Cottage Description
Old Merchant House is a 3 bedroom self catering holiday accommodation that sleeps 6 and is located in Banff, Scotland. This property is pet friendly allowing for 1 pet. . Local to Crovie, Gardenstown, Kirktown of Alvah, Portsoy, Whitehills
- Main Fuel or Power incl.
- Pub within 1 mile
- Sea View
- Free Pets
- Television
- Woodburning Stove
- Wifi
- Winter Short Breaks
- Bed Linen & Towels Included
- Washing Machine
- Coastal within 1 mile
The Old Merchant House is a stunning 18th-century old smugglers’ house on the historic harbour front at Portsoy with stunning sea views. Built in 1726 the house is packed with original features including exposed beams, wooden floors and a woodburner situated in the original 18th-century stone fireplace. Accommodation is over three floors, sleeping 6 in three comfortable bedrooms, while from the kitchen and lounge; guests can enjoy the marvellous seascape and activities of the 17th Century harbour. A good pub and coffee shop are within yards of the house, with all the other shops and eateries just a short walk away. This part of the North East of Scotland is often referred to as ’Castle Country’, being home to around a thousand castles or castle ruins, providing a wealth of history to explore. Along the Coast there is an abundance of wildlife to see. Take a trip to Troup Head where you will see the RSPB Gannet colony plus loads of other sea birds; see the seals basking at Port Gordon; go on a boat trip or just get your spyglasses out and spot the famous Moray Dolphins or a Minke Whale. This part of Scotland lends itself to day trips with something for everyone. Beach 20 yards. Shop 200 yards, pub and restaurant 100 yards.
First floor: Living/dining room. Kitchen. Second floor: Utility room. 3 bedrooms: 2 double (one 5ft), 1 twin. Bathroom with bath, shower cubicle and toilet. Most rooms with wooden floors.
Woodburner in living room (initial fuel inc). Gas CH, gas, elec, bed linen and towels included. Two Freeview TVs. Gas hob. Electric oven. Microwave. Washing Machine. Freezer. Wi-fi. On road parking. Welcome pack. Pet free of charge. No smoking.
Food
Days Out
Beach
Bike & Hike
Sports
Nature
Gardens
Activities
Historical
Eating & Drinking
No recommended Eating & Drinking found within 30 miles of this property.
Fun Days Out
A wonderful aquarium on the stunning Aberdeenshire coast. Marvel at the Moray Firth marine life and get up close and personal with some of the hundreds of invertebrates and fish who live there. A great way to delve into their underwater world and learn about the rich local ecosystem without taking a chilly dip in the North Sea!
A world renowned attraction home to the Old shop museum and speciality shops. There are also culinary demonstrations and tastings, a children's adventure playground and family terrace.
Hear about the history of Major James Grant, his impact on whisky and sample of some of the famous Glen Grant for yourself, before taking a a stroll through the beautiful grounds to see the plunging waterfall.
No visit to Speyside would be complete without a trip to the Speyside Cooperage, the only cooperage in Britain with a Visitor Centre. Here you can watch coopers make and repair the barrels for the whisky industry. There's also a gift shop and tearoom.
Beach
No recommended Beach found within 30 miles of this property.
Biking & Hiking
Amateur and professional mountain bikers alike will love these cycle routes. There a 3 independent sites covering 18 miles (30 km), which can be coordinated in whichever way you desire. The most athletic will love all 3 sites from Fochabers to Craigellachie.
Golf & Sports
A beautiful course with some excellent facilities. From experienced golfers keen to work on their games, to novices looking for lessons; this golf centre caters for all. Set on the stunning Banffshire coastline, the area is a golfers haven and well worth a visit.
Nature Reserves
Housing an exhibition about the Moray Firth, dolphins and local wildlife, this wildlife themed visitor centre's location on the edge of a nature reserve affords frequent sightings of dolphins, seals, otters, osprey and wildfowl. There is also a shop and cafe.
Whatever the weather or the season, the Lock of Strathbeg is a beautiful place to visit. During the winter there are numerous species of birds which call the area home, including a huge percentage of the world?s pink-footed geese! Throughout the year, get your spotting eyes on for gulls, wading birds, terns and the occasional otter.
Troup Head - 25.4 Miles (40.6 KM)
A beautiful spot nestled high on the cliffs of Troup Head; perfect for a bit of bird watching. Relax with a picnic and a good book or go for a stroll along the coast keeping your eyes peeled for razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes. Dolphins and minke whales are also occasionally visible just offshore, if you?re lucky enough to spot them!
Gardens & Woodlands
No recommended Gardens & Woodlands found within 30 miles of this property.
Local Attractions
With its distinctive pagodas, cobbled courtyard and picturesque buildings, Strathisla Distillery is arguably the most beautiful distillery in Scotland. Founded in 1786, it is also the oldest operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
World famous working distillery still owned and managed by the Grant family. Glenfiddich is unique in the fact that it is the only Highland Single Malt that is distilled, matured and bottled at its own distillery.
Located on the Scottish borders is Johnstons of Elgin, they have had a presence here since 1797 and are craftsmen in the craft of cashmere and fine woollens. The tours are free and the guides are excellent, convivial and knowledgeable and make the tour interesting and informative, you get a detailed tour where you learn about the complete manufacturing process, from how yarn is produced to how fabric is woven, many of the processes still remain the same as when the mill originally opened. There is an Interpretive Centre that is well laid out and again has lots of information. Tours generally take place between 10am and 3pm and only during mill working hours, it is probably best to book in advance. The shop has a lovely selection of their goods, they may appear to be expensive but once you are aware of the quality and craftsmanship then you can justify them, other items are also for sale including homewares and furnishings. The restaurant is lovely and has a varied menu and a good selection of beverages and the prices are very reasonable, and the quality excellent. Johnstons of Elgin Mill Tour is a thoroughly enjoyable tour, you get so much from it and the guides are superb, don't miss if you have the opportunity to visit this lovely mill, highly recommended.
The Gordon & MacPhail family have occupied and traded on these premises on Elgin Street since 1895, and are somewhat of an institution here in Glasgow. Walking through the doors of this historic house, you are meet with the most delicious smell of home cooked local gammon, also stocked here is the biggest choice of the best cheeses in North East Scotland and the shop is packed with high quality groceries and artisan produce, a truly wonderful deli. The highlight of this delightful store is the Whisky Room, stocked here are more than 1,000 varying single malt whiskies, it is not surprising that it attracts clients from all over the world to see this spectacular selection of whiskies. It is a treasure throve of whiskies, some are extremely old and extraordinarily rare. It is the ultimate stop for a whisky connoisseur, samples are available from a wide selection of the whiskies. The staff are both friendly and helpful and will offer advice on choosing a whisky. Gordon & MacPhail is a wonderful deli and even if you aren't looking for whisky it is worth going to the store just to wander around, you will love all there is to see.
Glen Moray Distillery has been producing their fine single malt whiskies on the banks of the River Lossie since 1897, and to this day they continue to use the traditional ingredients and methods in producing their fine whiskies. A tour of this fine, small and casual distillery will give a real insight into this craft that has been handed down through generations, the knowledgeable tour guides are actually distillery craftsmen so know exactly what they are talking about, they are interesting and insightful, you will be told about the whole process. They will talk you through the process of how the local malted barley and pure river waters are converted into their highly acclaimed single malt whiskies. Their location also plays an important part in the process. Their whiskies are available to purchase and you can choose from a choice of ages and vintages there is something to appeal to all whisky drinkers, from novice to connoisseur. They are open for tours Monday to Friday throughout the year, and on Saturdays May to September, there are various tour times so do check the website to see what times are available. The cafe is lovely with a great selection of beverages and snacks to choose from, and is very reasonable. A visit to Glen Moray Distillery is interesting and informative and will appeal to all ages, admission is only £5 and this includes tasting and under 18's are free so it is very good value, a first class visitor attraction.
Take the tour and enjoy a dram at Glenfarclas, one of the few independent distilleries left in Scotland. It has been owned by the Grant family since 1865.
Historical & Heritage Sites
Located on the banks of the River Ythan, Fyvie Castle is a fascinating 13th century fort. The childhood home of Charles I, the site of one of the many battles of Robert the Bruce and a family home this impressive castle was originally built by William the Lion in 1211. See if you can spot any of the ghoulish wanderings of the resident ghost!
Another of the castles visited by Mary Queen of Scots, Balvenie is a fine 13th century castle of enclosure with a curtain wall, first owned by the Comyns and added to in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Residence of the bishops of Moray from the 14th century to 1686, it is dominated by its massive 15th century tower, with spectacular views over Spynie Loch. The beauty of the surroundings and abundant wildlife and birdsong make the Palace a wonderful place to visit.
Impressive remains of a majestic and beautiful 13th century cathedral, with magnificent views from the NW tower. Apart from the towers and the Chapter House, the Cathedral is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
Elgin Cathedral is a stunning medieval building, although it is a ruin it still remains an impressive and important architectural legacy. Another name adopted by Elgin Cathedral is the "Latern of the North", it has a varied and interesting history and there has been a church on this site as far back as the early 13th century. Much of the cathedral still stands today including the amazing west front, edged by two tall towers, the personal entrance thought to date to 1270, the east end is mostly complete, and a highlight of the building are the choir and beautiful presbytery again dating to 1270. The exceptional stone vaulted octagonal chapter house, is perfectly maintained and allows you to fully appreciate the craftsmanship of this era. There are also stone statues of former bishops and knights, and the graveyard is worth a walk around, the gravestones are beautifully carved and the inscriptions are interesting. The views from the tower are amazing you get uninterrupted 360 degree views of the city, definitely worth the climb. There is a lovely atmosphere about the cathedral, and the grounds are kept immaculate. There is a shop that is very nice and the staff are great, friendly and helpful and ready to impart their knowledge about this lovely ruin, in addition there are plaques around the building explaining what the different ares would have been used for. Elgin Cathedral is highly recommended it is a stunning example of a bygone era, with lots of history and interest.
This award winning museum has something for everyone, including internationally important fossil reptiles. The impressive general collections include Pictish stones, archaeology, social history, natural history, art and science.
A must see for all motor enthusiasts — a superb collection of cars and motor bikes. Everything from Maseratis to Daimlers and Rolls Royces. Pay a visit to this impressive assortment of sports cars, housed in an old mill.
Pluscarden Abbey is the only medieval monastery in Britain still inhabited by Benedictine monks. It produces stained glass, apiary and other croft products and Gregorian chant is internationally known.
Burghead Visitor Centre is the round white building with a flagpole on Burghead Headland, which itself was the site of the largest Pictish fortification in Scotland. External interpretation panels give information on the fort, Burghead Well and St Aethans graveyard.
