Chocolate River at the Bobbin Mill

The Bobbin Mill, our very lovely four star self catering house, is on the banks of the River Earn in Comrie, Perthshire. The location is truly wonderful looking like something from a traditional Scottish postcard, and as we live next door we share similar views of the river in all its natural glory. It never looks the same twice and living beside it means that the view from my kitchen window is always interesting. Obviously the size of the river is dependent on the weather and since, remarkably, there has been little rain over the last few weeks, it has been reduced to a very low level. The weir, built to power the mill wheel which cut the wood for the Bobbins originally produced at the Mill, has been exposed almost to summer levels and a salmon which must have died after being stranded on the weir has been clearly visible for the last few days.

Now, overnight there has been a dramatic change. Gone are the bright, sunny winter days and the accompanying hard frosts which turned the landscape into a magical fairyland, and instead a temporary covering of snow and subsequent heavy rain has swept the salmon off the weir and turned the river into a chocolate coloured roaring mass. The ducks which seem to play on the weir have taken themselves off to more accommodating water and the heron has deserted us for an easier standing point. There have been no sightings of otters for a while though their tracks are still around so they are here.

The location of the Bobbin Mill is one of its biggest selling points and is one of the reasons why our guests return regularly. A self catering break in Scotland is always going to be a gamble on the weather, but feedback from our guests tell us that really, when the house is so lovely, warm and comfortable and well equipped, it doesn't matter if it rains or is cold outside. The lucky ones who encounter snow enjoy the beauty it creates in this already stunningly beautiful part of the world and when you do get the sunshine there is nowhere like it.

We offer short breaks between October and April and the fact that we are pretty much always busy is a testament not only to the wonderful house but also to where is is. People come for all sorts of reasons - because we're easily accessible from the larger conurbations of Scotland and their airports; because this is a great area for golf with 33 golf courses in the county including the world famous Gleneagles; for walking because there are so many beautiful walks and and Munroes; for biking with our off road tracks and local challenging mountain bike trails; for water sports since Loch Earn is a short drive away and offers everything from waterskiing to banana surfing; for the history and the culture; to hang out with friends and family in a beautiful and comfortable environment and just for the peace and tranquility, the wildlife, the stunning countryside, and the river which, whatever the weather, can lull even the most confirmed insomniac to sleep.

Special Pricing for Edinburgh Holidays in May and June

Perthshire in June.

We've just recently introduced a special rate for any remaining May or June week at our 3 bedroom Edinburgh vacation rental. Now only £595. For further information and availability visit Edinburgh Holiday Let Apartment which is located in the Edinburgh New Town.

Our 4 bedroom Edinburgh Holiday House with garden and conservatory currently has accommodation available for the last week in May.

A quieter time of year to explore Scotland!

This is a technical posting

Sorry about this dear readers, but I must put in the following bit of code. Once they see it they'll list us.

Technorati Profile

While I'm at it I may as well put in links to some new pages we have put up to other sites. Sorry it is so boring.
John

No Smoking self catering holiday properties Scotland

Smoking allowed in these self catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets Welcome in these Self Catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets not allowed in these self catering Scottish Holiday properties

All the facts you need about Self Catering Scotland

The facts about Scottish rain

How to find your ideal self catering property on the internet

Some dates still open in these properties for April

A picture from Roman Camp in Callendar.

Look at the list of links to top properties on the left. If you fancy a short Scottish break in April or May then you'll not find better properties.

Meanwhile, we have added many new pages to the Last Minute Cottage Holiday web site. I'm putting in the links to them here. This helps you (and Google) to find them.

No Smoking self catering holiday properties Scotland

Smoking allowed in these self catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets Welcome in these Self Catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets not allowed in these self catering Scottish Holiday properties

All the facts you need about Self Catering Scotland

The facts about Scottish rain

How to find your ideal self catering property on the internet

This is a new page on our own site.

The Vikings in Scotland, the Terror, the Battles, Vikings in Glencoe

John

Eight properties still available for Christmas or New Year

If you click on this page, it will take you to some properties in different parts of Scotland that still have openings for Self catering Christmas or New Year These are our friends, and their properties are top class. You can be assured of a very fine welcome and a home from home holiday.

John

Short weekend self catering break. A guest writes.

Anthony and his partner had a three day weekend in November at one of these cottages near Glencoe. He wrote:

We had a great long weekend. It's hard being back at work but at least the sun is shining.

We tried to go up to the Pap of Glencoe on Saturday. We got a bit lost due to the lack of a path, it got very boggy, and after about 90 minutes we realised it was going to take a long time to get to the top and back. We didn't want to risk losing the light so headed back after a while. We may well have gone the wrong way.

Weather was decent, on Saturday but poor on Sunday, rain most of the day. We slowly headed out to the Ardnamurchan peninsula as far as Salen, up to Lochailort, then back via Glenfinnan.

Didn't manage to get all the way to the end of the Peninsula because we left the cottage quite late and it gets dark so early at this time of year - next time! We stopped a lot for strolls and photo opportunities when the rain eased up a bit, and just to soak up the views and sounds.

Such beautiful and untouched countryside - just how we like it. On Monday we wandered up Duror Hill. Probably a bit less than two hours up and back in the boggy conditions and not rushing. Stunning views, and the weather gods looked down favourably on us by sending us sunshine with dramatic rain and clouds in the distance.

What a great way to end the weekend.

Anthony K

Touring Scotland by road the Right way

Scottish weather in January, February and March

Scottish weather, misconceptions and good weather spots

Winter breaks January February March in Glencoe

Travellers Tales from the Highlands of Scotland

Short November self catering breaks Scotland, special prices

All over Scotland, the season for short breaks begins about now.

After the summer bookings have fallen away then some very special prices are offered, down to as low as £7 per person per night and this site shows some truly excellent properties around the country. You can see some of the best rates here
last minute, self catering holiday breaks scotland This site shows you about twelve owners who have got together to make these special get-away-from-it-all holiday offers.

November is a good month for those who want peace and quiet and this is the month usually when property owners will break down their weeks into shorter periods.

Just a weekend away in glorious countryside, with no hurry, little traffic on the roads - that for some is ideal.

This property offers a Friday to Monday break or a Monday to Friday break at £199 in a lovely small lochside cottage near Glencoe. Short Breaks Glencoe Plent of things to do, even in November. The colours are wonderful.

John

A famous 200year old listed Mill, can be yours for a holiday break

Bobbin Mill is so lovely. The guest book shows it:

"The house is most beautifully designed. Each window appears to be placed with meticulous care to yield the greatest sight and sound from the surroundings"

"Lots of wildlife in the garden – a fawn eating from the tree. Scotland’s for me!"

"Accommodation was first class and the attention to the smallest detail"

"We have fallen in love with everything round here: the Deil’s Cauldron for yummy dinners, a red squirrel in the garden, red deer, buzzards, hares, pheasants, partridge in the hills, buying trout and veggies down the road. We could go on and on……"

"The design and layout of the house is spectacular, finished immaculately and very well equipped"

Christine Grace thinks of everything, thats why she gets a 4 star luxury grading for the Bobbin Mill.

"John," she says, "What do you think of this virtual reality tour of the Mill on our website?"

Wow, I had to get one for us. It looks stunning.

Our e-mail exchanges go all over the place, from the pros and cons of moving her change date to Friday so she gets the weekend with her family, to climate change and when am I going to give up flying, to folk music, her sister's singing career, her Fort William upbringing. She is a true Highland lassie. I've just got my jazz band to tell her about, but she is very nice about it.

But this Mill that she and her husband restored with such care is absolutely outstanding. It is in the Perthshire hills, near Crieff and Loch Earn. It sleeps eight people and is ideal for families sharing. In the low season you can rent the Mill for £640 for a week, and she will let you have it for shorter breaks. How would you find such luxury anywhere else for about £11 per person for a night?

John