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A stone cottage with dormer windows sits behind a low blue gate, a rose-covered archway framing the front door.
Aberdeenshire

Gamekeeper’s Cottage

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

Licence AS-01208-FEPC F

Book on their website
Welcome

Gamekeeper’s Cottage is a stone house behind a pale blue gate on the Glen Dye driveway, near Strachan, with a south-facing garden looking over the River Dye.

It’s the estate’s newest cottage and its simplest, and the owners are plain about it: the kitchen and bathroom are simple, though clean and fresh, and the house is very beautifully placed. It sleeps six in three bedrooms, one double and two twins, with one bathroom and a separate loo, and it can be booked whole or by the room.

Inside there’s a long wooden farmhouse table under blue walls, a wood-burning stove with unlimited firewood, bright rugs, and a mix of modern, vintage and antique furniture, with framed prints and poems on the walls. There’s no hot tub of its own, though the estate’s wood-fired hot tub can be booked separately, and no record player. Dogs are welcome, and guests can use the estate’s tiny bring-your-own-bottle pub, the Glen Dye Arms.

Glendye makes me happy.
Painted across the gable of the Coach House
itineraries

The owners call it a place to rest your head after long days exploring the best of Glen Dye.

There are walking routes from a 45-minute stroll to a swimming spot on the river up to the 13.65 km Clachnaben and Charr loop, and the estate’s pub, sauna and Adventure Trail for the days in between.

What is here

The cottage has a wood-burning stove with unlimited firewood, a simple but fully equipped kitchen, WiFi, a washing machine and drying facilities, books and games, and towels and bed linen.

Wood for fires
EV charging point
Board games
Books
Dishwasher
Dog friendly
Dryer
High chair
Kitchen
Travel cot
Washing machine
Wifi
Wood-burning stove
Good to know
Dogs
Welcome in every house, up to two, though not in the hot tubs.
Arriving
From 4pm, and away by 9.45am.
Hot tubs
Wood-fired, at every house; at Gamekeeper's Cottage you add it when you book.
Sauna
On the estate, to book, at the Discovery and Adventure Centre.
The Glen Dye Arms
The estate's own bar: bring your own, no food.
Families
Welcome, with games in the houses.
Groups
No 4 and No 5 Steading are let together for fourteen; the Coach House takes twelve.
When it is free

November2026

MTWTFSS

Your dates

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

Book on their website

The owner confirms the final price.

At Glen Dye
An aerial view shows a white harled farmhouse with multiple chimneys set beside a gravel courtyard and stone outbuildings.The Coach HouseSleeps 12
  • The old toll house by the Bridge of Dye
  • The whole house, for exclusive use
Free 24–25 OctTimber cabin with metal roof and decking surrounded by woodland treesNorth Lodge and River CabinSleeps 6
  • A cabin of its own on the riverbank
  • An open fire in the lodge
Free 29–30 OctA stone farmhouse covered in climbing ivy stands behind a gravel drive, seen through overhanging pine branches.CuttieshillockSleeps 6
  • An old inn on the edge of the forest
  • Its own sauna and garden studio
Free 24–25 OctA stone cottage with a slated roof and black stove pipe sits beside a gravel drive, foxgloves and wildflowers lining the path.No 4 Steading CottageSleeps 7
  • A hot tub down a woodland path
  • Next door to No 5
Free 25–26 OctAn aerial view shows a long stone steading with a slated roof and a rooftop hot tub, a smaller outbuilding and gravel courtyard beside it.No 5 Steading CottageSleeps 7
  • The Smiddy games room
  • Next door to No 4
Free 24–25 OctA mint-green sitting room has a cobalt-blue velvet sofa with orange and green cushions, two floor lamps with teal shades either side, a rustic wooden coffee table, and framed abstract and sunset prints on the wall above.The Corner HouseSleeps 6
  • A giant south-facing window
  • A mural of the hills
Free 25–26 OctA stone steading with a slated pyramid roof and a chimney stands behind a green nameplate sign, a chair visible through the window.No 2 Steading CottageSleeps 4
  • The window where the tractors came in
  • A private yard with a hot tub
Free 12–13 NovSofas flank a window framed by red curtains looking out to a garden and outbuilding, a coffee table set with candles and a small house-shaped ornament between them.The Hay Loft at GlendyeSleeps 4
  • A picture-book window down the glen
  • A private hot tub outside
Free 2–3 NovA stone cottage with a slated roof and teal door sits behind a lawn, a striped bench and timber fence framing the garden.The Bothy, GlendyeSleeps 2
  • A hand-built outdoor kitchen
  • Next to the oldest house on the estate
Free 27–28 OctThe whole placeGlen DyeAll ten houses, the estate's own sauna, shop and fishing, and the hill above them.See Glen Dye
On the estate

What Glen Dye runs itself, for guests in the houses and for visitors.

Salmon & Sea Trout Fishing at Glen Dye, AberdeenshireOn the River DyeSalmon and sea troutA session on the estate's own stretches of river, with a guide, the gear and the know-how.
Forest Bathing at Glen Dye, AberdeenshireIn the woodsForest bathingTwo or three slow hours in the estate's forest with a guide, touching bark and listening to the wind.
An old painted dresser of enamelware and boxes against a pink wall in the Glen Dye Shop.Good stuff, made wellThe Glen Dye ShopThe estate's country store and gallery: clothing, homewares, books, art and food.The granite tor on the top of Clachnaben in snow, under a deep blue sky.From the Bridge of DyeClachnabenThe hill above the estate, with a granite tor on top that sailors once steered by, climbed on a good path.
Where it is

Gamekeeper’s Cottage is on the Glen Dye driveway, looking over the River Dye, at Bridge of Dye near Strachan and Banchory.

Glen Dye is a private estate of around 15,000 acres at Bridge of Dye, on the B974 Cairn o’ Mount road near Strachan and Banchory. From the south, leave the A90 at Edzell for Fettercairn and take the B974 over the Cairn o’ Mount: the estate is just after the snow gates at the bottom of the hill. From Banchory, head south at the lights towards Strachan, turn left at the signpost to Fettercairn and follow the B974 for about ten minutes, to just before the snow gates. When the police close the snow gates in bad weather, the way in from the south is via Stonehaven. Aberdeen Airport is about 40 minutes away, Stonehaven or Aberdeen are the closest stations, and the exact address comes before your stay. The estate office is at Bridge of Dye Steading, AB31 6LT.

Getting hereIn Glen Dye, near Strachan, a little south of Banchory on Royal Deeside.

Close by
  1. An old painted dresser of enamelware and boxes against a pink wall in the Glen Dye Shop.Glen Dye ShopUnder half a mile as the crow flies
  2. The granite tor on the top of Clachnaben in snow, under a deep blue sky.Clachnaben Walk, Glen Dye1 mile 2 min by road
  3. Pink heather and forest below the hills around Scolty.Scolty Hill Walk6 miles 10 min by road
  4. The Water of Feugh pouring white over the rocks at the Falls of Feugh, by the restaurant.Falls by Orry ShandA restaurant at the Bridge of Feugh where the kitchen chooses a seasonal tasting menu, with firepits by the river.7 miles 10 min by road
  5. River tumbling over rocky falls through a wooded gorgeFalls of Feugh7 miles 10 min by road
  6. Finzean Farm Shop and tearoom with the Feugh valley beyond.Finzean Farm Shop and Tearoom7 miles 14 min by road
  7. A bottle of the Strong Water Co.'s own whisky held up at its Banchory shopfront.The Strong Water Co8 miles 12 min by road
  8. Aerial view of a golf course fairway lined with forest and hills beyondBanchory Golf Club8 miles 13 min by road
Directions
A concrete block on the grassy hill ground above Balnahard, the Finzean hills beyond.ActivityBalnahard Farm7.0 miles
River cascading over rocky falls through a wooded gorgeWalksRhindbuckie Walk7.7 miles
The Birdhouse café's teal shopfront on a granite street in Banchory.CafeBirdhouse Cafe Banchory7.9 miles
Tease's black shopfront on Banchory High Street, with benches and plants at the door.CafeTease Coffee Bar8.0 miles
Banchory Lodge's glass-roofed garden room set with tables and wicker chairs.RestaurantsBanchory Lodge8.0 miles
Gravel track through autumn woodland, barrier gate and stone wall alongsideWalksHill of Maryfield Walk8.2 miles
Framed line drawing beside a hanging plant in a white macramé potCafePotarch Café8.2 miles
The Dinnie Stones, BanchoryAttractionsThe Dinnie Stones8.3 miles
Ride Coffee House, a white building with a glass gable and garden chairs.CafeRide Coffee House Banchory8.4 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from Gamekeeper’s CottageAll days out from here
  1. Finzean and Glen Dye: Clachnaben, Cairn o' Mount, farm shopFinzean and Glen Dye: Clachnaben, Cairn o' Mount, farm shopHalf a mile away A day out
  2. A picnic in Scolty Forest at BanchoryA picnic in Scolty Forest at Banchory6 miles away A few hours
  3. The Falls of Feugh and an ice cream in BanchoryThe Falls of Feugh and an ice cream in Banchory6 miles away A few hours
  4. The Falls of Feugh and dinner at Falls by Orry ShandThe Falls of Feugh and dinner at Falls by Orry Shand6 miles away A few hours
  5. Banchory and Scolty: Falls of Feugh and Milton of CrathesBanchory and Scolty: Falls of Feugh and Milton of Crathes7 miles away A day out
  6. Potarch: the café, the Dinnie Stones and the Deeside WayPotarch: the café, the Dinnie Stones and the Deeside Way7 miles away A day out
  7. A whisky tour at Fettercairn and the Royal ArchA whisky tour at Fettercairn and the Royal Arch8 miles away A few hours
  8. A Deeside train ride, the Crathes play park and lunchA Deeside train ride, the Crathes play park and lunch8 miles away A few hours
  9. A walk from Milton of Crathes to Crathes CastleA walk from Milton of Crathes to Crathes Castle8 miles away A few hours
  10. The walled garden at Crathes and lunch at Café 1702The walled garden at Crathes and lunch at Café 17028 miles away A few hours
  11. Crathes Castle and lunch at Café 1702Crathes Castle and lunch at Café 17028 miles away A few hours
  12. The Blue Door walk to the Rocks of Solitude at EdzellThe Blue Door walk to the Rocks of Solitude at Edzell10 miles away A few hours
  13. Exploring Angus from the Mountains to the SeaExploring Angus from the Mountains to the Sea10 miles away A day out
  14. Aboyne on foot: the Green, the bridge and Birsemore LochAboyne on foot: the Green, the bridge and Birsemore Loch11 miles away A day out
  15. Aboyne Green and a pint at the Boat InnAboyne Green and a pint at the Boat Inn11 miles away A few hours
  16. A walk along the Deeside Way from Aboyne to BallaterA walk along the Deeside Way from Aboyne to Ballater11 miles away A day out
  17. Edzell Castle's walled garden and lunch at Sinclair's LarderEdzell Castle's walled garden and lunch at Sinclair's Larder11 miles away A few hours
  18. Glen Tanar and lunch at the Potarch CaféGlen Tanar and lunch at the Potarch Café12 miles away A few hours
  19. A walk up Mount Keen from Glen TanarA walk up Mount Keen from Glen Tanar12 miles away A day out
  20. A walk through the old pines of Glen TanarA walk through the old pines of Glen Tanar12 miles away A few hours
  21. A picnic watching the gliders at AboyneA picnic watching the gliders at Aboyne13 miles away A few hours
  22. Little Oaks at Drum Castle and lunch at the Mains of DrumLittle Oaks at Drum Castle and lunch at the Mains of Drum13 miles away A few hours
  23. Castle Hunting in AberdeenshireCastle Hunting in Aberdeenshire13 miles away A day out
  24. A picnic in Dunnottar Woods at StonehavenA picnic in Dunnottar Woods at Stonehaven13 miles away A few hours
The Daily for 24 October, from Scotland with love. a stone arch bridge crossing a rushing gorge below a moss-covered cliffside building, autumn trees on both banks

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