Guest Rating
Those looking for a stylish, contemporary setting for a seaside break will love The Harbour Lookout, set in the charming village of Gardenstown overlooking the beach, harbour and Gamrie Bay on the sunny Banffshire coastline.
Quick Info
| Sleeps: 4/8 | Bedrooms: 4 |
| Changeover Day: Sat | Pets Allowed: No |
| No smoking | Bathrooms: 3 |
| Licence No: AS-01178-F |
What looks like a traditional cottage from the outside provides a welcome surprise on entry as it has been thoroughly refurbished and decorated in tasteful, soothing tones throughout. The spacious entry hall merely hints at the quality of the accommodation that is to come and it is a real pleasure to open the front door and find the wonderful sea vista spread out right in front.
Downstairs at the front of the house the en suite double bedroom has an amazing view out to the sea and cliffs beyond that is a delight to wake up to. The other double bedroom on this level shares a ‘Jack and Jill’ shower room that can be accessed from its side or from the twin bedroom with its adult size bunk beds.
The chic kitchen with its breakfasting island and bright and airy sitting room are both positioned up on the first floor to best advantage of the coastal views. A fire crackles away in the modern wood-burning stove at the heart of the sitting room with comfy seating that is ideally placed for toe toasting, an elegant dining area alongside and double doors opening out onto a small deck.
From the sitting room an open staircase leads up to the spacious master suite at the top of the house where the large double bedroom has further lovely sea views and the benefit of a contemporary en suite shower room. Unusually for this village the house has parking just outside or, if not, additional parking is available just 50 metres away.
Gardenstown is very pretty with a nice, relaxed atmosphere that is easy to settle into. Supplies can be picked up from the shop just down the road and it is a short walk down to visit the beautiful sandy beach that just begs to be explored, particularly as this area is known as one of the sunniest in Scotland!
A great way of experiencing the coastline is from the water and boat trips run out from the harbour in order to do just that, keeping an eye out for the local wildlife along the way. The pub in the village has tasty meals on offer as well as a well-stocked bar and a warm welcome. It also has a claim to fame as it is said to be where Bram Stoker stayed back in 1896 to finish his famous Dracula novel.
MacDuff (8 miles) has a supermarket for further provisions and a stop off for some proper seaside fare of fish and chips is always a good plan. The MacDuff Marine Aquarium showcases the local marine life, offering a close-up look that both children and adults alike are sure to be fascinated by.
Golfers have either the wonderful, clifftop 18 hole course at the Royal Tarlair Golf Club in MacDuff or the immaculate parkland course at the Duff House Royal Golf Club in Banff to choose from.
The Troup Head RSPB Reserve is east along the coast at Crovie and in season it is home to thousands of breeding seabirds such as gannets, kittiwakes, guillemots. There are even colourful puffins to look out for and dolphins and porpoises to spot out in the water.
Local Events and Attractions
Please note: while we make every effort to be as accurate as possible, the actual position of the cottage indicated on the map above and the proximity of the amenities in the Local Info section cannot be guaranteed to be precise and should be used as a guide only.
Accommodation
First Floor
Double bedroom with en suite bathroom with bath, separate shower, WC and wash basin
Double bedroom
Bunk room with two (full size) bunk beds
Jack and Jill Shower room with WC and wash basin.
Second Floor
Sitting/ Dining room with wood-burning stove and Smart TV
Kitchen with electric hob and oven, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer
WC with wash basin
Third Floor
Double bedroom (king-size) with en suite shower room with WC and wash basin.
What's included
- Linen (Double Bed)
- Free
- Linen (Single Bed)
- Free
- Sets of towels (per person)
- Free
- WiFi
- Free
- Cot (excluding linen)
- Free
Services
Bed linen and towels are INCLUDED. Electricity is INCLUDED. Heating is by oil central heating (INCLUDED) and wood-burning stove (starter pack INCLUDED. WiFi is INCLUDED. Sorry, pets are not accepted. No smoking.
Please note: For The Harbour Lookout, the tariff for 4 persons is based on two bedrooms only being made available.
Weekly Prices
The weekly guide prices for this property are shown below. Use the availability & book sidebar on the right to select your holiday or calculate short break rates (where available).
From 10/10/2025 to 13/10/2025
From 17/10/2025 to 20/10/2025
From 03/04/2026 to 06/04/2026
Changeover Day: Sat
| Rental - Date Range | Sleeps 4 | Sleeps 8 |
| 28 Jun 2025 - 18 Jul 2025 | £995.00 | £995.00 |
| 19 Jul 2025 - 29 Aug 2025 | £1,095.00 | £1,095.00 |
| 30 Aug 2025 - 12 Sep 2025 | £850.00 | £895.00 |
| 13 Sep 2025 - 03 Oct 2025 | £750.00 | £795.00 |
| 04 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025 | £850.00 | £895.00 |
| 25 Oct 2025 - 19 Dec 2025 | £695.00 | £695.00 |
| 20 Dec 2025 - 27 Dec 2025 | £1,195.00 | £1,195.00 |
| 28 Dec 2025 - 05 Jan 2026 | £1,195.00 | £1,195.00 |
| 06 Jan 2026 - 30 Jan 2026 | £695.00 | £695.00 |
| 31 Jan 2026 - 03 Apr 2026 | £750.00 | £795.00 |
| 04 Apr 2026 - 24 Apr 2026 | £850.00 | £895.00 |
| 25 Apr 2026 - 01 May 2026 | POA | POA |
| 02 May 2026 - 22 May 2026 | POA | POA |
| 23 May 2026 - 29 May 2026 | POA | POA |
| 30 May 2026 - 26 Jun 2026 | POA | POA |
| 27 Jun 2026 - 17 Jul 2026 | POA | POA |
| 18 Jul 2026 - 28 Aug 2026 | POA | POA |
| 29 Aug 2026 - 11 Sep 2026 | POA | POA |
| 12 Sep 2026 - 02 Oct 2026 | POA | POA |
| 03 Oct 2026 - 23 Oct 2026 | POA | POA |
| 24 Oct 2026 - 19 Dec 2026 | POA | POA |
| 20 Dec 2026 - 27 Dec 2026 | POA | POA |
| 28 Dec 2026 - 05 Jan 2027 | POA | POA |
| 06 Jan 2027 - 05 Jan 2028 | POA | POA |
| 06 Jan 2028 - 05 Jan 2029 | POA | POA |
| 06 Jan 2029 - 05 Jan 2030 | POA | POA |
Please note: Prices are calculated based on your party size at the time of booking. If your party size changes for any reason after booking, please let us know so we can ensure the accommodation provided meets your exact requirements.
For The Harbour Lookout the tariff for 4 persons is based on two bedrooms only being made available.
Reviews
(Supplied Independently through Feefo)
Perfect property.
Welcome pack was a lovely touch ..thank you.
Traditional cottage completely modernised beau...
Our response:
We are glad to hear that the cottage was a perfect fit for your group, and that you enjoyed the views and the wonderful ...
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Our New Year break at the Harbour Lookout in Gardenstown exceeded our expectations. Everything about the beautiful cotta...
Our response:
Thank you for your lovely review. We’re delighted to hear your New Year break at Harbour Lookout exceeded your expectati...
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Brilliant holiday, we all loved it, house was fantastic , very well equipped and beds very comfortable.
Great fire ...
Our response:
We appreciate all you comments and hope to welcome you again soon.
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One of the best houses we have stayed in.
The cottage was perfection. Carefully and cleverly thought out space. Well appointed kitchen and immaculately clean ever...
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