Lary Cottage

BY SUE AND JAMIE WIMPENNY

Our much loved holiday home is a delightful traditional granite cottage set in its own spacious enclosed gardens on a quiet road close to the centre of Ballater. Graded 4 star by the Scottish Tourist Board, it is beautifully appointed and cosily decorated with a wealth of rich colours and tartans.

Fully heated and with the delights of an Aga cooker in the sunny kitchen and an open fire in the first sitting room, the cottage provides a warm retreat during the winter months and a great base for exploration and activities all the year round. The second sitting room has the original Victorian shutters and a log effect stove with lush tartan curtains.

Activities are boundless on Deeside but a sample can include fishing, skiing, walking, biking, golfing etc. Set within the Cairngorm National Park, the surroundings are simply breathtaking.

Ballater is a very friendly village providing most of the day to day necessities and facilities and shops whilst still having that relaxed air of times gone by. The village centre is only approximately 2 or 3 minutes walk away.

Lary Cottage has three bedrooms; a double, a twin and a single which has a shower and basin. This single room also has a pull out bed to accommodate a sixth person but we must stress that space is very tight when this bed is used and we would only recommend its use for very agile people who don’t mind squashing in or for children. The bathroom is equipped with WC, bath and basin. This is located upstairs so the cottage is not ideal for handicapped people who cannot manage stairs.

There are two sitting rooms, one more formal and one less so with the TV (now with SKY), DVD, Hi-fi, squashy sofas and an open fire. The dining kitchen is of a good size and having electric cooker and hob as well as the Aga which makes it especially cosy. There is also the provision of fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washer and dryer. There is a large gravelled area at the front of the house with room to park several cars off the road. To the rear is a large garden which is mainly lawned and very private. It is enclosed so is safe for dogs and children.

Lary Cottage is a “dog friendly” establishment. We welcome your pets on the understanding that you treat the house with respect and clean and clear up after your dog. You will appreciate that the following guests may not be dog owners and will want to find the house and grounds in immaculate condition. There is some magnificent dog walking in the area and the Aga proves a very popular spot for pooches to “crash” after a vigorous hike in the countryside!

The cottage is situated in Invercauld Road which, whilst being very close to the centre of the village is a very quiet road, except that is when the Royal Guard is in residence at the barracks further up the road and you get the occasional treat of a fully kitted out and uniformed military pipe band marching past. You really know you’re in Scotland then!

There is stacks to do in Deeside. Take time to browse all the information provided on this website to familiarise yourself with the area and plan your activities. Keep an eye out for members of the Royal family. They really do treat Ballater as an informal and relaxed retreat and I know from personal experience that you can bump into and have a chat with an elegant elderly lady walking her Corgi dogs in the woods!

Due to recently introduced legislation Lary Cottage is now a non smoking establishment. Prices range between £320 and £750 per week depending on season and bookings run from Saturday to Saturday. Short breaks can sometimes be accomodated off season. Please enquire.

Please book early as we have a lot of repeat visitors and not just in the peak season. For further enquiries or to book please contact Sue and Jamie Wimpenny on 01484 606258 (evenings and weekends), 01484 607234 (Daytime), mobile 07515 671862 or by fax on 01484 605788 or by emailing james.wimpenny@wimpenny.co.uk.

We really look forward to hearing from you.

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to lack of use we have now withdrawn the facility of the payphone in Lary Cottage. Judging by the non use this should not pose a problem but we want to make you aware of this.