HOW CAN I BOOK A LUXURY HOME AT GAIRNSHIEL?

The easiest way to book a luxury home at Gairnshiel is to head to Gairnshiel's booking engine here.Our cottages are also available to book on Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.To book Gairnshiel Lodge, please get in touch with Hilde at hilde@gairnshiellodge.co.uk

CAN I BOOK A ROOM AT GAIRNSHIEL LODGE?

Gairnshiel Lodge is an exclusive-use luxury home and can only be rented out as a whole house.However, Gairnshiel sometimes organises B&B events where rooms are available to purchase on a B&B or DB&B basis. Please check our Offers & Events page for more information.

IS THERE A MINIMUM STAY AT GAIRNSHIEL?

A minimum of 2 nights is required to stay at Gairnshiel Lodge and any of Gairnshiel cottages.

WHAT TIME IS CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT?

Check-in is available from 4pm on your arrival day. Check-out is by 10am.If you would like to extend your stay, early check-in or late check-out can be arranged upon request subject to availability and will incur a charge.

IS SELF-CHECKIN AVAILABLE OR WILL SOMEONE MEET US ON ARRIVAL?

For all our cottages and Faunoran House, only self-check-in is available.For Lodge reservations, someone will greet you on arrival and will show you around the property before settling in.

WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

Payment is required in full upon booking, except for Gairnshiel Lodge where only 50% is required upon booking and the balance is payable 2 months prior to arrival.A stay at Gairnshiel can be cancelled and refunded in full up to 30 days prior to arrival.After those 30 days, your stay becomes non-refundable.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A STAY AT GAIRNSHIEL?

Gairnshiel is a luxury accommodation provider. You will be provided with excellent homes and amenities for a smooth stay in the Cairngorms, Scotland.For Gairnshiel Lodge, extras such as Private Chef, Staff, or Housekeeping services can be arranged upon booking.You will find the following items in all our cottages: towels, handwash, shower gel, shampoo, and kitchen essentials.See our Lodge & Cottages section for more information on amenities.

HOW MANY GUESTS CAN STAY AT GAIRNSHIEL?

Gairnshiel Lodge was designed for a maximum of 16 people spread across 9 ensuite bedrooms.Faunoran House can welcome up to 10 people with 5 double ensuite bedrooms.Laggan Cottage has 4 double bedrooms, 3 in the main house and 1 in a panoramic bedroom in a converted shed, allowing 8 guests in total.Old School house can host 7 people, with 1 ensuite bedroom, 1 double and 1 triple bedroom.Inverenzie can welcome up to 4 guests with 2 double ensuite bedrooms.In total, we can welcome up to 45 guests, spread across 5 houses all 10 minute drive from each other.

IS GAIRNSHIEL SUITABLE FOR GROUP STAYS?

Yes, Gairnshiel houses are the perfect places for group gatherings. Occupancy ranges from 4 people to 16 people, allowing different size groups to stay at Gairnshiel.Inverenzie Cottage is for 4 people. Old School Cottage suits 7. Laggan Cottage sleeps 8. Faunoran House, 10 and the Lodge can welcome up to 16 guests.Faunoran and the Lodge are best suited for multi-generational families or groups of friends.

IS GAIRNSHIEL SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

Yes, children of all ages are welcome in Old School and Inverenzie. For Laggan Cottage, Faunoran House and the Lodge, we welcome babies in arms and children above 5 years old.For more information, please see our 'Family' section.

IS GAIRNSHIEL WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?

Unfortunately,no. All our houses have stairs leading to the house itself and/or sleeping quarters making them unsuitable for wheelchair access.

IS THERE A SPA AT GAIRNSHIEL?

Only Gairnshiel Lodge is equipped with a sauna and hot tub. We can schedule a masseuse upon request, using our library as treatment room.Other Gairnshiel properties do not have a spa.

IS THERE A GYM AT GAIRNSHIEL?

No, there is no gym at Gairnshiel. The closest available gym is located at the Craigendarroch Hilton Hotel in Ballater. The Fife Arms hotel in Braemar has a state-of-the-art private PT Pod at the rear of the hotel, complete with weights and a screen for remote training sessions.

IS THERE A POOL AT GAIRNSHIEL?

No, there is no pool at Gairnshiel.

IS THERE A RESTAURANT AT GAIRNSHIEL?

No, there is no restaurant at Gairnshiel. We are lucky to be close to some of the best restaurants in Scotland: Fish Shop in Ballater, the Flying Stag and the Clunie Dining Room at the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar.More recommendations on where to eat here.

WHAT AMENITIES CAN I FIND AT GAIRNSHIEL?

All our cottages are equipped with luxury linen, bath towels, Harvest Skincare (handwash, shower gel and shampoo), and kitchen essentials such as oil/vinegar, salt/pepper, sugar, Nespresso pods to get you started, breakfast tea, sponges, washing up liquid and bin bags. In some cases, enough fire logs are provided to get you started, more can be purchased in Ballater.The Lodge additionally provides comfy slippers & bathrobes, Harvest Skincare and well-stocked kitchen essentials.Gairnshiel can stock your fridge before your arrival upon request for an extra charge.

HOW DO I GET TO GAIRNSHIEL - BY CAR, TRAIN, OR NEAREST AIRPORT?

Gairnshiel Lodge and Cottages are located nearby the town of Ballater, in Scotland.By car: approximately 1.5h from Aberdeen, 3h from Edimbourg and just over 1.5h from Inverness.By train: the nearest stations are Aberdeen and Perth, around 1.5h away, with taxis and car hire available for both.By air: the closest international airports are Aberdeen and Inverness, both around 1.5h from Gairnshiel. Edinburgh airport is 3h away. All have taxis and car hire available.For more flexibility once on site, we recommend our guests to drive themselves.

IS THERE PARKING AVAILABLE AT GAIRNSHIEL?

Yes, there is parking available at Gairnshiel.All our properties have on-site parking for approximately 3 cars. Faunoran can park 5 cars comfortably while the Lodge can park 10.

CAN I TRAVEL TO GAIRNSHIEL IN A SPORTS/LOW CAR?

Yes, you can travel to Gairnshiel Lodge, Faunoran House and Old School Cottage in a sports/low car.Access to Laggan and Inverenzie cottages involves a track for the last leg of the journey where low cars could struggle (especially the last 500m).Gairnshiel recommends traveling with cars that have enough ground clearance to avoid any issues on local tracks, which are often quite rough.

IS PUBLIC TRANSPORT AVAILABLE NEARBY?

Only Faunoran House is accessible by public transport, which consists of taking the 201 or Ember bus to Balmoral Castle and then a short walk to the house.Guests accessing all other houses will need to travel the last leg by car. We highly recommend that guests either take a taxi transfer from the cities or drive themselves to allow more flexibility while on-site.

DOES GAIRNSHIEL PROVIDE TRANSPORT OR TRANSFERS?

No, Gairnshiel does not provide any form of transportation. But we can direct you to local taxi and transfer companies upon request.

HOW DO I BOOK A LOCAL TAXI?

Gairnshiel will send you our activity brochure upon request or booking. This brochure includes all our favourite activities, our 'where to' guides and local taxi and transfer companies.

IS THERE AN EV CHARGING POINT AT GAIRNSHIEL?

No, Gairnshiel doesn't have an EV charging point. The nearest one is in Ballater (a 10-minute drive) or Braemar (15-30mn depending which house you are staying in).

HOW DO I GET TO GAIRNSHIEL IN WINTER?

Roads to the Lodge, Old School, Inverenzie and Laggan can close in Winter. In case of heavy snow, we recommend following weather warnings. Gairnshiel would allow flexibility and stays could be rescheduled.Roads to Faunoran House are generally well maintained but we recommend checking weather forecasts in snowy conditions and allowing extra travel time.

IS THERE A RESTAURANT AT GAIRNSHIEL?

No, there are no restaurants at Gairnshiel.

CAN GAIRNSHIEL PROVIDE ANY MEALS OR PROVISIONS?

Yes, Gairnshiel can stock up your fridge with provisions upon request for an extra charge. No, Gairnshiel doesn't provide meals.

WHERE IS THE NEAREST FOOD SHOP?

The nearest food shop is the Coop in Ballater. There is also a lovely independent deli, a butcher and a fishmonger.Crathie has a bakehouse. And Braemar has a grocery shop, a butcher and a bakery.

CAN I BRING MY OWN CHEF AT GAIRNSHIEL?

Yes, you can bring your own chef at Gairnshiel Lodge, Faunoran House and Laggan Cottage which are especially well suited for cooking with spacious and well-equipped kitchens.

ARE THERE ANY PUBS, BAR OR RESTAURANTS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM GAIRNSHIEL?

No, all Gairnshiel houses apart from Faunoran House are  in remote locations and are not within walking distance of food or drink establishments.Only Faunoran House is within walking distance of Tarmachan Café (highly recommended!), the Highlander Bakehouse, Balmoral Castle Café and Royal Lochnagar Distillery Bar. It is a 10-minute drive from any restaurants or pubs.

DO ANY LOCAL FOOD PLACES OFFER TAKEAWAYS OR DELIVERY?

There are two takeaways in Ballater: an Indian Brasserie and a Chinese takeout.There are no places offering delivery. There is no Deliveroo or Uber Eat.

CAN I BRING MY DOG TO GAIRNSHIEL?

Dogs are welcome at Old School Cottage and Inverenzie Cottage.Dogs are not allowed in the Lodge, Faunoran House and Laggan Cottage.

HOW MANY DOGS CAN I BRING TO GAIRNSHIEL AND IS THERE A CHARGE?

One medium size dog or 2 small dogs are welcome in Old School Cottage and Inverenzie.Please make sure to leave the house and gardens as you found them.

CAN I BRING ANY OTHER PETS AT GAIRNSHIEL?

No, only dogs are welcome in selected cottages at Gairnshiel.

IS GAIRNSHIEL SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

Yes, children of all ages are welcome in Old School and Inverenzie. For Laggan Cottage, Faunoran House and Gairnshiel Lodge, we welcome babies in arms and children above 5 years old.

DO YOU HAVE COTS AND EXTRA BEDS FOR CHILDREN?

Yes, all the Gairnshiel houses have their own travel cot. Extra beds aren't available.

ARE GAIRNSHIEL HOUSES CHILDPROOF?

No, Gairnshiel houses are not child proof. They do not have plug covers, stair gates, corner cover or gates around the pond (Faunoran). They all contain small objects, fragile antiques and art pieces.

ARE GAIRNSHIEL HOUSES SUITED FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS?

Yes, Gairnshiel Lodge and Cottages are perfectly suited for family gatherings. We have a house suitable for everyone, from immediate family to multi-generational groups.

CAN I BOOK GAIRNSHIEL FOR WEDDINGS, CORPORATE OR PRIVATE EVENTS?

Yes, you can organise a wedding or a private event at Gairnshiel Lodge. We welcome medium size events (under 50 people) and everything is tailored to your needs.Events requiring a space to gather more than 16 people will need a marquee, tables and chairs, crockery/cutlery and more to be rented out via third party companies. We can help in organising your dream event. Please get in touch at hilde@gairnshiellodge.co.uk

WHAT ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES CAN BE ARRANGED DURING MY STAY?

From 4x4 tours to whisky tastings, a special meal at our lunch hut, river fishing or trail biking, many activities can be booked and tailored to your needs.Please visit our Activity Brochure here.

HOW MUCH NOTICE DO I NEED TO BOOK ACTIVITIES?

We recommend booking activities at least 1 week prior to your arrival at Gairnshiel.Tailored activities require longer notice, a minimum of 2 weeks.

IS THERE A CONCIERGE SERVICE AT GAIRNSHIEL?

Gairnshiel offers a paid concierge service consisting of organising your activities and transfers prior to your arrival. A charge of £50/hour will apply.You can also book your activities directly with our providers by consulting our brochure here.

ARE THERE ANY RECOMMENDED WALKING ROUTES NEARBY GAIRNSHIEL?

There are plenty of places to visit around Gairnshiel Lodge & Cottages! The Walkhighland website is great for the most popular routes. We would recommend going up Craigendarroch or Pannanich Hill in Ballater.In Braemar: Creag Choinnich, Queens drive, the River Walk. The Cairn Walk on Balmoral is wonderful, so is Ballochbuie Forrest. The Linn of Dee and the Linn of Choich, past Braemar, are also fabulous places to walk but require a 15-30mn drive depending on which house you’re staying in.Don’t miss out on a walk around Lock Muick. 

WHAT IS THE NEAREST TOWN AND HOW FAR IS IT?

The nearest town to Gairnshiel is Ballater, which has all the facilities one needs. It is located a 15 minute drive away from all our houses except Faunoran which is only 8mn away.

WHAT FACILITIES DOES BALLATER HAVE?

Ballater offers local shops, restaurants, cafés, and galleries, along with a butcher, fishmonger, deli, grocer, and post office.

WHERE IS THE NEAREST CITY TO BALLATER?

The nearest city to Gairnshiel is Aberdeen, approximately 54 miles (1 hour) away.

HOW FAR IS GAIRNSHIEL TO THE CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK?

Gairnshiel sits proudly at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

HOW FAR IS GAIRNSHIEL TO BALMORAL CASTLE?

Faunoran House is within walking distance of Balmoral Castle's gates (a 5-10 minute walk).Other Gairnshiel houses are only a short 10 minute drive away from Balmoral Castle.