Alder Cottage

Why you'll love staying here

Alder Cottage is a charming rural retreat set on a working farm on the edge of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Perched on a hillside overlooking Loch Long and the Firth of Clyde on the Cowal Peninsula, the cottage offers spectacular views from every window and is the perfect escape for families seeking peace and a chance to connect with nature.

Inside, the generous open-plan living area features solid oak floors, vaulted ceilings, pine beams, and patio doors that open onto the decked terrace. The contemporary kitchen is fully equipped with everything you need to cook up a feast, and with the owner providing a generous welcome hamper, including the farm’s award-winning free-range eggs, bread, butter, and milk, there’s every excuse to start your morning with a hearty breakfast.

The stylish lounge area offers a choice of comfortable seating and a cosy wood-burning stove, the ideal place to curl up with a good book or enjoy a family film night. If you visit Alder Cottage during the Christmas season, the cottage is beautifully decorated, an especially magical experience if snow blankets the farm and surrounding hills.

Downstairs, a double bedroom offers plenty of storage and an en-suite bathroom perfect for long, luxurious soaks. Upstairs, a second spacious bedroom has a super king-size bed that can be arranged as twin beds for flexible sleeping, along with a day bed that can serve as a sofa or additional sleeping space. This room also benefits from its own en-suite bathroom.

Outside, the decked terrace is furnished for outdoor dining, a wonderful spot to savour your morning coffee or enjoy a glass of wine while admiring the sweeping views over the loch and distant hills. The gardens are expansive, with barbecue areas ideal for al fresco meals on warm days.

Guests are warmly welcomed to explore the farm and meet the animals, which include hill sheep and a herd of Highland cattle. Children can make friends with the farm’s more hands-on residents, including a llama and, in spring, playful lambs and calves. Wildlife is abundant too: deer, red squirrels, otters, and the elusive pine marten all make their home here, and you may even spot a majestic golden eagle soaring overhead. For those who fancy an active getaway, the owner can arrange quad biking, clay shooting, and archery sessions at a reduced rate.

Known as Argyll’s Secret Coast, the Cowal Peninsula has hills, glens, rugged shorelines, white beaches, clear waters, and ancient forests to explore. Established in 1935, Argyll Forest Park is Britain’s oldest forest park and is home to superb cross-country mountain biking routes, enchanting bluebell woods, and lovely riverside trails. Or head to Ardentinny Beach for a picnic and enjoy beautiful views across Loch Long. You might even spot seals, porpoises, and the occasional whale or basking shark.

The nearby town of Dunoon boasts an attractive promenade and a welcoming high street lined with craft shops, galleries, cafés, and restaurants. Visit the Castle House Museum to uncover fascinating stories of the area’s history and communities, or venture to Benmore Botanic Garden, a magnificent mountainside garden at the gateway to the national park. Its 120 acres contain a world-renowned collection of plants from the Orient, the Himalayas, and the Americas, including over 300 species of rhododendrons, as well as a stunning avenue of giant redwoods.