Scottish holiday company Cottages & Castles celebrated its millionth customer this week after 25 years in business.

The firm rewarded its millionth customers with a bottle of champagne, holiday vouchers and a reception from a piper.

David and Jan Seaton from Manchester and their two daughters, Heather and Andrea, have been taking Holiday cottage for years and booked The Steading at Mains of Kynachan on the shores of picturesque Loch Tummel. They first came across Cottages & Castles through a recommendation from a friend five years ago. Since discovering the beautiful scenery and location that Mains of Kynachan has to offer, the Seaton family has been enjoying holidays at this cottage ever since.

David Seaton said: “We have visited many parts of Scotland for our holidays but our favourite place is Mains of Kynachan at Loch Tummel. The abundance of outdoor activities all on your own doorstep and the beautiful scenery make this an ideal holiday destination for the whole family all year round.

Marjory Gibson, Lettings Manager for Self catering accommodation said: “Our holiday letting agency has been in business now for 25 years and I think that personal service along with the range of accommodation we provide are the secrets of our success. The price of staying in a cottage or a large house is very good value compared with staying in a hotel.

“We have 300 properties for let and Mains of Kynachan is one of our most popular cottages. I was delighted when the Seatons made the milestone booking as they have been enjoying holidays with Cottages and Castles for many successive years now. We pride ourselves in offering outstanding accommodation in the most picturesque locations in Scotland and this loyalty is testament to our commitment.”

CKD Galbraith’s holiday letting department, established in 1978, has gained an excellent reputation for its personal service and the high quality of self-catering accommodation provided.

To view all accommodation on offer please visit www.cottagesandcastles.co.uk Call 01738 451610 or email: holidays@ckdgalbraith.co.uk to request a copy of the free 2005 brochure.

Photograph:
Front row (left to right) - Andrea Seaton, Marjory Gibson Cottages & Castles, Jan Seaton, Heather Seaton
Back row (left to right) - Caretaker Andrea McIntyre, Ms Seaton, David Seaton and Ms Gillie McNab from the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band

The 2006 Cottages & Castles colour brochure is now available. There are over 300 properties from converted barns and bothies, contemporary apartments, luxury villas, traditional farmhouses, lodges and castles to choose from. The brochure contains clear information on how to book online, by post or by telephone. To request a copy hit the Request Brochure button on this website or telephone our brochure line on 01738 451610. If calling from overseas the number is 00 44 1738 451610.

If you would like to find out more about how to let your property through Cottages and Castles please fill in the online enquiry form on the home page for cottages, large houses and castles, or telephone Sue Bourne on 01738 456084.

A thoroughbred Christmas

Bookings for away-from-it-all Christmas breaks in Scotland have soared this year, with many people booking up to two years in advance to secure the holiday house of their dreams. Bookmakers have further fuelled demand by predicting the first White Christmas in Scotland for 25 years.

But one couple who know they will not be missing out is Deirdre and Mark Johnston, of Mark Johnston Racing, one of the UK’s top racehorse training businesses.

The success of their business has meant the couple have in the past spent the festive season sightseeing in Dubai, beach-combing in Barbados, and riding on a ranch in Arizona. But their favourite way to spend Christmas is with family and friends in Scotland.

This year the couple are hosting a get-together for fourteen of their friends and family in Perthshire. The Johnstons were looking for a traditional house amidst beautiful scenery yet relatively accessible to the rest of the UK. They found Edinchip House near Lochearnhead, which fitted the bill admirably, through Cottages & Castles (www.cottagesandcastles.co.uk), the Scottish holiday lettings company.

Deirdre Johnston believes that Scotland is many families’ favourite place to spend Christmas and Hogmanay because of its beautiful landscape and unique traditions: “Mark and I are Scottish and we still have family in Scotland. We have been to exotic destinations in the past but there is something very special about being in Scotland at this time of year, especially for Hogmanay. It’s all about tradition. In 1999, we were determined to be in Scotland for the beginning of the new millennium. We drove up to Glasgow from Yorkshire, setting off in the early evening without telling anyone so that we could first-foot my Mum and Dad with a bottle of whisky, a lump of coal and a loaf of bread!”

Successful racehorse trainers are rare. But Deirdre and Mark are perhaps one in a million. The couple set up their business for the love of the sport, with just six horses in 1987. After a slightly inauspicious start, (their first location was next to an RAF bombing range!) the stables are now one of the UK’s leading racehorse businesses, with 200 horses and a staff of 100. In 2004, Mark Johnston Racing had more winners on the turf than any other UK trainer. Attraction, one of their most successful horses, won both the English Guineas and the Irish Guineas, two of the racing world’s most important events.

Mrs Johnston said: “We have had a particularly good year this year and everyone is delighted. Mark and I have been looking forward to taking a break as you never take holidays when you work for yourself! The great thing about taking a holiday house is that you get all the privacy you want but at the same time it’s like a home from home – roaring log fires and all – and Edinchip House is big enough to accommodate everyone that we really want to be there.”

Marjory Gibson, Lettings Manager, Cottages & Castles, said: “We usually take bookings about 18 months in advance particularly for the castles and larger houses. This year we have been busier than ever and the prospect of a White Christmas means suddenly everyone is on the phone to see if we have any last minute cancellations.”

Edinchip House was built in 1830 and was the home of the chief of Clan Gregor. Set in extensive, private gardens, the house provides a very high standard of accommodation in the heart of Rob Roy country, with the hills of Breadalbane as a stunning backdrop.

Mrs Johnston continued: “We all love the outdoors. We will go riding while we’re there, and I’m bringing three of my own horses with me for anyone who wants to ride during the week. There’s nothing to compare with Scotland at Christmas – if it snows so much the better!”