Thistle Dhu Cottage

Thistle Dhu Cottage is a self-contained annex of a converted steading/barn, located in peaceful countryside. Enclosed garden & private meadow. Great base for exploring the Cairngorms and Grampians, east coast beaches & harbours, golf courses, scenic & wildlife photography, astronomy, walking or cycling, or simply relaxing in your own space. Open-plan Living Room/Dinette/Kitchenette, Bedroom, Shower/Toilet. Covered storage for bikes etc. Pets very welcome. Decorated in what we like to call "rural chic with a retro twist", with modern facilities and plenty of genuine vintage/retro furnishings (many available to buy). A comfortable space for 2 adults and a couple of dogs. The enclosed garden is small but has a few features to allow outdoor relaxing, and is plenty for a couple of dogs. In addition you have access to our private meadow, under a minute from the front door. You will have exclusive use of the 1 bedroom cottage, adjacent parking (free, of course), and use of the enclosed garden and covered storage for bikes, canoes etc (by arrangement, not secure). We live next door so are usually available if guests require assistance. We are sociable but give guests as much privacy as they want. We're happy to share a coffee or glass of wine with our guests, and always keen to give suggestions for places to go locally. During your stay we provide direct communication via phone app - or you can come to our door. The cottage is surrounded by mainly agriculture and woodlands. Within 5 minutes walk of the front door are a tree plantation, acres of woodland, and very quiet roads - a car an hour is not unusual traffic volume. Under 10 minutes drive will take you to even more lovely walks that aren’t overwhelmed with visitors. Within 30 minutes are some great beaches, several small towns or villages, and stunning panoramic views of the wider area. Public transport is limited in the immediate surroundings with the nearest bus stop 1.5 mile from the cottage. Wider public transport hubs in Brechin (bus only) and Montrose (train) allow for access all over Scotland. If you are traveling without a car/bike we can collect you from the village to save that initial walk. Taxis are available but due to the distances they can be expensive. The cottage & garden aren’t set up to be child/baby friendly, so if you want to stay with any youngsters we would need to discuss this prior to booking. The sofa bed is only really good for 1 guest (it would be a tight squeeze for 2 average people) and not ideal for a long stay but we do have an inflatable bed available for 2 additional guests. It is thicker than a deep mattress so not as low to get in/out of, but it would be on the floor and open plan room layout of the cottage needs to be considered. The cottage is largely accessible, but due to limitations of shower room size it is not fully wheelchair suitable. The whole property is on a single level and access is via a short ramp but no steps. We would endeavor to adapt the cottage to your needs as best we can, but there are restrictions that we just cannot overcome: the best suggestion would be to contact us to discuss your needs and our options, prior to booking.