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Country Cottage Near Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle And The Village of Drumnadrochit

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The Manor House, Balbeg
The Manor House, Balbeg
Local scenery
The new kitchen
Living room

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
2 bedroomsSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

Map
Glenurquhart
  • Corrimony Chambered Cairn
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Urquhart Castle
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Inverness (INV)
    ‪51 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds and 1 Child Bed

Shower room 1

Shower only

Shower room 2

Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Country Cottage Near Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle And The Village of Drumnadrochit

The Manor House is the original farmhouse of the country estate at Balbeg, near Loch Ness and Drumnadrochit, Urquhart castle and Nessie are close by. The house was built in 1888 and was fully renovated in late 2011 adding a new kitchen extension and conservatory, it sleeps 4-5 in 2 bedrooms, has 2 New bathrooms/toilets and a new kitchen and conservatory. The Manor House sits on top of the hill in picturesque Glenurquhart in the small village of Balbeg. The house has 180 degree views of Glenurquhart overlooking loch Meklie and up to the mountains of the West coast up to 40 miles away. The house is surrounded by a working hill farm and backs onto moorland. This is a beautiful and secluded location for anyone looking for a quiet holiday or a central location to tour the highlands. The Isle of Skye and the famous village of Plockton can be toured within a day returning to Glenurquhart in the evening. Inverness, is 20 minutes away. Castle Stuart golf course is a mere 25 miles away.

Property manager

Jim McGregor

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue grill

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House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

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
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Inverness

Located in Inverness, this cottage is in a rural area and in the mountains. Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition Centre and Drum Farm Gallery Gift Shop are cultural highlights, and some of the area's landmarks include Urquhart Castle and Corrimony Chambered Cairn. Campbells of Beauly and Aigas Field Centre are also worth visiting. Fishing offers a great chance to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking, hunting and mountain climbing nearby.
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Map
Glenurquhart

What's nearby

  • Corrimony Chambered Cairn - 4 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition - 7 min drive - 8.8 km
  • Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition Centre - 7 min drive - 8.7 km
  • Drum Farm Gallery Gift Shop - 7 min drive - 8.9 km
  • Urquhart Castle - 11 min drive - 12.2 km

Getting around

  • Muir of Ord Station - 24 min drive
  • Inverness (INV) - 51 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Ness Deli and Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Fiddler's - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Shack's Fish and Chips - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Lochview Café - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Poacher's Inn - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Country Cottage Near Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle And The Village of Drumnadrochit pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Country Cottage Near Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle And The Village of Drumnadrochit?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Country Cottage Near Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle And The Village of Drumnadrochit?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Country Cottage Near Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle And The Village of Drumnadrochit located?

Situated in the mountains, this cottage is 1.9 mi (3.1 km) from Corrimony Chambered Cairn and within 6 miles (10 km) of Loch Ness 2000 Exhibition Centre and Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition. Drum Farm Gallery Gift Shop and Nessieland Castle Monster Centre are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 17 out of 34 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 34 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 34 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 34 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 34 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful, quiet location

We arrived to find a substantial welcome pack, with immediate essentials. The house is well equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay. It was close to Loch Ness and good for exploring Inverness, the Black Isle and further afield. We enjoyed our stay
Stayed 8 nights in May 2019

6/10 Okay

REBOUL N.

Liked: Communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in

séjour

Location vieillissante qui aurait besoin d'un coup de rénovation. Manque d'entretien sur les extérieurs. Les enfants n'ont pas pu jouer dehors car il y avait trop d'herbes. Véranda agréable. Location au calme.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Andy W.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our stay

Area was outstanding, the house was fine, but we thought it was pet free until told when there that a dog was there a few weeks before, and having allergies i wasnt happy about that.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

Kenneth H.

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Restful, quiet setting

The property manager named Eric was so helpful! He went the extra mile whenever we needed anything and he let us know of some local trails that we thoroughly enjoyed hiking . The property is situated on a quiet hillside overlooking grazing sheep and cattle. We would like to stay here again if given the opportunity.
Stayed 11 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christa G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Urlaub in den Highlands

Ein sehr gemütliches kleines Haus auf einer Hügelkuppe mitten im Grünen. Es ist kein neues Haus aber es wird gut instand gehalten. Natur pur. Mit Schafen und Hühnern in der Nachbarschaft. Tierbeobachtungen: Hasen und Eulen. Traumhafte Aussicht übers Tal und die umliegenden Hügel. Grosse Wiesenfläche ums Haus. Gute Zufahrt. Kontakt zum Hausverwalter sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit. Das Haus ist mit allem ausgestattet was gebraucht wird. Die Räume sind sauber und bequem ausgestattet. Wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

June R., NOTTINGHAM

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Stunning Location

Communication was good so finding the property and check-in was easy. The wifi was good too. We were greeted by an excited chicken who made our holiday. She would come running up to the door every day when she saw us. Stunning views at this place and lots of farm animals and wildlife to spot. We didn't use the living room or conservatory at all. We used the house as a base to explore the local area and even took a trip to the Isle of Skye. There is a fast electric car charging point in the visitors centre a short drive from the cottage and we used that to quickly charge up the car, completing 2,000 miles by the end of the holiday. Scotland didn't charge us a single penny for charging the car and instead we were able to eat out more often and buy more goods and services from local people! It was also the most fabulous sunny, warm weather apart from one grey day. Thank you, Scotland! The beds were comfortable, clean and the linen was perfectly ironed. The showers were fast and efficient.. The host was lovely and very friendly when he popped in to drop off a few supplies. Thank you for a lovely holiday.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Irvin V.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Great location; house needs cleaning!

I will give 5 stars for the location - the view is amazing especially when foggy and during sunrise. It is on top of a hill, quiet and remote which we love. My son enjoyed the farm animals and feeding the hen that came to the house everyday. It was one of the highlights of his trip. However, the house needs serious cleaning! Having read the past reviews here, I assumed that the owner had taken action on this issue - unfortunately, nothing has been done about it. It was disappointing to arrive in the house nearly midnight, after a 12-hour drive with a child to find the place dirty and dusty. The bathroom downstairs was stinky, the bath towels did not look and smell fresh, the table cloth in the dining table was dirty and not washed. The pots and utensils were not washed well. Tabletops had crumbs and dirt. The dishwashing brush was left in the dish drainer with food debris! I ended up cleaning and disinfecting the place! We used our beach towel for that night and washed their towels. Because of the state of the place and Covid-19, I had doubts whether the beddings were even changed at all. So I washed them as well to be sure. Thank God, there was a washing machine and laundry soap available in the house. I hope this will be resolved. Otherwise, I advise future guests to bring some gloves and antibacterial wipes.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

KATHRYN R.

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Nice location

The property location is very pretty and we were blessed with fine weather for most of our stay. We saw barn owls and red kite from the conservatory, which was fantastic and the conservatory was nice to sit in. The facilities were as listed. However, the property had not been cleaned properly prior to our arrival which meant we had to sweep and clean surfaces before settling in. The renovations/extensions have been poorly executed and the finish is unsatisfactory. We would not come back to this property.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Wendy M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning views and friendly animals

I found the property a bit basic in places but clean and tidy. The views from nearly every window were stunning. We really enjoyed all of the outdoor space including the firepit where we enjoyed making s’mores almost every night. This was further enhanced by the lambs, the farm dogs and a hen which came to see us every night. We really enjoyed her company. The location was great for touring and we went to many locations. We had a fantastic time. Thanks to the owner and Eric.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tracey L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Last minute booking

After a terrible month, we booked this property as a last minute decision to just get away and relax. The views took my breath away the moment we arrived. The house was perfect to recharge our batteries...we had a problem with no water (a leak in the Glenn) out of owners control..but they made sure we were okay, brought bottles of water and wine, and kept us updated...only without water 1 night. Although our trip was amazing and the property is situated perfectly for visiting all the Highlands has to offer, I do have 2 recommendations 1) if you go in summer and you need total darkness to sleep you will need to put a towel over the bedroom window as there's only around 3 hours of darkness a night ...and 2) the shower is very hot when you first turn it on ..let it run before you step in xx enjoy your trip its fabulous xx
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

6/10 Okay

Susan H.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Adequate property, lovely location

I have to be honest because I believe in accurate reviews. The property was not as clean as it should be, especially in the current climate. For example dirty bath mats, hairs found on the kitchen floor, a strong smell of dog in the lounge and thick dust on top of the wardrobes. That said, the bathrooms were clean and the bedding was clean. We felt the furniture was quite old but again, adequate. The decor needed a lick of paint, but maybe I'm being fussy. There was soap in the bathrooms and a hand sanitiser dispenser in the kitchen, along with anti bacterial sprays in the cupboards. I have stayed in other Scottish properties that have been a much higher standard at the same price. I feel the property has a lot of potential. All that said, I spent a lot of time in the conservatory looking at the views, which were lovely. The outside space is lovely and I can imagine it being beautiful sat out there in warmer weather. We enjoyed our stay nevertheless.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

8/10 Good

Wayne M.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our Stay At Manor House

Property was in an excellent position and has great views with plenty of space. Apart from needing a bit of extra cleaning when we arrived all was good
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Ian G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely highland retreat, away from it all.

A superb location with plenty to do locally without being too close to the crowds! We had everything we needed without having to pay for luxuries we didn't want. Easy access to local beauty spots, walks, scenery and mountains made it everything we wanted to switch off for a week and enjoy some time together as a family - thoroughly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2020

8/10 Good

Johannes B.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness

Eine erholsame Zeit

Die Umgebung und die Lage waren sehr schön und ruhig. Unsere Nachbarn hatten Schafe und Hühner, es war genau richtig um einen entspannten Urlaub zu machen. Der Kontakt zum Vermieter hat super geklappt. Und die Begrüßung war herzlich. Es war alles da was man brauchte. Wir haben uns gut erholt.

10/10 Excellent

Margaret M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage in beautiful surroundings

Two brilliant weeks spent at the Manor House. We were not disappointed with anything, the view was beyond what we expected, and we would definitely return. Debbie allowed us to go to the property early on our arrival day, which was very welcome. Enjoyed the chickens visiting and waiting at kitchen door! The welcome goodies were appreciated. Cottage was very clean and equipped with everything we needed. Lovely area for walks and exploring.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sue D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovley place very clean lovley view from the conservatory nice and peaceful would recommend to any w

Very good

10/10 Excellent

Kerstin E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Traumhaft!

Gesucht hatten wir Erholung und Ruhe, gefunden haben wir die perfekte Unterkunft, um wunderschöne Ausflüge zu machen und die traumhafte Umgebung zu genießen. Nach einem unheimlich netten Empfang fühlten wir uns gleich wie zuhause. Das Wetter war viel zu gut, um wie geplant einfach in Ruhe zu lesen und im Wintergarten sitzend die Aussicht zu genießen. Die Kinder verzichteten auf das Touri-Highlight Nessieland und Nessie Centre, sondern wollten ebenso wie wir die Highlands erkunden, wandern, spazieren und Landschaft bewundern. Auch dolphin watching und Krabben fischen (und wieder freilassen) stieß auf größte Begeisterung. Beauly, Inverness, Aviemore, Glenurquart, all das waren lohnende Ausflugsziele. Einzig schade war, dass man dadurch die sehr gemütliche Ferienwohnung nicht so intensiv genießen konnte. Zu erwähnen bleibt, dass sowohl von Vermieterseite als auch von den Nachbarn aus alles unternommen wurde, damit man sich wohl fühlt. Die Kinder liebten die frei laufenden Schafe, Hühner und freuten sich über die Erlaubnis, mit den Nachbarshunden zu spielen. Ein perfekter Familienurlaub!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jan F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

rust en ruimte

prima vakantiewoning,waar alles wat nodig is aanwezig is.goede uitvalsbasis voor dagtochten. het enige punt van verbetering was de kwaliteit van de bedden.

10/10 Excellent

dennis k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great break

The place is very hard to find but once you find it it's all worth while.do not put in Sat nav balbeg put in Balmain primary school then just drive straight up the hill to the top.when we got there the grass was very long and was cut a couple of days later watch out for the chicken always at the back door,fabulous.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Schönes Cotage

Wir waren mit allem soweit zufrieden außer mit den Matratzen in den Betten, die dringend einer Erneuerung bedürfen, ebenso die Couch im Wohnzimmer. Die Sachen waren durchgesessen und sehr unbequem. Da wir mehrere Tage Dauerregen hatten und uns dadurch mehr im Haus aufhalten mussten als geplant war das etwas unangenehm. Ansonsten waren wir mit allem sehr zufrieden. Die Lage ist toll wenn man ruhig wohnen will und trotzdem war es nicht weit in den nächsten Ort um sich mit allem zu versorgen was man braucht. Bis auf Matratzen und Couch alles bestens.

10/10 Excellent

A. K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Remote enough, but not too far - with great views and surroundings

We enjoyed 10 days in the - for a family of 3 + 1 medium-size dog - well-sized house with lots of amenities on a spacious property. The welcome with fresh fruits, sweets and a bottle of wine was very surprising. The sun porch turned out to become our favorite place to eat, chill, read and enjoy the gorgeous landscape. The yard was fully fenced which made it easy to handle the dog even in the environment of chicken, cats and sheep of the friendly next-door neighbors. For a "down-to-earth" family like us, the facilities with a fully equipped kitchen, freezer, washing machine and lots of electric radiators was fully satisfying. Minor issues that occured during the stay were taken care of timely by Jim, the owner. Thanks for the great time!!! BTW: The property is relatively close to remote & beautiful Glen Affric as well as near to Drumnadrochit and all the Nessy "fuzz" ...

6/10 Okay

Alexander B.

Photos of property misleading surrounded by other houses.

House was freezing on arrival,, 3 heaters did not work. Had 2 1/2 days without acceptable heating in cold weather as electrician didn't come until Monday evening. Fuse box tripped 9 times in one evening when appliances were switched on in the kitchen. 16 amp fuse had been fitted instead of 32 amp.the electrician said. This problem was high lighted by customers eighteen months ago see previous feedback.Three new heaters arrived 10.30 p.m. Monday evening. On arrival we noticed a pool of dried up vomit on the floor next to one of the single beds.This was reported to the manager Debbie but nothing was done about this.Conservatory offered no privacy as it was overlooked by the neighbour's back garden.(Albeit very nice people) WiFi was intermittent. No tumble dryer even though advertised. Crockery left a lot to be desired. No coffee maker/cafetiere. No hand wash in the toilets Having stayed all over Scotland in cottages over many years this was very poor value for money and it is obvious that this property is not being maintained properly. On the plus side we were grateful for the welcome pack on arrival. Any reasonable person would feel a rebate was justified under the circumstances. .
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2018

8/10 Good

Sandra B.

Great views...

Manor House is clean and well equipped and the lovely Debbie is on hand if you need anything... loved the little sunroom with amazing views of the hills and view of Loch Meikle from the garden. Very peaceful, lovely neighbours including the beautiful cows, sheep and chickens! Limited broadband usage included but enough to get emails etc. Good sized garden for the dogs and lots of walks and pubs nearby.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth Fraser F., Cardiff

Fantastic

Stayed here at The Manor House for 3 weeks for the first time and wished it had been for longer. 4th-25th August..Would highly recomend this Cottage. Fingers crossed will be back for longer next year. One point which swayed me to book was as we are a family of 4 the need for a washing machine and tumle dryer. Washing machine was there but no tumble dryer, just a clothes airer.It certainly didnt turn out to be a problem as it made a great change to see washing blowing on the clothes line, being high up there was a wind most days. The clothes airer I put in the consevartory and clothes dried in no time. My husband and I spent most of out time in the conservatory. Beautiful views. Children enjoyed the farm animals and became very friendly with them. cows, sheep chickens, dogs so fresh eggs were to die for. The neighbours around the Manor House were also very friendly. This was such a great change to be able to rechanrge the batteries from living in the City. Have only been back home for 24 hours and im ready to book the Manor House again.Many thanks Jim and his Manager Debbie.
Stayed 21 nights in Aug 2018

10/10 Excellent

Naomi L.

Fantastic house and location

We had a wonderful stay at the Manor House and found the house to be very well equipped. Due to travelling with a 9 month old, we had asked the owner if he had a high chair and a new one was provided for us when we got to the house, along with a travel cot already set up. As the weather was due to be lovely during our stay (which it was) we had also asked if there was a BBQ at the house and again, a new one was waiting there when we arrived. The house itself was just what we were looking for and the location is fabulous! We spent every evening in the conservatory enjoying the views and the wildlife. The enclosed garden was brilliant for both the dog and baby as it offered plenty of room to roam around and explore and the chickens who came to visit were very friendly! Nearby Drumnadrochit is a lovely little place with a well equipped Co-Op and great gift shops. We would highly recommend the Manor House and will be returning in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2018

About the host

Hosted by Jim McGregor

Host profile image
I am Jim McGregor a native of Glenurquhart and Balnain.

Why they chose this property

I bought the property in 1985 from an old school friend with the intention of renovating and living in the house. However my work kept me from renovating it until last year.

What makes this property unique

The location of the house is one of its strong points, it is on the top of the hill and has some of the best views in Glenurquhart. It is close to Loch Ness and Glen Affric and ideally situated for touring the highlands.

Languages:

English
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