Mrs Reeves
July 2018
For dog owners.. The owners live next door and this is obviously a brand new lodge. Everything is sparkling and new and instructions clear as to the eco system but we are in a forest and we do have dogs with us so were very very respectful of the facilities and high end spec. But the lodge veranda could do with a gate. We placed a small bench across it as a visual barrier to our dogs so they did not explore the grounds.
We walked them off site and kept them on the lead most of the time when “home” as improvements are still being made to the grounds and access with electronic gates installed while we were there. The owners have a blind dog who does wander around and so it is guests responsibility to look out for the home dog who wanders in front of cars. There are signs on site and this is pointed out by the owners. It might have been helpful to alert guests of this in advance as there is effectively no secure garden area for visiting dogs. It is extremely difficult to find properties of this quality and location that permits 2 dogs and we are responsible dog owners and do not let our dogs roam, bark or disturb others privacy but we did not realise there was no secure boundary to our lodge. Fortunately a forest walk is very close by for early morning exercise and toileting.
It is also not clear what the house cleaning bond is about. Have we already paid this in the price paid to Sykes? It is not clear at all. If so how is this refunded?
****** Owner Response ***** We are so pleased that you found Heron Lodge to be of such a high standard "sparkling and new". Previous guests at Heron Lodge have all commented how spoilt they felt to enjoy such a peaceful, secluded, quality woodland location with unhindered access to the woodland, yet such close proximity to Inverness. Dog owners especially have commented what a holiday it was for their dogs too! Visiting dogs will now benefit from a gate on the terrace steps - so they can now lie out on the terrace and soak up the sights and smells of the forest unhindered. We encourage Red squirrels, Pine martens, Pheasants and Hedgehogs (amongst other wildlife) to share the 12 acre woodland too. We ask guests to drive slowly through the site, primarily for the safety of other guest's children (who may also be using the woodland access track) and to encourage resident and visiting wildlife. Dog owners are in for a treat here, with fantastic forestry commission walks to explore on their doorstep, and days at the beach just a stone’s throw away!