vehicles [EVs])
- Heat, power and log usage all included in rental
- Greener travel discounts – Car-Free-To-Cairngorms + free EV charging
- Short walk along Speyside Way or forest paths to all village amenities
- Sunpipes enhancing light, bright, spacious ambience
- Blackout blinds (for those never-ending light summer evenings!)
- Fast Wi-Fi broadband (unlimited BT infinity)
- Hi-Fi with DAB, USB, CD and Bluetooth (listen to your own music!)
- Smart TV (incl. Fire Stick access to internet, movies, catch-up TV, etc.)
- Small “lawn” (with balls, badminton / volleyball net + other equipment)
- Direct access to forest, wildlife, Loch Vaa and River Spey walks
- Strathspey Railway steam trains passing within view
- Bicycle hire available nearby in the village (Ride Cairngorm)
Other items + facilities to expect (often asked about before guests arrive!):
- all linen and towels
- washing machine and dishwasher (A+++)
- child’s travel cot and highchair
- hairdryer
- cafetiere
- sledges for winter action
- charcoal BBQ
We have taken the opportunity to build in efficiency, renewable energy and other sustainability measures; some of these, like added daylight brightness using sunpipes, enhance the experience any time of year – brightening even the dullest winter day! And we make sure you have all the information available to fully enjoy the beauty of the local area, surrounding highlights in the National Park and the wide range of activities.
Accessibility + Allergy
We were unable to build in all features that would have delivered 100% accessibility for a number of reasons. Unfortunately, some access challenges were simply associated with the building being an older cottage situated at the top of a very steep hill. But, in the spirit of “Accessible Tourism“, we have provided the information to allow you to make the choice whether the cottage is accessible / suitable for your needs – see our Accessibility Guide covering wheelchair access, visual and allergy information. We have taken many steps to exclude allergens (see also “Pets” below). There is an All Abilities path, opened in 2021, which starts at the Community Hall and goes through the forest behind.
Availability of Foods for Special Dietary Requirements
The Boat of Garten Village Shop stocks vegetarian and vegan protein options. For those with food allergies and/or sensitivities, or cultural requirements, Tesco in Aviemore stocks some of its “free from” and “world” food ranges, including limited halal and kosher products, in addition to its usual foodstuffs.
Pets Policy
We don’t allow pets at the cottage, except Assistance Dogs, due to:
- Concerns about sensitive local wildlife; eg. Capercaillie, a red-list endangered species, in the forest behind the cottage
- Desire to encourage further biodiversity and support the huge amount of wildlife already living in or visiting the garden; eg. we’re sure a dog would appreciate the chase more than the young deer and other small mammals which frequent the garden
- Desire to make cottage as accessible as possible, including to those with allergies (see above)
- Desire to ensure that the wild garden remains child-friendly (it’s a large area, with many wee paths, nooks and crannies – tricky to check for dog poo….!).
Thank you for your understanding! There are kennels and pet minding facilities in the local area; eg. Hilltop Kennels in Dulnain Bridge.
Covid-19 / Flu + other infections
Reopening after the first Covid-19 lockdown was dependent on appropriate sanitising protocols and safety measures being in place. We’ve had great feedback from guests on cleanliness and covid-readiness of the cottage. We have the same standards in place ongoing – our fantastic Turnaround Team provides huge reassurance (we have never been rated less than 5/5 for cleanliness!!).
Further detail on what to expect at the Cottage can be found here in our general Guest Welcome Guide.
And we’ve blogged on many aspects and improvements of the cottage and wild garden.
