Harbour View, Banffshire - self catering rental Scotland

Harbour View
Portsoy
Banffshire

Sleeping 4

The picturesque erstwhile fishing villages of the Moray coast tend to cluster on the hills around their harbours. One of the most attractive and historic of these is Portsoy, which was created as a burgh of Barony in 1550. Its original harbour also dates from that period, while the redeveloped 17th century harbour and the 'new' 19th century harbours are still intact. They are now used for pleasure craft, the sailing club and some small creel boats. In sailing circles Portsoy is particularly well known for its small boat festival which takes place in June each year.

For a position in the front row of the gallery overlooking the harbours there, you cannot do better than Harbour View Cottage, which stands at the end of one of the cul de sacs looking down on to the harbour. It forms the lower part of a substantial traditional 19th century house which has been carefully upgraded to make a comfortable and cosy holiday cottage. From its windows you may see not only the array of boats below, but also passing dolphins, and the coastal path goes right past the house.

Inside, it has a delightful cosy sitting room, with arch to dining area, a well equipped kitchen , two bedrooms and a shower room.

The village is well provided for with small shops and eating places. While Portsoy itself has a small beach, there are lovely stretches of sand at Cullen (5m) and Sandend (2.4m). This is an area of the country with one of the highest sunshine ratios in the UK, so there should be plenty of opportunity to enjoy lazy days on one or other of them.

Portsoy is also well known for its Portsoy Marble, some of which was used for parts of the chimney pieces in Louis XIV's stunning palace at Versailles. This is a kind of serpentine, which can also be used for jewellery, and small items are still produced here at Portsoy Pottery and Marble.

All the little villages along the coast here have their own distinct character and provide excellent destinations for a day out. Gardenstown is arranged on terraces up the cliff, Crovie sits on a narrow ledge between the cliff and the sea, and Pennan is still remembered for its part in the filming of Local Hero. Banff and Macduff are larger and have more in the way of supermarkets etc. and Banff, too, is the site of Duff House, an imposing building which houses an outpost of the National Gallery of Scotland.

There are plenty of excellent golf courses in the area and there is plenty of scope for boat trips, fishing, walking etc.

Gas central heating, electricity, bed linen and towels are all included in the rental, One well behaved pet is welcome by arrangement. Smoking is not permitted in the cottage.