Notes from the host
Lochside Cottage
Lochside Cottage is a spacious 4 bedroom self-catering holiday cottage situated in a stunning location with panoramic views across Loch Katrine. It sleeps 8 people in comfortable beds, plus 2 more on a sofabed if needed. Max occupancy is 10 people. You can see across the loch from inside the house, watch the sun rise in the morning, and the birds come down for their breakfast on the bird feeders. It is a beautiful rural location, surrounded by forests and mountains, but also has a shops, services, and visitor attractions available within an hour's drive. Lochside Cottage is situated right in the heart of the outstanding natural beauty of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, near to many different lochs and woodland walks. It is very quiet and peaceful rural area, and is an ideal waterside retreat.
What's included at Lochside Cottage?
Electric and full gas central heating is all included
Bed linen and towels are all included
1 bag of logs and kindling is included
Free parking for 3 cars, with additional parking round the corner at the cafe.
Children's toys, books, DVDs, games, a high chair and a travel cot
Washing machine, basic supplies of laundry detergent and a drying rack.
Dishwasher and dishwasher tablets
Simple supplies of tea, coffee, cooking oil, salt, pepper etc.
Up to 2 well behaved dogs can stay with no additional charge
Lochside Cottage is a solid, stone-built, 4 bedroom self-catering holiday cottage, attached to Stronachlachar Lodge. Inside the cottage there is a log burning stove and an additional sun room that has panoramic loch views. The kitchen includes a dishwasher and washing machine. The kitchen door opens on to the small outside lawn area (fully fenced). Downstairs, there is a twin-bedded room and a double/twin room, and an accessible bathroom. On the first floor, there is a double bedroom with double bed and views across the loch, and a further large twin-bedded room. There is also an upstairs bathroom/W.C. with over-bath shower. There is full central heating throughout the house.
Lochside Cottage is situated within a 13 mile long private road (gated), winding round the loch, which is a lovely route to cycle or hike. In addition to being quiet and secluded, the cottage is also within a short walking distance of a lovely waterfront café, the Pier Café (licenced), open for breakfast onwards, and which also serves lunch and afternoon tea. A range of supermarkets deliver directly to the cottage, including Waitrose and Asda, and some guests find it useful to pre-arrange a delivery for the first day you arrive.
What's nearby?
Lochside Cottage is less than 50 metres from the loch, with loch access (steps) for swimming etc. It is 500 metres from the pier where you can take the steam ship SS Sir Walter Scott steamer once daily down to the other end of the loch and back. This steamer runs throughout the year, though there is a reduced service in the winter. Cycles can be hired at that end of the loch, and many people like to take the steamship one way, and cycle back the other way. The adventurous may like to cycle the whole 13 mile route around the loch.
The cottage is within a short drive of wonderful waterfalls behind the hotel at Inversnaid (4 miles away) , and lovely meals at the Bunkhouse Bistro (closed in the winter), where you can park for free, and can pick up the start of some major hiking trails such as the RSPB nature trail which follows the West Highland Way along the loch. Inversnaid is a great place for a long or short walks. You can also take a different boat here, on Loch Lomond for more sightseeing.
Nearby to Aberfoyle, (13 miles away) there is a large visitor centre in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park with a café with far-reaching views. This is a great place to start a wide range of walks, from very short accessible trails, with a bird feeding station, to long, challenging walks. There is also a very pleasant scenic drive off the Dukes Pass just outside of Aberfoyle. There is a Co-op food shop in Aberfoyle which is open to 10 pm, with a cashpoint and a delicatessen, and meals are served at the Fairy Tree pub.
Within 15 miles, the Kinlochard and Aberfoyle area offer excellent leisure facilities, including a sailing club and nearby MacDonald Forest Hills Hotel & Spa. There are opportunities to visit golf courses, enjoy watersports, hire kayaks and canoes, and enjoy a wide range of walks, hikes and cycle routes. There are many mountains and large hills nearby. Lochside Cottage is within easy driving distance of Loch Lomond, which offers further lochside cruises, an extensive tourist shopping park, a spa hotel, an aquarium, championship golf courses, and further sightseeing opportunities.
We recommend the bakers called "Mhor Bread" in Callander, (22 miles away, lovely route passing 5 different lochs) who offer an outstanding range of pastries and pies. A flat, wheelchair-accessible riverside walk is available at Callander, which also has a wide range of interesting little shops and an art gallery.
Slightly further away, (1 hour) the main city of Stirling offers a wide range of city shops and eateries. The famous cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are also accessible by car and offer a very wide range of shops and city experiences.
Children and Parents
We welcome children. Please be aware that whilst there is a low wall separating the loch from the land, this is not continuous, and children could access the water. The water is deep in places. Children will need to be supervised at all times whilst outside. We supply a small range of children's toys and books. There is a high chair, and a travel cot at the property. It is your choice whether you choose to light the woodburner if you have small children. There is a fireguard at the property, but please be aware, the stove will get very hot on the outside when it is lit. Children must not touch the woodburning stove.
Pet friendly
We are pet friendly and allow 2 dogs - with responsible owners!
Please be aware that all owners are expected to clean up after their dogs, and dogs need to be on lead once outside the garden, as the neighbours have cats. Please dry very wet or muddy dogs before bringing them in, as the house is very large and spacious downstairs and it will take a long time to clean up if a wet dog shakes mud everywhere. Please take care to keep dogs away from the woodburning stove if you choose to light it. There is a fireguard to keep animals away from the hot stove, but please be aware that the outside of the stove will get very hot. Dogs are not allowed upstairs, or on the furniture.
Accessibility
There are 3 steps into the property, but once inside the ground floor rooms are all on one level. There is a handrail up the stairs. There are 2 downstairs bedrooms and a bathroom, and 2 upstairs bedrooms and a bathroom. The downstairs bathroom has a full length walk in shower which is accessible.
Lochside Cottage is available for full weeks Saturday to Saturday in July and August, and for short stays on any day during the rest of the year.
Safety
We take your safety seriously, and we have networked fire alarms throughout the house and carbon monoxide detectors. All gas items are tested every year, and all electrical items every 5 years, in line with the guidance. We have a wall mounted fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Our EPC rating for Energy efficiency is E
Our maximum legal occupancy is 10 persons, 8 in beds and +2 on sofa bed or camp bed. The 10 person limit cannot be exceeded in any circumstances.
Provisional Licence number: ST00337P
G
Hosted byGail and Tom Holliman
