A 'Home from Home' to explore and enjoy the beautiful North East of Scotland. | Cottage in Alford
1 Bedroom Cottage in Alford
Recently renovated from an ancient stable building, Acorn Bothy offers you a very comfortable and relaxed base to enjoy the wonders of the North East of Scotland (but without the horses!).
We provide all the facilities we think you will need to ensure you have an enjoyable and restful stay. One guest commented 'there are more facilities in Acorn Bothy than I have in my own home!'.
The property features a bedroom (king-size designer bed with angled reading lights) with lots of internal hanging wardrobe and storage space. The well-equipped kitchen offers you cooking by gas and plenty of preparation surfaces and cooking utensils, crockery and equipment.
Next to the kitchen is a dining area in front of a full-length window, which opens up for alfresco dining. The cosy lounge gives you two luxury sofas, so you can choose one each!
A TV/DVD player offers all the main UK TV channels and access to a library of 60 DVDs which you can borrow when you are our guests. We also have loads of CDs of mixed music, including Scottish music, which you can play on the CD player. The TV is connected with Netflix if you can use your own log-in details. Or just read one of the many books we provide, loads of novels plus those that connect with wellbeing.
We have a 'Guest Information Pack' which explains how everything works in the property, if you forget our quick guidance when we hopefully meet and greet you.
Acorn Bothy is very cosy in winter as we have oil-fired central heating and hot water which can be set on a timer (so it is warm when you return from a day out) or set on a constant setting. The property is cool in summer with plenty of large windows and ceiling windows.
The temperature in the area can be better than most of Scotland - warmer and dryer, not like the West of Scotland which can be notoriously wet. It has been claimed that we actually get more sun than Cornwall in the south of England!
We provide bed linen, duvets, pillows, towels, plus kitchen clothes and towels, paper towels, toilet paper, soaps, washing up liquids and loads more!
Included for free is a WiFi connection, so you can surf the internet with your computer, tablet or smartphone, or check your emails and tell your friends and family about the wonderful time you are having in Acorn Bothy!
The laundry (bed linen and towels) are professionally laundered and ironed, so we make a small charge for this. And, hopefully temporarily, as of April 2026, we need to make a slight additional fuel charge for heating and hot water because our kerosene oil rates have increased 125% since last year.
There is free parking directly in front of Acorn Bothy and we provide Travel Directions to help you find us.
About 60% of our bookings are from repeat visitors - so there must be something about Acorn Bothy that encourages guests to return!
The location of Whitehouse is a small hamlet just a short drive away from the bustling market town of Alford (the home of Aberdeen Angus beef), which is in the heart of Aberdeenshire.
Nestled on the edge of the Cairngorm National Park, the property has great walks from the front door, with plenty of other activities nearby, including golf, fishing (salmon and trout), mountain biking, walking and hiking, skiing, climbing, bird watching, sailing and wildlife watching.
The nearest village of Alford, 2 miles away. has a large Co-operative supermarket, swimming pool, library, coffee shops, Bistro, gift shops, an open all year round dry ski slope where tubing is also offered. Plus several restaurants and an Indian, Chinese and chippy take-away. We can let you know of other restaurants in the area, depending on your taste and budget.
Local attractions include The Grampian Transport Museum, the Alford miniature Valley Railway and Alford Heritage Centre. Alford also has an 18 hole golf course.
If you enjoy fishing, a permit can be obtained from the Forbes Estate Office and Alford Angling Association which is a 5 min drive away.
We are close to Balmoral Castle, the summer home of the Royal Family. The castle offers tours and now, afternoon tea. If you visit Balmoral, do give our best wishes to Charlie and Camilla! They haven't (as yet) stayed at Acorn Bothy, but even we would admit that Balmoral Castle is probably slightly superior to Acorn Bothy!
Acorn Bothy is situated in the heart of the Castle country (we have some 150 castles in Aberdeenshire, including 2 miles away, our favourite, the pink Craigievar Castle, which allegedly inspired Walk Disney).
And of course, you are on the Malt Whisky Trail here with some of the oldest and, in our view, the best distilleries in the world. The North East and Speyside malts are very 'floral' in flavour, and less harsh than the west coast island varieties.
Aberdeen airport is only 30 minutes drive away and Aberdeen City can be reached in about 35 minutes, with a park-and-ride facility in Westhill to negate parking issues in Aberdeen.
And within a short drive, you have the Aberdeenshire east coast beaches of St Cyrus, Cruden Bay and Collieston and the wonderful Moray coastal delights, including the quaint locations of Gardenstown, Crovie, Portsoy, Cullen, Lossiemouth and Pennan (where the film 'Local Hero' was filmed - they still have the famous red telephone box!). Do an internet search of these locations - reality is better!
We provide washing up liquid, clothes washing tablets, dishcloths, dishwasher tablets, dish towels, oven gloves, kitchen towel, hand wash, kitchen paper-towels and toilet rolls, plus torches.
And if all of what you have read here is not enough, let us know what you would like to see, do and visit, and we can provide you with loads of ideas and website links (a personalised itinerary) so you can plan your visit in advance. However, we do have loads of brochure and leaflets of 'things to do', including guides for local castles and gardens, so you won't be bored.
We get many return guests because they tell us 'we only scratched the surface last time'!
A 'Home from Home' to explore and enjoy the beautiful North East of Scotland is located in Alford. A 'Home from Home' to explore and enjoy the beautiful North East of Scotland provides accommodation, featuring Parking, Sports/Activities, Wellness Facilities, among other amenities. This Cottage features Parking, Sports/Activities, Wellness Facilities, to make your stay a comfortable one.
A 'Home from Home' to explore and enjoy the beautiful North East of Scotland has 1 Bedroom , 1 Bathroom, and max occupancy of 2 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated Cottage because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this Cottage, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. Cottage has a friendly neighborhood, and the Alford has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the Cottage in Alford, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.
Amenities
Policies
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited property registration number as 00281f safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed this property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room this property is managed through our partner, vrbo. you will receive an email from vrbo with a link to a vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Reviews
FAQ's
Is this Alford cottage pet-friendly for guests?
No, pets are not allowed at this property. Check the guest reviews to learn what guests had to share.
Does the Alford cottage have a swimming pool?
No, this Alford cottage does not have a swimming pool. Check the Facility Overview section for details about the pool and other available facilities.
How much does it cost per night to stay in Alford cottage?
Best-rates for the Alford cottage starts from $134 per night with includes Entertainment, Internet, Parking, Sports/Activities, Wellness Facilities, Kitchen, Laundry, TV, Balcony/Terrace, Accessibility, Security/Safety, Bedding/Linens, Fireplace/Heating with all other facilities. matches every traveler with their perfect accommodation, whether you are traveling with a group, friends, family, or pets.
Is Alford cottage a family-friendly place to stay?
Based on the information we have received from the owner or our partner, this is not considered to be a family-friendly property. As reported by the owner or manager, the cottage has not specified that children are welcome. Please see details about suitability for your family or inquire with the property to learn more.
Is the Alford cottage wheelchair accessible or offer services for disabled guests?
Based on the information received from our partner, the Alford cottage has not specified they are wheelchair accessible. Likewise, there is not an elevator specified as being available at the property. Specific accessibility details may be addressed in the property details section of this page.
What is the minimum night stay policy for the Alford cottage?
Based on the information reported by the owner or manager, the Alford cottage indicates 1 day stay policy at this cottage. Guests are cautioned that the minimum stay policy may differ based on seasonality or availability and may be at the discretion of the owner or manager.
What cancellation policy is in place for Alford cottage?
Guests are cautioned that the cancellation policy may differ based on seasonality, availability, or current travel restrictions. Guests should also be aware that this policy may be subject to change and should be confirmed prior to booking. More details may be available on this page in the property description. However, early check-in or late check-out can sometimes be negotiated between the guest and the owner or the manager of this property.