Set in the picturesque grounds of Loch Kinord Hotel, backing onto Muir of Dinnet Nature Reserve, visitors who enjoy wildlife and walking in the tranquil countryside will find these properties just what they need for a restful holiday. Guests are welcome to make use of the hotel’s facilities, with a fine dining restaurant and bar meals available as well as the lounge bar for sampling the many whiskies on offer, if you feel like a night off from cooking.
The reserve itself lies within the Cairngorms National Park and is a network of wetlands, moors and woods. Numerous bird species, squirrels, martens and a large variety of plant life have made it their home and there are hides throughout the reserve where you can discreetly observe them. The most spectacular aspect however is the Burn-o-Vat, which flows through a massive bowl shape of pink granite (the Vat), a testament to the power of glaciers which carved out the landscape we see today. You can make your way into the Vat through a narrow crack in the rock and listen to the strange echoes of water that seems to pour out of the rocks.
5 steps to entrance.
All on the Ground Floor:
Open plan living space.
Living area: Smart TV, Electric Fire
Dining area.
Kitchen area: Breakfast Bar, Electric Oven, Electric Hob, Microwave, Fridge, Dishwasher
Bedroom 1: Double (4ft 6in) Bed
Bedroom 2: 2 x Single (3ft) Beds
Bathroom: Bath With Shower Over, Toilet
Electric central heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi included. Welcome pack.
Grounds with BBQ (shared with other properties on-site). Private parking for 2 cars. Bike store. No smoking.
Aberdeenshire offers over 150 miles of coastline, ancient fishing harbours, and rolling hills of countryside which provide a stunning backdrop in which to discover birds and wildlife.
The dramatic cliffs of the Bullers of Buchan, just 27 miles north of Aberdeen, are a popular nesting site in spring for colonies of puffins and guillemots. Grey seals and dolphins can also be spotted in the area.
Cambus o’May, a tranquil pine woodland about an hour’s drive west of Aberdeen, is a great place to see ground forest birds such as black grouse and capercaillie, and if you’re lucky a golden eagle soaring overhead. If you want a guaranteed siting of this majestic bird though, head to Huntly Falconry Centre in Cairnie, where you can interact with birds of prey and watch stunning flying displays.
The RSPB reserve, the Loch of Strathbeg, is Britain’s largest dune loch, and home to thousands of wintering wildfowl, including a fifth of the world’s pink-footed geese. In spring look out for breeding terns, gulls, and warblers. Spoonbills have also been reported on the loch.
Another dune reserve is Forvie National Nature Reserve, a place of stark beauty that has been compared to the Sahara Desert. It’s particularly renowned for its birds, including a breeding colony of eiders. There is also a seal haul-out nearby on the mouth of the Ythan.
