Driftwood Cottage, Portsoy
We welcomed our first guests to Driftwood Cottage at the end of March 2019. Driftwood must be one of the prettiest cottages in Portsoy. It is often photographed, with it’s seaside theme and location all working in it’s favour!
For me, apart from the location, the garden is one of the biggest attractions! There are not one, not two, but 3 terraces, as you climb the hill behind the cottage, with the view improving from each one! There is a barbeque area, plenty of seating, even a fish pond, and at the top, a ‘sitooterie’ (a summer house!), where you can sit out, enjoy your G&T (or cup of tea!) and look out over the higgledy piggledy roof tops of the historic conservation area and beyond that, out to sea.
The cottage has a king size double bedroom, shower room, lounge and kitchen, all on the ground floor, with a low ceilinged twin room and children’s play area up some fairly narrow and steep stairs, so is suitable either for couples of those with young families. Of course, like all our cottages, we have good WiFi and your four legged friends are very welcome.
Portsoy is a welcoming small town, with a lot going on for it’s size. It has a fantastic sense of community, with the caravan park, the 4 star Salmon Bothy museum, the Sail Loft Bunkhouse and the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (which celebrated it’s 30th anniversary this year!) all being run by the community for the community. It is centred around it’s 2 historic seventeenth century harbours, the area little changed in years, used as the film setting for the recent remake of Whisky Galore and last series of Peaky Blinders. The fishing industry has largely moved on, but you can often see the town’s two St Ayles skiffs rowing out from the harbour (and you will often find me out with them!)
There are some fantastic walks round Portsoy, whether you walk westwards, past the old swimming pool carved out amongst the rocks, along the rugged coastline towards Sandend (pronounced ‘Sanine’) or further along to Findlater Castle, Sunnyside Beach and Cullen, or eastwards along the Coastguard’s path. There is the Shore Inn between the cottage and the harbours… and of course the award winning Portsoy Ice Cream shop.
The Banffshire coast is one of the world’s outstanding coastlines, says the National Geographic. Natural beauty combines with plentiful wildlife – there are dolphins, seals, puffins and other seabirds in abundance, if you are lucky enough to see them. Fishing villages all along the coast perch on clifftops, or crouch precariously at the water’s edge, with the oldest houses built gable-end on to the weather and the waves.
In the summer, the light up here is special, days are near endless. Winter skies are dark and starry and – with a bit of luck – you might even see the Northern Lights!
We hope you will visit Driftwood and discover this often overlooked, largely midge free corner of the North East of Scotland for yourselves!
Driftwood has an unashamedly seaside feel! Best suited to couples or young families as the rooms upstairs have low ceilings. We can also provide a cot for those with younger children. The enclosed garden means the cottage is also ideal for those with well behaved dogs.
Lounge
2 two-seater reclining leather sofa’s, coffee table, flat screen TV with freeview and DVD player, gas stove.
Kitchen
Fitted kitchen with oven, gas hob, microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, coffee machine, table with 4 chairs, crockery, cutlery, glasses and cooking utensils, door to back garden.
Master Bedroom
King Size double bed with luxury linen and all seasons duvet, bedside tables with lamps, chest of drawers, full length mirror, wardrobe, radio alarm clock.
Bathroom
Walk in power shower, sink and toilet. Cupboard with washing machine, tumble drier, ironing board and iron, vacuum cleaner.
Upstairs Twin Bedroom
Low twin beds with bedside tables and lamps, radio alarm clock, chest of drawers.
Upstairs Play area
Bean bags, second tv and video, chest of drawers and toy chest!
Garden
There is a small enclosed garden with a small shed, then a gate and steps up to 3 different patio areas, with table and chairs, a summer house with kettle and fridge… Get the barbeque ready for those long summer evenings…
Parking
There is off road parking for 2 cars on a gravelled area directly in front of the cottage. If you have an electric vehicle, there is also a 7kW EV charger that you are welcome to use at cost.
The cottage is WIFI enabled.
You are welcome at any time of the year! The summer speaks for itself, but imagine, waking up leisurely to see the sun rise, a bracing walk along the cliff tops, which you would probably have all to yourself… You will deserve a hot chocolate and homebake in one of the many local coffee shops, before returning to a warm and cosy cottage. Then amble to the harbour: with only water to the immediate north, there is almost no light pollution. On a cloudless night, the wonders of the night sky will be clearly visible: you’ll see the Milky Way, maybe even the colours of the Northern Lights ‘dancing’ across the skies…
Prices
Prices range from £450 per week in the off peak winter months to £805 per week in the high summer. There is a supplement of £10 per dog, should you wish to bring one (or two!), but we do ask that they are kept out of the bedrooms and not allowed on the furniture. The price includes all linen, towels, heating, electricity and a welcome pack with the basic necessities for that first cooked breakfast.
Scale draing showing the room sizes and layout of Driftwood Cottage
Upstairs layout
Please note: This table shows prices from! Where the price has been scored out and a discounted price is shown, it means some prices in that period have been discounted, but not all! The actual price for any period can be seen by clicking on your chosen start date on the availability chart and entering the number of nights.
