Thistle Dhu Fort Augustus, Highland

We originally booked Thistle Dhu in 2020 but after two COVID postponements 3 friends and myself finally got here and we are delighted that we stuck with it. The house is just great: plenty of space and thoughtfully laid out. Everything was clean and welcoming. The kitchen is extremely well-equipped and everything worked well. The three bathrooms were clean and comfortable. The location of the house was ideal for us; Newtonmore is a large village with good restaurant (The Letterbox) and shops, and with easy access to the hills and other attractions. Our hosts were attentive and helpful - we also appreciated the welcome pack. Overall, a great place to stay.

Just returned from our holiday at Thistle Dhu Newtonmore. We had to cancel an overseas holiday due to COVID and this was booked at short notice just as Scotland began to open up. First of all, everything to do with COVID safety has been considered, everything to keep things safe and clean was provided, and the house itself was super-clean with lovely comfy beds. We felt instantly safe. This area is brilliant as there are so many things to do which don’t rely on stuff being open, so we climbed Cairn Gorm, cycled to Loch Morlich from Aviemore and then on another day cycled from the house to Aviemore on the no 7 cycle route. We did the local wild-cat trail and paddled in the stream. Later we went back and found a place to swim. Things are open in Scotland all with safety precautions and we also did the high ropes course at Aviemore and the quad-biking there. We had some takeaways, we could sit outside at a pub and several cafes. We had a lovely holiday. This house is close enough to walk into Newtonmore to shops and cafes but it’s on the edge of town with lovely views over the hills. It’s very peaceful and we were extremely lucky with the weather too. We feel very lucky to have found Thistle Dhu at short notice and it was perfect for us. Would love to come back to the house and the area.

We were absolutely delighted with Thistle Dhu.. A wonderful warm welcome with the hosts nearby to make recommendations and help with anything. The house had everything you would want and more. Clean, comfortable and cosy. Plenty of information provided on eating out and places to visit as well. We would highly recommend this beautiful holiday home. With plenty to see and do in the area you didn’t need to venture far!

A Very well presented house.. A nice touch of welcome presents were very much appreciated. To keep writing wouldn't do justice...this is simply "top accommodation".

We had a brilliant holiday at Thistle Dhu.. The house was fantastic, the setting close to the Cairngorms was perfect and the weather was great for February. Highly recommended.

This was far the best new years I have ever had! The house was absolutely amazing and we had the best time in Newtownmore!

A beautiful holiday home. Spottlesly clean, finished to the highest standard & very well equipped. A pleasure to come back to. Lovely walks & scenery. All you could wish for in the town. Patsy & Greg were lovely & very welcoming. From Clan Kerr & 1 Shaw.

Best equipped we have stayed in..

Fantastic house.. We visited in 2018 and returned in 2019. Would thoroughly recommend.

This lovely, spacious cottage is perfectly situated in Newtonmore for lovely river and moor walks, and a short walk to the local supermarket, charity shop and eateries. Thistle Dhu is so well equipped and comfortable - Patsy and Gregor have thought of everything. The kitchen, dining and living area is all one, so was perfect for our family of 9. Patsy was very friendly and helpful and did everything to make our two-week stay perfect. Thank you.

Amazingly beautiful Cottage, very nice and friendly owners: we had a great holiday ! .

House was great in every way, from comfort through to being well equipped with everything you need.. There was also lots of things to do in Newtonmore eg. Wildcat trail, plenty of walks and a great day out at the Highland Folk Museum. Would definitely recommend this house and location for a holiday.

We have spent a terrific week at this extraordinary cottage in Newtonmore. We can definitely say that this has been the most comfortable cottage we have ever stayed at during our travels. Thistle due is beautifully situated in a very quiet surrounding with some sheep right across the street. A five to ten minute walk will take you to a local coop supermarket. The cottage has every amenity you could possibly wish for and is very spacious and lovely furnished. You even have a utility room where you can wash and dry the laundry. We can wholeheartedly recommand this cottage for a home away from home. Thank you Patsy and Gregor for this wonderful week!!!

A wonderful situated cottage in Newtonmore with nice owners, never seen such a cosy and well equipped cottage in my past journeys and there were already some good ones.. Spacey, comfortable, unbelieveable good equipped. A+++. And Newtonmore is a good base for travels to the Cairngorms, also to have some medium walks around. A surprising Highland park in 6 miles with polar bears (also a young one), tigers, red panda and many more what you don't believe to find in the Highlands. Also a short visit to Dalwhinnie distillery is a good choice but many more also. Nice little village with all facilities you need and at least a very good restaurant. (The Letterbox). For all which do need some space in a beautiful luxury cottage this is the first choice.

Beautiful house, great location. This house has everything you could want in a holiday let. Even the kitchen equipment is as good as at home. Clean, fresh and welcoming, with fresh flowers, a bottle of wine and shortcake waiting for you., as well as everything for that first cup of tea or coffee.

Wonderful house.. Great location. Very well equipped. Welcoming owners. We had an excellent family holiday.

Spacious, warm, well equipped and well located. Lovely setting and owners. Met every need and I can't say anything bad about it. We came with young children and grandparents and both were well catered for. From a selection of toys, books and DVDs, travel cots, high chairs, stair gate, pottys, and sledges for the little ones to an abundance of serviettes, walk in showers, under floor heating, leaflets and heated towel rails for the older members. The village is also lovely and a little direction from the owners had us hunting cats and off on great adventures. I have written reviews of fine and adequate properties and this is so much more. You would not regret a week or more here. It's a perfect family holiday.

Having rented cottages for many years now Thistle Dhu is by far the best (though it is much more modern than previous rentals).. Well, and thoughtfully, laid out. The kitchen was great to use - plenty of room for a number of people to contribute to cooking without getting in each others way. More than enough crockery, cutlery, utensils, etc. (all matching as well) - too many cottages are spoilt by insufficient items, usually ill matched 'cast-offs'. First rate.

This is a superb holiday cottage.. Excellent sized rooms. Extremely comfortable beds. Lovely bathrooms. Cosy and comfortable with all possible needs thought about and covered. The local area has beautiful walks/ runs with stunning scenery. Would go back in a heartbeat

The location was very convenient for all local amenities but rural enough to feel like you were in the middle of the beautiful Scottish countryside. Train station is just moments away as was local pubs and a supermarket. There is lots to do nearby with museums, wildlife parks, bike hire, canoeing, steam train rides and country walks. I would definitely recommend this cottage as it is in a perfect location and the cottage is set to a very high standard. There is everything you need and more, the rooms are very luxurious and the owners are very friendly and helpful and are only a stone throw away should any help be required. I love this place, this is the 2nd year I have visited Thistle Dhu and I hope it wont be the last.

Great holiday location

Patsy and Gregor make their guests feel so welcome from the moment you arrive to the time you leave and should be complimented on achieving this.. This property for most people would be more than the "home from home" experience as it has a lot more to offer. Superbly centrally situated to reach the sites that Scotland's West Coast has to offer I and my family would love to repeat our time in Thistle Dhu and hope we might be able to next year.

Family group of eight - three generations with two young toddlers - stayed here for two weeks. Good looking property and excellent location for golfers - golf course 50 metres away - or for exploring the Cairngorms National Park. Close at hand and in comfortable walking distance are a number of amenities - especially the Highland Folk Museum - to entertain all ages. A good walk around Newtonmore can also be enhanced by participating in the wild cat hunt although the prize for completing that - not the property owner's fault - is A rather dubious key ring. Not much of A reward for the three and two year olds.... Owners, Gregor and Pasty, are a really lovely couple and very approachable. If you don't want to travel too far on any day then there are also facilities to relax in the garden on those rare dry days one gets in the Highlands. The property itself is quite extensive and really well equipped to allow culinary exploration even for a large family and, importantly, plenty of glassware to support the consumption of the copious malt whisky brands available.

This is a very well appointed cottage for a family group or friends to stay in the highlands of Scotland. The cottage was spotlessly clean with 3 bedrooms and an extra toilet downstairs so the third bedroom remains private for the twin room - great idea. Our hosts were more than helpful with suggestions to visit local attractions and historical sites. The kitchen was very well equipped with little extras. I can recommend this cottage to anyone who is looking for a luxury stay.

Great cottage, very comfortable, lots of facilities, excellent base for touring the Cairngorms, and the golf club just 50 yards away!

All first class, the accommodation beautiful and of a very high standard! Spotless and modern with excellent shower/bath facilities. An extremely well equipped kitchen, this was our second visit and we will be returning! The owners are very friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend this property.

This was our second visit and we will definitely go back. There is nothing to fault with this house. It is spotless, modern with excellent shower facilities and equipped with everything to make your stay enjoyable. The children loved the spacious garden. The owners are very helpful and made us feel very welcome. We would strongly recommend this beautiful property in a lovely setting.

We absolutely loved our holiday. Thistle Dhu is a beautiful cottage with absolutely everything you could need - we cooked a variety of different meals and baked and had no issues with finding the right utensils etc to do so. The fireplace is lovely although it was a little warm to light it. All of the bedrooms were spotless and the bathrooms were lovely, the bath especially was amazing after a hike up Ben Nevis. Also, the owners were great hosts, they were friendly hosts and made us feel super welcome. We will be back next year!

Thistle Dhu is the best of all the places we have stayed in over the years and I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a break in Scotland.

Thistle Dhu was an amazing oasis of calm, quiet and comfort in the Highlands. We were beyond comfortable in this spotless, well-equipped home. Thistle Dhu provided a base for our Highland adventures that we were happy to come home to each day.

Thistle Dhu is certainly somewhere we will consider revisiting in the future. The house itself had everything we could have asked for & the local area was ideal too. It felt like a 'home' rather than just a holiday house. The owners were great to deal with from our initial enquiry to during our stay. The newish house was brimmed with everything you could possibly ask for & more ! It's got 4 toilets, 4 big bedrooms & other lovely rooms...and a lovely big garden. It's in a great location, not far off the Main St (shops & eating out) & near the Golf club (good for food too). There is loads to do in the local area, including the Highland Folk Museum, Landmark, Highland Wildlife Park, the Cairngorm Funicular, loads of great lochs & walks etc. We had the pleasure of seeing the local famed tending his new born lambs (which the kids loved).

Thistle Dhu is extremely well furnished and equipped and ideal for a family holiday. It is situated in a quiet, picturesque location, but within a short walk of local shops and the railway station. The friendly helpful owner lives close by and are available in case of any problems. The area offers plenty of activities.

An excellent property with everything you could need for a very comfortable stay. The accommodation was superb and we will definitely be returning.

Thistle Dhu is a great house, it was warm and well equipped.

The house was spacious and warm, set in a quiet area with lovely views.

This house is absolutely fabulous, after a busy day it was wonderful to come back to Thistle Dhu. This house is fantastic, it has everything you could need and more. The kitchen is so well equipped, there is nothing more you could ask for. The bedrooms and bathrooms are excellent, you would be happy to have rooms as beautifully laid out in a top hotel. The attention to detail is second to none. All in all, we loved it and would highly recommend it to everyone.

From the minute we arrived the owners made us feel so welcome. The house was luxurious and spotless. The beds were very comfortable with lovely bed linen. The outdoor space was safe and there was a gate which could be closed if required. This property ticked all the boxes for us in every category. We would highly recommend this property if you are looking for space indoors and outdoors.

Thistle Dhu had all the comfort you could wish for and located in a quiet area. We found the property convenient for all of the attractions in Scotland we had planned to visit and found some new ones just round the corner!

Very well appointed and beautifully decorated, a great space for the family.

A perfect place with hospitality abounding. A home away from home where the stunning views were an inspiration. Thistle Dhu was a stunning house in a beautiful location and my whole family enjoyed the vacation. I particularly liked the rural location but at the same time it was close to essential amenities such as the local Co-Op where we got all our groceries. The kids loved seeing the sheep and the rabbits as well. We also liked the excellent choice of movie DVDs which we watched in the evenings in front of the log fire.

We had a very relaxed time in a very nice spacious house.

Thistle Dhu is an amazing cottage. It is spacious comfortable and very well equipped - the owners have thought of everything. Thoroughly recommended.

We stayed at Thistle Dhu for a week of climbing, walking in the mountains. We found the cottage to be superb with everything you could wish for, the place was finished to a very high standard. The owners we very friendly and always on hand if we needed anything. We will use this place again for our yearly trips into the mountains.

The house is of a excellent standard it has all the amenties you would need while on holiday. There is alot of space for a big family,and has outstanding bedrooms and bathrooms. Would highly recommend this property to anyone.

A truly special cottage set in the beautiful village of Newtonmore. The accommodation was superb! As someone who loves cooking, I was most impressed with how well the kitchen was stocked. Honestly, any utensil/cookware you could possibly wish for, Thistle Dhu had! Patsy was lovely and gave us a very warm welcome. She left us to enjoy the week, but we knew that she was always on hand if we wanted a chat or had any questions! The finish of the cottage was to a very high standard, and all the rooms were very comfortable. The drying room worked wonders to dry our clothes after days caught in the pouring rain or after having fun playing in the snow. Relaxing in front of the fire on a cold night with the bottle of wine that Patsy gave us was pure bliss! We wish we could have stayed for more than a week and hope to be back soon! We left feeling refreshed and relaxed and ready for 2015.

This was the perfect base for a fabulous family holiday. Everything had been thought of - even things we didn't know we needed. A real home from home. Coupled with fantastic weather and outstanding scenery this was the perfect holiday base.

This was our third visit to Thistle Dhu, Newtonmore. This property is great for a visit to the area and the owner adds some personal touches to help make a stay special. A welcome pack awaits, including wine and basics and the house is wonderfully kitted out to make a stay very comfortable. Plenty room to park cars outside in the grounds with a bike shed. Includes washing machine and clothes dry easily overnight in the laundry. Open plan kitchen contains everything necessary should you feel like cooking on holiday. Very comfortable bedrooms and lounge area. This house is lovely, a pleasure to spend time in and to relax in.

This was a home from home, everything we needed was there. A fantastic house.

You often hear the phrase home from home but this truly is was a home from home. It was a very comfortable and spacious property with everything you need being there. A lovely welcome pack was waiting for us and scented soaps were in all the bathrooms. The only thing I could slightly fault were the settees, as I found them rather low to get up from, but that was a personal thing. An armchair would have been helpful. The property was immaculate and well maintained. It is the best rental holiday home that I have ever stayed in.

This property meets and exceeds all expectations. It has everything you could possibly want in a holiday home. We were a party of 2 grandparents, daughter, son in law and 3 month old baby, and son, partner and two little girls aged 6 and (nearly) 4 years old. At first we were a bit surprised at there being no tumble dryer when everything else was available but the drying room is excellent and there is absolutely no need for one. The little girls loved finding new toys to play with in their bedroom and would have enjoyed playing in the garden if there had been time to do so. When they weren't out of Newtonmore on other adventures, they were on the Wildcat Trail all round the village. We would love to come back to stay in the house and would unhesitatingly recommend it as a perfect base in which to explore the Cairngorm area. The owners live in close proximity and when we had a query were on hand straight away to deal with it. We had a lovely welcome package waiting for us and some basic groceries on hand. With small children it is not always possible (or affordable!) to eat out and it was lovely when cooking to find a whole range of herbs and spices to add to the dish without having to dash out and buy an ingredient where only a pinch was needed. The location is perfect and there was plenty of parking space. Newtonmore is a great central starting point for all directions in this beautiful part of the Highlands.

We have just returned from a week in this house and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone. It gets the prize for the best welcome pack of any s/c house we have ever stayed in and the kitchen had every possible utensil you could ever need. The children are well catered for with a large range of books, dvd's and games including outdoor swing and slide. The owner is very friendly and normally on hand to deal with any problems an excellent base for exploring the area.

This was the best holiday cottage we've ever lived in. All the things we needed were in the house.

The house was of a very high standard, it was very comfortable and had everything you would have wanted. It was also in a good location for exploring the area, can't recommend it highly enough, it made the holiday.

This was our 4th trip to Scotland, but we have never had an accommodation like that! Great surrounding, well equipped in every way, nothing to miss - simply perfect! We were looking for a base for all our planned trips to Cairngorm Highlands, Pitlochry, Loch Ness, Inverness and many other small places during our first week in Scotland - and Thistle Dhu was just perfect for that. Additionally we had a very warm welcome with complimentary first fillings in the fridge and nothing seemed to be a problem for the owners. Thanks again for this wonderful house which we can warmly recommend to everybody who wants to explore this part of Scotland. We hope to come back and stay a bit longer next year. There is so much to see over here that there was not enough time to enjoy the house as much as we would have liked to.

It was absolutely amazing. The owners have thought of everything. There were games,videos,books - something for everyone. It was immaculately clean. It had every cooking utensil known to man! Would highly recommend this amazing place, we didn't want to leave. Many thanks

This was our 4th trip to Scotland, but we never had an accommodation like that! Great surrounding, well equipped in every way, nothing to miss - simply perfect! We were looking for a basis for all our planned trips to Cairngorm Highlands, Pitlochry, Loch Ness, Inverness and many other small places during our first week in Scotland - and Thistle Dhu was just perfect for that. Additionally we had a very warm welcome with complimentary first fillings in the fridge and nothing seemed to be a problem for Patsy and Gregor. Thanks again for this wonderful house which we can warmly recommend to everybody who wants to explore this part of Scotland. We hope to come back and stay a bit longer next year. There is so much to see over here that there was not enough time to enjoy the house as much as we would have liked to.

Very clean and well maintained accommodation. It was very obvious that the owners had put a great deal of effort and care into making sure the accommodation contained everything we needed to enjoy our stay. The owners were very friendly and couldn't be more helpful. They went out of their way to provide everything we needed. The village was tranquil and the scenery very beautiful. Lots of great places to eat out in the village and surrounding area.

Thistle Dhu is the perfect holiday accommodation! The house was lovely and equipped with everything you could possibly want and more (our baby Grand-daughter particularly appreciated the rubber ducks for her bath and the building bricks to play with!). The house, although fairly central, is in a very peaceful location with lots of nice walks on the doorstep and plenty to see and do. Whilst my husband did a lot of hillwalking our daughter and her baby were happy to come back to Thistle Dhu and just enjoy relaxing in the lovely surroundings. The owners have obviously put a lot go thought into ensuring that their guests have the best possible holiday experience.

This house is situated in a delightful quiet location with wonderful views within very easy walking distance of hotels with restaurants! We have stayed in numerous holiday homes over a long period and Thistle Dhu is up there in the top 3! It is definitely worth a 5 star rating! The owners have thought of everything that is needed to make it a perfect holiday. There was nothing missing that I would have needed in the kitchen for the whole week. We shall be back some time in the future as this is a house with the wow factor.

Just returned from a week's holiday in Thistle Dhu, Newtonmore in a party of three couples. We take a house regularly and in fact this is our second visit to Thistle Dhu. The house is so well appointed, the owners have thought of everything, especially in the kitchen where there is a great variety of small appliances and dishes. We all like cooking so this was important. Everything is so fresh, so clean and all of a very high standard. The scenery is wonderful with many walks in the surrounding countryside. There are many activities but do make sure you get tickets for the cinema bus!! We were five minutes too late!! A great holiday in a very comfortable house.

The house is excellent with a fantastically equipped kitchen. The location of the house is close to the village centre but in a quiet area. Plenty of good walks around Newtonmore.

We stayed at Thistle Dhu for a week in November with four friends. We have been renting properties together throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe since 1993, and we can honestly say that Thistle Dhu was one of the best houses we've ever had. It is just as perfect as previous reviewers have described. The rooms are comfortable and tastefully decorated and the kitchen has everything. The house is in perfect location - minutes from the village but on a quiet road. We enjoyed the local walks - great signposting and footpaths and it was lovely to be able to start each walk from the doorstep. Would strongly recommend Thistle Dhu to any group.

Loved every minute of staying at Thistle Dhu. I could go on and explain how fantastic this property is. but I do not need to, it is fabulous, just book it and see!

Stayed for a week a the luxury Thistle Dhu cottage. Loved every minute of our stay. A beautiful cottage with fantastic standards and containing everything you need for a comfortable stay. A lovely welcome pack on arrival. The house offers everything you need, from walking long days it was such a treat to relax back with the open fire under floor heating then falling into very comfortable beds for a great night sleep. All I can say is "stay here!!!"

We organised a family holiday to celebrate our Ruby Wedding Anniversary and could not have found better accommodation. Thistle Dhu has a wow factor, the house is just beautiful with quality fittings and furnishings. The owners have thought of everything needed to make your stay special and lots more! A very thoughtful welcome pack of foodstuffs and bottle of wine, toiletries, towels for swimming, garden furniture, BBQ and play equipment all contributed to a happy family event. There is so much to do in the area and the fact we had seven days of wall to wall sunshine meant we had a brilliant holiday.

This house is a fantastic place for a holiday. Spacious, spotless, comfortable and well equipped for all your catering needs. Ideally situated for visiting all the local sites. I would have no hesitation in recommending this cottage.

This is the perfect holiday rental.Ideal for family get togethers as there is so much room and everything you could possibly need and more is there.The beds are extremely comfy the location is away from traffic so be prepared to sleep well!Although we used it for entertaining relatives(who were all most impressed with my find) it is very conveniently located for many great days out.Newtonmore itself however is not a bad place to be with its own loch and river walks not to mention the wildcat trail.We did not have time to use the golf course but it looked most inviting.Next time maybe!

We are just back from a weeks stay at Thistle Dhu in Newtonmore and I can honestly say it is one of the best holiday houses we have stayed in. I stayed with my husband, 4 children and my parents and the whole week was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The house itself was newly built and had a lovely modern interior. The downstairs had lovely wooden floors throughout and although there was not much need to use it in July, a wood burning stove in the livingroom. The kitchen was so well equipped with good quality crockery, utensils and appliances. We could not get over how many plates, glasses etc there were. As well as the open plan living room/dining area/kitchen, downstairs had a twin bedroom, toilet/large shower room, utility room and single toilet. Upstairs was carpetted and had a large kingsize bedroom with ensuite, toilet/bath/shower room, a twin bedroom and double bedroom. My children could not get over the fact there were 4 toilets in one house-very handy with 3 children under the age of 5! All rooms were tastefully decorated and as with the kitchen, each room was well equipped with good quality furniture and little extras such as hairdryers, toiletries, dvds. The boys had great fun looking through "their toy cupboard" and pulling out a different game/jigsaw each night. There was an outdoor, enclosed, gravelled area with more than enough space for 4 cars. We had 2 cars with us and there was still plenty room for the boys to run about. The owners provided a much appreciated welcome pack although there was a local Co-op within walking distance for anything you forgot to take with you. The handy information pack came in very handy, especially when we needed to find a mechanic to fix the heat shield on my exhaust (beware of the speed bumps on Golf Course Road!) The area was beautiful and so scenic. With 3 children under 5, we were not able to enjoy many of the outdoor activities which seemed to be available in the area but we did find many family friendly activities close by. The Highland Folk museum and Wildcat Experience were my personal favourites. I would definitely recommend this house to friends and would have loved to stay longer. I can see us going back again sometime soon. The owners have obviously put a lot of thought into this house and the little "extras" really showed this. I would love to say it was like home from home but Thistle Dhu is much better than my own home!!!

The best equipped holiday house we ever had, all rooms are arranged with a lot of love for detail, very warm and cordial contact with the landlord. The house is in the middle of the nature and a perfect starting point for Scottish sightseeing. We will be back for sure!

The accommodation was fantastic. The weather was cold but the heating was brilliant and we were very cosy. I would highly recommend Thistle Dhu.

The house was fantastic! There wasn't anything that hadn't been thought of.

The quality of the accommodation was outstanding. We've never stayed in such well-equipped holiday accomodation and will be hard put to find its equal! Very comfortable and welcoming.

Excellent, spacious and comfortable accommodation and very welcoming. Would recommend to anyone.

We stayed in this beautiful, spacious, well stocked cottage. Newly built with a lovely feel and finish. We loved our evenings with the film selection and wood burning stove. Thanks for the New Years bubbly too! It is close to Aviemore where we skiied and had a great time. The owners were helpful, it was a good price for this type of holiday. Newtonmore itself was a brilliant place to spend New Years with the torch procession and fireworks. Great holiday, thanks very much. Our only advice would be to book the cottage directly through the owner if you can. We used Sykes cottages and had all of our problems with that company. Such as a wide variety of prices that we spent a long time trying to resolve.

Wonderful house, kind hosts, lovely weather and a great location. Our week in the Highlands could not have been better!

The owners are friendly and care about the standard of the property. The cottage is extremely well furnished and equipped. I would have no hesitation in booking the property again or recommending it to anybody.