Hidden Scotland
Sign in
A stone farmhouse with dormer windows stands beside a picnic bench within a wooden fence enclosure.
Aberdeenshire

Tornahatnach

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

Licence AS-01338-F

Book on their website
Welcome

Tornahatnach is a 19th-century stone cottage on the Glenkindie Estate in Strathdon, west Aberdeenshire, restored with care and its old character kept.

A stone archway leads from the sitting room into a dusty-pink kitchen with a blue Everhot range, a farmhouse sink, a breakfast bar and a built-in dining neuk for slow breakfasts. The sitting room has a wood-burning stove between shelves of books and games, with big windows onto the countryside.

It sleeps five, in a king, a twin with its own en-suite that can be made up as a super king, and a cosy single, with a main bathroom and a downstairs loo too. The garden is enclosed, and up to two dogs are welcome.

Surrounded by fabulous views, with scenic walks straight from your door, you really can just stop and leave the world behind.
Glenkindie Holiday Cottages
What is here

An Everhot range, a farmhouse sink and a breakfast bar in the kitchen, with a built-in dining neuk, a living room with a wood-burning stove and shelves of books and games, two bathrooms and a separate downstairs toilet, Wi-Fi, an enclosed garden and parking.

Wood for fires
Bath tub
Enclosed garden
Baking equipment
Board games
Books
Dog friendly
Dryer
Garden
High chair
Kitchen
Local maps and guides
Self check-in
Stair gates
Travel cot
Washing machine
Welcome hamper
Wifi
Wood-burning stove
Good to know
Dogs
Two welcome.
A car
You will need your own car: the estate is remote.
The estate
Yours to explore, apart from the grounds right around Glenkindie House.
Fishing
Ask about salmon and trout on the estate's own stretch of the Don.
Quiet
Low noise from 11pm to 8am.
Food
Starter and breakfast packs, ordered ahead.
Nearest shop
A mile and a half away; the Co-op in Alford is 14 miles.
Babies
Cot, high chair, stair gates: ask ahead.
Wildlife
Deer and red squirrels; otters and birds of prey too.
House rules
No smoking or candles; shoes off indoors.
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 Glenkindie Estate
A stone farmhouse with a slated roof and green door sits behind a lawn, a timber garden room extending to one side.ChapeltonSleeps 6
  • A wall of glass onto the hills
  • A private deck
Free 4–7 NovA stone farmhouse with a gabled dormer window sits behind a timber picket fence, trees shading the drive.Home FarmSleeps 6
  • In the main grounds
  • A roll-top bath
Free 31 Oct – 3 NovA stone house with three dormer windows and a yellow front door sits behind a lawn, terracotta pots flanking the entrance.GreenstyleSleeps 6
  • Views to Kildrummy Castle
  • A snug with its own stove
Free 2–5 NovA stone cottage with green-framed dormer windows and matching door stands behind a gravel drive, trees and open fields beyond.DalgrassickSleeps 4
  • A large private garden
  • A kennel for the dog
Free 9–12 NovThe whole placeGlenkindie EstateAll five cottages, and the estate on the edge of the Cairngorms around them.See Glenkindie Estate
Where it is

Tornahatnach is on the Glenkindie Estate at Glenkindie, near Alford in Aberdeenshire (postcode AB33 8ST), on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.

The owners’ guide puts the nearest shop about a mile and a half away, with the Central Garage and Shop at Glenkindie and the Spar at Bellabeg both open seven days, and a pub and restaurant about five miles off. For supermarkets there is a Co-op in Alford (14 miles), one in Aboyne (19) and an Asda and a Tesco in Huntly (21). The owners say the location is remote, so you will need your own car.

Getting hereIn Strathdon in west Aberdeenshire, on the edge of the Cairngorms, between the Dee and the Don.

Close byWhere the owners send their guests.
  1. Kildrummy Castle's D-shaped ruin seen from the air above its ravine.Kildrummy CastleThe 13th-century ruins, a few minutes' drive from the estate.2 miles 3 min by road
  2. Balmoral Castle's turreted grey towers rise above ivy-covered walls and manicured lawnsBalmoralThe castle on Royal Deeside, one of the landmarks the owners point their guests to.30 miles 58 min by road
  3. Casks stencilled Royal Lochnagar Distillery stacked in the warehouse.Royal LochnagarThe distillery by Balmoral, and one of the whisky trails the owners point to.28 miles 42 min by road
  4. The dining room at Kildrummy Inn, with iron chandeliers under the beams, tables laid with glasses and candles and gilt-framed Highland paintings on the walls.The Kildrummy InnNewly renovated, with some of the finest dining in Aberdeenshire, patio dining and a whisky snug.2 miles 3 min by road
  5. Leith Hall, pale harled walls and turrets, above its gravel drive.Leith HallA lovely estate house to tour, with gardens to walk and a tea room.14 miles 23 min by road
  6. Pink-hued Craigievar Castle with turrets rising above trees and lawnsCraigievar CastleOne of the castles on the owners' own list for guests.16 miles 25 min by road
  7. Whitewashed tower house with star-shaped walls sits amid rolling green hillsCorgarff CastleOne of the castles on the owners' own list for guests.17 miles 24 min by road
  8. Visitors among a steam engine and old cars in the Grampian Transport Museum.Grampian Transport MuseumOne of the museums on the owners' own list for guests.11 miles 17 min by road
  9. The green front of the Alford Heritage Museum under its painted sign, in the old auction mart.Alford Heritage MuseumOne of the museums on the owners' own list for guests.11 miles 16 min by road
Walks from here
  1. The Bunzeach TrailThe Bunzeach Trail4 miles, about two and a half hours9 miles away
  2. Ben NeweBen Newe2½ miles, about three hours8 miles away
  3. RhynieRhynie2½ miles, about three hours11 miles away
  4. TomnaverieTomnaverie2½ miles, about two hours with lunch13 miles away
  5. Loch KinordLoch Kinord2¼ miles, about an hour and a half14 miles away
  6. CorgarffCorgarff7 miles, about five hours17 miles away
Directions
Stone cottage with lit doorways and slate roof at dusk, forest behindRestaurantsSteading Bar7.6 miles
The roofless kirk of St Mary at Auchindoir among its gravestones and trees.AttractionsSt Mary's Church, Auchindoir7.7 miles
Road sign reading "Lost" with an arrow, surrounded by bare winter shrubsAttractionsThe Famous Lost Sign8.5 miles
The steep grassy side of the Doune of Invernochty mound against the sky.AttractionsDoune of Invernochty8.5 miles
Stone arched bridge over a river, sunlight filtering through bare treesAttractionsPoldullie Bridge8.9 miles
A Pictish stone at Rhynie, its incised symbols faint on the pink granite.AttractionsRhynie Pictish Stones9.3 miles
The bank of grey rubble that was the fort's wall on the summit of Tap o' Noth, with heather slopes and patchwork farmland running to distant hills below.WalksTap o' Noth11 miles
Two little green engines of the Alford Valley Railway with red buffers, outside the engine shed.AttractionsAlford Valley Railway12 miles
Rows of cupcakes topped with swirled icing and Lotus biscuits on a cooling rackCafeTarland Tearooms13 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from TornahatnachAll days out from here
  1. Kildrummy Castle and lunch at the Kildrummy InnKildrummy Castle and lunch at the Kildrummy InnHalf a mile away A few hours
  2. A walk up Ben Newe above StrathdonA walk up Ben Newe above Strathdon5 miles away A few hours
  3. The Bunzeach Trail walk at StrathdonThe Bunzeach Trail walk at Strathdon6 miles away A few hours
  4. Culsh Earth House and lunch at Douneside HouseCulsh Earth House and lunch at Douneside House7 miles away A few hours
  5. A walk from Tarland to Tomnaverie Stone CircleA walk from Tarland to Tomnaverie Stone Circle7 miles away A few hours
  6. A walk round the Craigievar Castle estateA walk round the Craigievar Castle estate8 miles away A few hours
  7. A picnic at Haughton Country Park in AlfordA picnic at Haughton Country Park in Alford8 miles away A few hours
  8. A walk up Tap o' Noth and the Rhynie stonesA walk up Tap o' Noth and the Rhynie stones8 miles away A few hours
  9. Tullynessle Deer Farm and lunch at the Forbes ArmsTullynessle Deer Farm and lunch at the Forbes Arms9 miles away A few hours
  10. Burn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in BallaterBurn o' Vat and lunch at the Fish Shop in Ballater10 miles away A few hours
  11. Loch Kinord walk to the Kinord CrossLoch Kinord walk to the Kinord Cross10 miles away A few hours
  12. Loch Kinord and pizza at Kite in DinnetLoch Kinord and pizza at Kite in Dinnet10 miles away A few hours
  13. Tarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoomTarland and the Howe of Cromar: stones, a loch and a tearoom10 miles away A day out
  14. A picnic watching the gliders at AboyneA picnic watching the gliders at Aboyne11 miles away A few hours
  15. Leith Hall and lunch at the Kildrummy InnLeith Hall and lunch at the Kildrummy Inn11 miles away A few hours
  16. Cambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty'sCambus o' May bridge and an ice cream at Shorty's11 miles away A few hours
  17. A picnic by the Cambus o' May bridgeA picnic by the Cambus o' May bridge11 miles away A few hours
  18. A walk along the Deeside Way from Aboyne to BallaterA walk along the Deeside Way from Aboyne to Ballater11 miles away A day out
  19. Aboyne on foot: the Green, the bridge and Birsemore LochAboyne on foot: the Green, the bridge and Birsemore Loch12 miles away A day out
  20. Aboyne Green and a pint at the Boat InnAboyne Green and a pint at the Boat Inn12 miles away A few hours
  21. A walk up Mount Keen from Glen TanarA walk up Mount Keen from Glen Tanar12 miles away A day out
  22. A walk through the old pines of Glen TanarA walk through the old pines of Glen Tanar12 miles away A few hours
  23. Glen Tanar and lunch at the Potarch CaféGlen Tanar and lunch at the Potarch Café12 miles away A few hours
  24. A walk on the old military road at Corgarff CastleA walk on the old military road at Corgarff Castle13 miles away A day out
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

Get Issue 13Read it here