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A sitting room with two sofas and armchairs arranged around a low table, framed prints on the wall and a lamp lit in the corner.
Aberdeenshire

Butler's Lodge

For six, with three bedrooms, firewood and room for the dog. Three nights at least.

Licence AS-00196-F

Book on their website
Welcome

Butler’s Lodge is a cottage for six on the Glen Tanar Estate near Aboyne, and it was once home to the estate’s butler.

In 1900, the estate says, the job paid £85 a year, plus three shillings and sixpence a week for beer. His handsome old doors are still here, along with the cupboard under the stairs the estate calls the glory hole, and the rooms are furnished with restored antiques.

There are three bedrooms with king-size and twin beds, a family bathroom and a separate shower room. The sitting room has a wood-burning stove with as many logs as you like, there is a second living room, and the long kitchen has a dining table with six chairs. Outside is an enclosed garden with a patio for eating out, the forest and the estate’s walled garden are a short stroll from the door, and dogs are welcome too.

A very special place, looked after especially well.
Glen Tanar Estate
What is here

There are three bedrooms, a family bathroom with a bath and a shower room with a toilet.

Wood for fires
Bath tub
Enclosed garden
Private terrace or patio
Outdoor dining area
EV charging point
Barbecue
Bicycle storage
Books
Dishwasher
Dog friendly
Dryer
Garden
Kitchen
TV
Washing machine
Wifi
Wood-burning stove
Good to know
Sleeps
Six, in two kings and a twin.
Dogs
Up to two, at £25 each. Never left alone inside.
Steps
Master bedroom downstairs; one step at the door.
Logs
Unlimited, for the wood-burning stove.
Laundry
Washer, dryer and dishwasher.
Bikes
Secure storage, e-bike charging and a bike wash.
Charging
An electric car charger.
Smoking
Never indoors.
Finding it
Use AB34 5EU: the Estate Office at Brooks House, past the end of the public road.
Aboyne bridge
Closed for now; come in by Dinnet bridge.
By train
Stonehaven or Aberdeen, then a taxi or a hire car.
Winter
Roads to check by webcam: the Braemar snow gate and Cairn o' Mount.
Wildlife hide
The Lookout, evenings 8 to 10pm; book with the office.
Trout loch
Fly fishing from two boats; book online, 24 March to 31 October.
When it is free

November2026

MTWTFSS

Your dates

Choose the night you arrive.Then the morning you leave.

Book on their website
At Glen Tanar Estate
Stone tower with turret roof surrounded by pine trees at duskTower O'EssSleeps 2
  • A Victorian tower by the river
  • A hot tub in the woods
Free 1–4 NovA stone cottage with a red tiled roof and green-framed windows sits beside a gravel patio, a hammock and table set among shrubs.Rowan CottageSleeps 2
  • An old farm bothy
  • A granite fireplace
Check datesA stone gate lodge with steep gables and green-framed windows sits beside a stone boundary wall, a planter of flowers by the green door.Joiner’s CottageSleeps 4
  • The joiner's original features
  • Trails from the door
Free 11–14 NovA round metal garden table with two chairs stands on a lawn beside a bottle of wine and glasses, pink flowering shrubs and a green-framed conservatory behind.Garden CottageSleeps 4
  • Inside the walled garden
  • Pet-free
Free 10–13 NovWoodendSleeps 4
  • The old hydropower sub-station
  • A double-height room
Free 11–14 NovWest MillfieldSleeps 5
  • Over woods and fields
  • Stained glass windows
Free 1–4 NovThe whole placeGlen Tanar EstateAll seven cottages, the estate that made them and what there is to do in it.See Glen Tanar Estate
On the estate

What Glen Tanar offers its guests, from the river to the hill.

Trout Fishing at Glen Tanar, AberdeenshireOn the private lochTrout fishingThe estate's own trout loch, for beginners and old hands, with a ghillie to show you where.
Glen Tanar Equestrian Centre, AberdeenshireOver the moorHorse ridingRide out through the pinewoods and across open moorland from the estate's equestrian centre.
A track through Glen Tanar between pines and yellow broom.From the doorThe pinewoodsMile upon mile of paths through ancient Scots pine, along the Water of Tanar and out to Mount Keen.Highland cow with long horns standing in a grassy woodland clearingA wildlife hideThe LookoutEvening sessions for up to six in a hide on the edge of the pine forest, watching for red deer, pine martens, badgers and red squirrels.
Where it is

Butler’s Lodge is on the Glen Tanar Estate on Royal Deeside, in the Cairngorms National Park; the estate’s postal address is Aboyne.

The sat nav postcode, AB34 5EU, brings you to the Estate Office at Brooks House. The forest and the walled garden are a short stroll from the cottage, and the Victorian Ballroom and the Coats Room are nearby on the estate. Aberdeen Airport is about an hour away.

Getting hereSouth of the Dee between Aboyne and Ballater: from Dinnet cross the river, take the B976 for three miles and turn in at the Bridge and Tower o' Ess.

Close byWhere the Glen Tanar estate sends its guests.
  1. Trout Fishing at Glen Tanar, AberdeenshireThe trout lochThe estate's own loch in the pine forest: fly fishing from two boats, beginners as welcome as seasoned anglers.On the estate
  2. Glen Tanar Equestrian Centre, AberdeenshireGlen Tanar Equestrian CentreRides round the trout loch and into the Wood of Caledon, or up into the hills; run independently of the estate.On the estate
  3. The Boat Inn, AboyneThe Boat InnA classic Scottish pub and restaurant at Aboyne, which the estate calls a stone's throw from Glen Tanar.9 miles 16 min by road
  4. Finzean Farm Shop and tearoom with the Feugh valley beyond.Finzean Farm ShopA place for lunch, with local produce to take home too.9 miles 16 min by road
  5. Burn O’Vat, AboyneBurn o' VatAn easy walk at Muir of Dinnet to a natural rock cauldron carved by glacial meltwater.8 miles 14 min by road
  6. The Burn of Dess tumbling down its gorge among bare trees.Dess WaterfallA short woodland walk at Kincardine O'Neil to a waterfall on the Water of Dess.12 miles 20 min by road
  7. Two white gliders on the grass of Aboyne airfield, the Deeside hills beyond.Deeside Gliding ClubWave soaring over the Cairngorms, from the club that holds the UK altitude record of 38,600 feet.7 miles 12 min by road
  8. Pink heather and forest below the hills around Scolty.Scolty HillA gentle climb through woodland above Banchory to a summit with views over Deeside.15 miles 25 min by road
  9. Fish Shop Restaurant, AberdeenshireFish ShopLocal seafood in Ballater, at a restaurant with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.11 miles 19 min by road
  10. The Balmoral Arms' dining room, dark walls hung with pictures above tartan banquettes.The Balmoral ArmsIn Ballater, a menu of locally sourced produce and Cairngorms cooking.11 miles 18 min by road
  11. Snow-dusted hills reflect fading light over a still loch at duskLoch MuickA circular walk round the loch beneath Lochnagar, with mountain scenery all the way.road
Walks from here
  1. Glen TanarGlen Tanar3 miles, about three hoursFrom the door
  2. Glen TanarGlen Tanar5 miles, about two and a half hoursUnder a mile away
  3. Mount KeenMount Keen18 miles, about nine hoursUnder a mile away
  4. Loch KinordLoch Kinord2¼ miles, about an hour and a half8 miles away
  5. TomnaverieTomnaverie2½ miles, about two hours with lunch10 miles away
  6. The Riverside WalkThe Riverside Walk2¼ miles, about two and a half hours11 miles away
Directions
Highland cow with long horns standing in a grassy woodland clearingAttractionsGlen TanarA step away
A track through Glen Tanar between pines and yellow broom.WalksGlen Tanar Pinewoods WalkA step away
Shelves of floury sourdough loaves at Courie Courie.AttractionsCourie Courie Bakery2.8 miles as the crow flies
Espresso streams into an orange cup on a chrome machineCafeSpider on a Bicycle Cafe2.9 miles as the crow flies
Aerial view of a golf course with fairways, bunkers and a river beyondAttractionsAboyne Golf Club3.4 miles as the crow flies
Cambus O'May Suspension Bridge, AberdeenshireAttractionsCambus o’ May Suspension Bridge7.4 miles
The Dinnie Stones, BanchoryAttractionsThe Dinnie Stones8.0 miles
Framed line drawing beside a hanging plant in a white macramé potCafePotarch Café8.1 miles
Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve, AboyneAttractionsMuir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve8.3 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from Butler's LodgeAll days out from here
  1. Glen Tanar and lunch at the Potarch CaféGlen Tanar and lunch at the Potarch CaféHalf a mile away A few hours
  2. A walk up Mount Keen from Glen TanarA walk up Mount Keen from Glen TanarHalf a mile away A day out
  3. A walk through the old pines of Glen TanarA walk through the old pines of Glen TanarHalf a mile away A few hours
  4. A picnic watching the gliders at AboyneA picnic watching the gliders at Aboyne1 mile away A few hours
  5. Aboyne Green and a pint at the Boat InnAboyne Green and a pint at the Boat Inn3 miles away A few hours
  6. A walk along the Deeside Way from Aboyne to BallaterA walk along the Deeside Way from Aboyne to Ballater3 miles away A day out
  7. Aboyne on foot: the Green, the bridge and Birsemore LochAboyne on foot: the Green, the bridge and Birsemore Loch3 miles away A day out
  8. Tarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoomTarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoom4 miles away A day out
  9. Burn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in BallaterBurn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in Ballater4 miles away A few hours
  10. Loch Kinord walk to the Kinord CrossLoch Kinord walk to the Kinord Cross4 miles away A few hours
  11. Loch Kinord and pizza at Kite in DinnetLoch Kinord and pizza at Kite in Dinnet4 miles away A few hours
  12. A picnic by the Cambus o' May bridgeA picnic by the Cambus o' May bridge4 miles away A few hours
  13. A walk from Tarland to Tomnaverie Stone CircleA walk from Tarland to Tomnaverie Stone Circle5 miles away A few hours
  14. Cambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty'sCambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty's5 miles away A few hours
  15. Culsh Earth House and lunch at Douneside HouseCulsh Earth House and lunch at Douneside House6 miles away A few hours
  16. Potarch: the café, the Dinnie Stones and the Deeside WayPotarch: the café, the Dinnie Stones and the Deeside Way7 miles away A day out
  17. Whisky, Castles & Pyramids - A 35-Mile Trail Through Aberdeenshire’s Royal HeartlandWhisky, Castles & Pyramids - A 35-Mile Trail Through Aberdeenshire’s Royal Heartland7 miles away A day out
  18. 1 day in Royal Deeside1 day in Royal Deeside7 miles away A day out
  19. Loch Muick and a picnic at Glas-allt-ShielLoch Muick and a picnic at Glas-allt-Shiel7 miles away A few hours
  20. Ballater's Riverside Walk and a pint at the Balmoral ArmsBallater's Riverside Walk and a pint at the Balmoral Arms7 miles away A few hours
  21. A wander round Ballater and afternoon tea at Darroch LeargA wander round Ballater and afternoon tea at Darroch Learg7 miles away A few hours
  22. Up Craigendarroch, above BallaterUp Craigendarroch, above Ballater7 miles away A few hours
  23. The Mackenzie Memorial walk at BallaterThe Mackenzie Memorial walk at Ballater7 miles away A few hours
  24. The Seven Bridges walk at BallaterThe Seven Bridges walk at Ballater7 miles away A day out
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