The old police Station in Portsoy has been stripped back to it's bare walls and lovingly modernised to provide a light and bright, surprisingly spacious holiday accommodation for 4 people. It's unusual location at the side of the former railway line, means that the cottage is entered at street level from Church Street and the 2 bedrooms and bathroom are at railway level downstairs! We have endeavoured to make the living space as sustainable as possible with the best insulation, double glazing etc. Like all our properties, we welcome dogs. There are 2 outdoor lockable sheds should you wish to store bikes, SUPs or surfboards and there is an enclosed terrace garden overlooking the Wally Green.
The cottage is split level, with the spacious and airy open plan lounge, kitchen and dining area accessed from the street. Off the kitchen is a handy utility with a large sink, a washing machine and extra kitchen storage units. Off this is a second shower room and upstairs toilet. Down the oak staircase, you will find a king size double bedroom, with it's ensuite bath and walk in shower room. There is also a large second bedroom which can be made up as either a single, double or twin room. This makes the cottage very flexible as it is suitable either for a couple, 4 adults or families. Of course, like all our cottages, we have good WiFi and your four legged friends are very welcome. The kitchen is well equipped, whether you want to cook a full Sunday roast or just heat up a takeaway! We provide Egyptian cotton sheets, Dorma duvet covers and thick fluffy towels. We aim to make the cottage a real home from home, so you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in!
Outside there is a storage area for the waste and recycling bins and steps down to the two lockable sheds, should you wish to store bikes, surf boards, SUPs or whatever. There is also a small enclosed patio area, which is still awaiting landscaping. There is a gate from this level out onto the old railway line, now a footpath leading down to the harbour, and the Wally Green.
Portsoy is a welcoming small town, with a lot going on for it’s size. It has a fantastic sense of community, with the caravan park, the 4 star Salmon Bothy museum, the Sail Loft Bunkhouse and the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival all being run by the community for the community. It is centred around it’s 2 historic seventeenth century harbours, the area little changed in years: it was used as the film setting for the recent remake of Whisky Galore and last series of Peaky Blinders.The fishing industry has largely moved on, but you can often see the town’s two St Ayles skiffs rowing out from the harbour (and you will often find me out with them!)
There are some fantastic walks round Portsoy, whether you walk westwards, past the old swimming pool carved out amongst the rocks, along the rugged coastline towards Sandend (pronounced ‘Sanine’) or further along to Findlater Castle, Sunnyside Beach and Cullen, or eastwards along the Coastguard’s path. There is the Shore Inn between the cottage and the harbours… and of course the award winning Portsoy Ice Cream shop.
The Banffshire coast is one of the world’s outstanding coastlines, says the National Geographic. Natural beauty combines with plentiful wildlife – there are dolphins, seals, puffins and other seabirds in abundance, if you are lucky enough to see them. Fishing villages all along the coast perch on clifftops, or crouch precariously at the water’s edge, with the oldest houses built gable-end on to the weather and the waves. In the summer, the light up here is special, days are near endless. Winter skies are dark and starry and – with a bit of luck – you might even see the Northern Lights! We hope you will visit Portsoy and discover this often overlooked, largely midge free corner of the North East of Scotland for yourselves!
