Verdi Aberfeldy, Perthshire

Prior to our trip to Scotland, Roxane the host, phoned in advance to ask what we would like in our welcome pack and what activities we were interested in so she could e-mail details in advance. Having stayed in numerous holiday cottages over the years, this is the first time we’ve had a welcome call and thought it was a lovely gesture. Directions to the cottage aren’t clear on the Sykes website but we phoned Roxane and she guided us in. Verdi cottage is bijou, but very well appointed with quality furnishings. Freshly cut flowers, bathrobes and fluffy white towels, give it a luxurious feel. I am not a dog lover and when a cottage is advertised as ‘dog friendly’ I am normally wary, but I needn’t have been. Verdi is spotlessly clean with not even the slightest whiff of dog. The welcome pack was without doubt the best we have had in a holiday cottage. Full of fresh quality local produce and bottle of good quality wine ! The bathrooms are lovely and are serviced by a huge boiler which meant we always had an abundance of high pressure hot water. The main bedroom is advertised as having a super-king bed, but it is in fact king-sized. While we were staying we asked for extra towels and a couple of items that were missing in the kitchen. They were provided without question. The cottage has access to a lovely side garden with a table, chairs and BBQ. There is also a separate laundry house with washer, dryer, detergent and an abundance of spares (cleaning fluid, bin liners, toilet rolls etc.) We also had access to a log store and Athol, the owner, offered us use of his golf clubs. All at no extra cost ! Roxane, Athol and their family live in the house across the courtyard and were on hand to recommend local activities and places to eat. We spent most of the week in and around Loch Tay at Kenmore, which is stunning and great for water sports and open water swimming. A tip for those visiting the area is not to assume that you can just walk in to a pub or restaurant and get a drink/ meal. Many places are suffering from post-Covid staff shortages and are closed for part of the week. The Inn on the Tay and the Grandtully Hotel are both very good, but booking several days ahead is essential if you want to eat anywhere half decent. The hosting most definitely made our stay at Verdi cottage, nothing was too much trouble and we felt like part of the family for the week we stayed. We were genuinely sad to leave and will definitely return.

We have just returned from a 3 night stay at the Verdi Cottage in Strathtay. The accommodation is first class. It is in a quiet secluded position but within a 10 min walk from 2 lovely restaurants/bars. The cottage has been completed to a very high standard and came with everything you need for a comfortable stay including a lovely welcome pack with some homemade goodies. A walk in shower is a must for me and Verdi came with 2 (one also with a bath) which were both stylish and modern. We had a few minor problems on our stay but the owners Athol and Isabel ensured that these were dealt with as quickly as we raised them to ensure that we had a very comfortable stay. I would highly recommend the cottage to everyone who is visiting the area and will be returning myself for another enjoyable staycation. We visited the The Inn on the Tay for a late lunch on Sunday which was very nice. The food was good and the staff could not have been nicer. A very relaxed few hours watching the white water rafting on the water.