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Two grey linen sofas face each other across a dark wooden coffee table, checked roman blinds at the windows and a framed landscape print on the wall.
Aberdeenshire

Old School Cottage

For seven, with three bedrooms and room for the dog. Two nights at least.

Book on their website
Welcome

Old School was the village school of Glengairn, six miles from Ballater, and it still stands inside its old stone dyke beside Gairnshiel Lodge and the River Gairn.

Today it’s a holiday house for seven, with two double bedrooms and a dusky pink room with three single beds.

The sitting room has two deep linen sofas facing each other under checked blinds, and the kitchen has a range cooker. There are two bathrooms, and the best has a freestanding bath against walls of marble-veined tiles. Outside there’s a private garden, fenced, and a terrace with a long table for eating out. Old School is let as a whole, children are welcome, one medium dog or two small ones can come too, and you can rent it together with the Lodge next door.

It's in our blood and history to bring people together.
Gairnshiel
What is here

Three bedrooms, two with a double bed and one with three single beds, and two bathrooms, one with a shower and toilet downstairs and one with a shower over the bath upstairs.

Bath tub
Enclosed garden
Private terrace or patio
Barbecue
Dishwasher
Dog friendly
Dryer
Garden
High chair
Kitchen
Self check-in
TV
Travel cot
Washing machine
Workspace friendly
Good to know
Stays
Two nights at the least.
Meeting you
Self check-in.
Children
All ages welcome.
Cots
A travel cot in every house; no extra beds.
Dogs
One medium dog or two small ones.
Open
All year.
Parking
Room for about three cars.
Snow
Roads here can close in heavy snow: the owners can move your stay.
Getting here
Come by car; no bus comes out here, and trains stop at Aberdeen or Perth.
Charging
No charger here: the nearest are in Ballater and Braemar.
Food
No restaurant: the fridge can be stocked before you come, and the Co-op, deli and butcher are in Ballater.
Activities
Book them through the owners a week ahead; two for anything tailored.
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 Gairnshiel
A grand stone house with multiple gables and chimneys stands on a lawn at dusk, a Land Rover parked in the drive under a stormy sky.Gairnshiel LodgeSleeps 16
  • A hunting lodge from 1746
  • A sauna and hot tub
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovA landscape view of Faunoran House from the garden, the terrace and its white table, the house reflected in the long pond.Faunoran HouseSleeps 10
  • A walk from Balmoral
  • A bar and a pond garden
Free 1–3 NovA wooden table and chairs with green cushions stand on a stone patio beside a gabled stone house, a lawn stretching in front.Laggan CottageSleeps 8
  • Built in 1880
  • A cabin by the river
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovInverenzie Cottage, AberdeenshireInverenzie CottageSleeps 4
  • An old farmhouse
  • The view comes first
Free 4–6 NovThe whole placeGairnshielEvery Gairnshiel house, and the glen and the castle next to them.See Gairnshiel
Where it is

Old School is in Glengairn, in the Cairngorms National Park, standing beside the River Gairn next to Gairnshiel Lodge.

Ballater is about six miles away for shops and supplies, and Aberdeen is about an hour’s drive. You can reach the house in a low car, though the roads to it can close in heavy snow.

Getting hereIn Glengairn, about fifteen minutes by car from Ballater; an hour and a half from Aberdeen or Inverness.

Close byWhere Eric and Hilde send their guests.
  1. Balmoral Castle's turreted grey towers rise above ivy-covered walls and manicured lawnsBalmoralThe King's Highland home, ten minutes away. The owners call the Cairn Walk on the estate wonderful.9 miles 27 min by road
  2. The Balmoral cairnsA walk through the forest to the cairns Queen Victoria raised for her family, and the view from Prince Albert's.6 miles 12 min by road
  3. Fish Shop Restaurant, AberdeenshireFish ShopIn Ballater, one of the restaurants the owners count among the best in Scotland.7 miles 9 min by road
  4. The Flying Stag, AberdeenshireThe Flying StagThe Fife Arms' bar in Braemar, with local beers, whisky and hearty Scottish dishes.14 miles 21 min by road
  5. Snow-dusted hills reflect fading light over a still loch at duskLoch MuickThe owners' advice: don't miss a walk round the loch.15 miles 41 min by road
  6. River tumbling over rocky rapids through pine forest under grey skiesLinn of DeePast Braemar, a place to walk that the owners call fabulous.14 miles 22 min by road
  7. Wooden footbridge over a rocky river surrounded by pine forestLinn of QuoichPast Braemar, the other fabulous walk the owners send guests to.24 miles 41 min by road
  8. A path through the heather towards the wooded slopes of Creag Choinnich above Braemar.Creag ChoinnichThe little hill above Braemar, one of the owners' walks there.14 miles 22 min by road
  9. Cappuccino and sliced cake on a wooden table in a caféBridge House CafeIn Ballater: fresh cakes, deli goods and food to take away, Thursday to Monday.7 miles 9 min by road
  10. Shelves of fresh rolls, butteries and bakes at the Highlanders Bakehouse under a chalkboard.Highlander BakehouseThe bakehouse at Crathie, the nearest bread to the houses after Ballater.5 miles 10 min by road
  11. Casks stencilled Royal Lochnagar Distillery stacked in the warehouse.Royal LochnagarThe owners' local distillery, for a tour and a tasting.6 miles 12 min by road
  12. The Boat Inn, AboyneThe Boat InnA riverside inn at Aboyne with log fires and a beer garden, on the Dee since 1720.17 miles 24 min by road
  13. Shelves of floury sourdough loaves at Courie Courie.Courie CourieA sourdough bakery and wholefood café cooking with local ingredients.17 miles 24 min by road
Walks from here
  1. The Riverside WalkThe Riverside Walk2¼ miles, about two and a half hours7 miles away
  2. Cambus o' MayCambus o' May8 miles, about four and a half hours6 miles away
  3. The Mackenzie MemorialThe Mackenzie Memorial1½ miles, about two hours7 miles away
  4. BallaterBallater5½ miles, about four and a half hours7 miles away
  5. CraigendarrochCraigendarroch2 miles, about three hours7 miles away
  6. The Balmoral Cairns WalkThe Balmoral Cairns Walk5½ miles, about three hours5 miles away
Directions
Stone church with spire and rose window at end of tree-lined driveAttractionsCrathie Kirk5.3 miles
John Brown’s Grave, BallaterAttractionsJohn Brown’s Grave5.4 miles
Darroch Learg, AberdeenshireBallaterDarroch LeargPlace to stay · 5.9 miles
The granite front of the Deeside Deli on Bridge Street, Ballater, flowers hanging by its windows.ShoppingDeeside Deli & Garden Shop6.4 miles
Stone arched bridge crossing a river below forested hills in autumnAttractionsBallater6.5 miles
The Balmoral Arms' dining room, dark walls hung with pictures above tartan banquettes.RestaurantsBalmoral Arms6.6 miles
ÖSLEY's granite front on Bridge Street, Ballater, a navy sign above the door.ShoppingÖSLEY6.6 miles
The Strong Water Co, AberdeenshireShoppingThe Strong Water Co6.6 miles
Stravaig Saunas, AberdeenshireActivityStravaig Saunas6.7 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from Old School CottageAll days out from here
  1. A sauna at dusk at Stravaig, facing LochnagarA sauna at dusk at Stravaig, facing Lochnagar3 miles away A few hours
  2. The Balmoral cairns walk: a day on foot from CrathieThe Balmoral cairns walk: a day on foot from Crathie4 miles away A day out
  3. Balmoral's grounds and gardensBalmoral's grounds and gardens4 miles away A few hours
  4. A tour of Royal Lochnagar DistilleryA tour of Royal Lochnagar Distillery5 miles away A few hours
  5. Knock Castle and lunch at the Rothesay RoomsKnock Castle and lunch at the Rothesay Rooms5 miles away A few hours
  6. Ballater and Crathie: a royal day on DeesideBallater and Crathie: a royal day on Deeside6 miles away A day out
  7. The Cambus o' May circular walk from BallaterThe Cambus o' May circular walk from Ballater6 miles away A day out
  8. The Mackenzie Memorial walk at BallaterThe Mackenzie Memorial walk at Ballater6 miles away A few hours
  9. The Seven Bridges walk at BallaterThe Seven Bridges walk at Ballater6 miles away A day out
  10. Up Craigendarroch, above BallaterUp Craigendarroch, above Ballater6 miles away A few hours
  11. A round at Ballater Golf ClubA round at Ballater Golf Club6 miles away A day out
  12. Ballater's Riverside Walk and a pint at the Balmoral ArmsBallater's Riverside Walk and a pint at the Balmoral Arms6 miles away A few hours
  13. A wander round Ballater and afternoon tea at Darroch LeargA wander round Ballater and afternoon tea at Darroch Learg6 miles away A few hours
  14. A walk on the old military road at Corgarff CastleA walk on the old military road at Corgarff Castle6 miles away A day out
  15. Whisky, Castles & Pyramids - A 35-Mile Trail Through Aberdeenshire’s Royal HeartlandWhisky, Castles & Pyramids - A 35-Mile Trail Through Aberdeenshire’s Royal Heartland6 miles away A day out
  16. 1 day in Royal Deeside1 day in Royal Deeside6 miles away A day out
  17. Loch Muick and a picnic at Glas-allt-ShielLoch Muick and a picnic at Glas-allt-Shiel6 miles away A few hours
  18. Cambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty'sCambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty's7 miles away A few hours
  19. A picnic by the Cambus o' May bridgeA picnic by the Cambus o' May bridge8 miles away A few hours
  20. Burn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in BallaterBurn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in Ballater8 miles away A few hours
  21. Loch Kinord walk to the Kinord CrossLoch Kinord walk to the Kinord Cross8 miles away A few hours
  22. Loch Kinord and pizza at Kite in DinnetLoch Kinord and pizza at Kite in Dinnet8 miles away A few hours
  23. The Bunzeach Trail walk at StrathdonThe Bunzeach Trail walk at Strathdon8 miles away A few hours
  24. Tarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoomTarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoom9 miles away A day out
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