Guest Rating
Found on the Breda Estate, Poppy Cottage is a romantic hideaway in Aberdeenshire’s stunning Howe of Alford (2 miles). This charming, converted steading is a perfect base for two guests looking to explore the northeast of Scotland’s great outdoors, abundant wildlife and rich heritage right on your doorstep.
Quick Info
| Sleeps: 2 | Bedrooms: 1 |
| Changeover Day: Sat | Pets Allowed: No |
| No smoking | Bathrooms: 2 |
| Licence No: AS01089F |
An attractive archway leads across a spacious courtyard. The front door of Poppy Cottage opens to cosy underfloor heating on the ground floor. A practical and well-equipped utility room is found on the entrance and leads through to a spacious and stylish downstairs bathroom.
At the heart of Poppy Cottage, the bright open-plan living area is a joy to relax in after a day exploring Aberdeenshire. Cook up a storm in the well-equipped kitchen or sit down for a romantic meal in front of the large window, looking out to the picturesque courtyard. Through patio doors lies your private patio, perfect for relaxing with a morning brew and is ideal for storing bikes and outdoor equipment after joint adventures.
An oak staircase sweeps up to the first floor, home to the master bedroom and deluxe shower room. The bedroom features a king-size bed, a roof window framing lovely countryside views and a dressing table. A spacious walk-in wardrobe, adjacent to the room, provides ample storage and hanging space.
Private parking for guests is just outside the steading’s impressive granite walls.
Whether dining al fresco with your loved one, stargazing with a glass of wine, or if you’re lucky, catching a glimpse of the northern lights over the Aberdeenshire countryside, a stay at Poppy Cottage is uninterrupted and full of endless adventure.
Poppy Cottage is located on the historic Breda Estate, home to a chieftain of the Maclean Clan for four generations. The estate’s rolling fields, wooded hillsides, open moorland, and the River Don offer guests a wonderful sense of seclusion and miles of beautiful land to explore.
The Breda Estate works hard to encourage biodiversity, meaning there’s an abundance of beautiful wildlife and nature to discover during your stay. Wander along the River Don or try fishing for salmon, sea trout and brown trout (permit required) and marvel at the panoramas from heather-clad Breda Hill. For a more challenging hike, the distinctive hill of Bennachie (16 miles) dominates the Aberdeenshire skyline. Find Jock o’ Bennachie the Giant, who, local legend says, guards the surrounding land.
The local amenities of the village of Alford are just 2 miles away. Visit the popular Forbes Arms, set on the banks of the River Don. For finer dining, the Michelin Guide recommends Kildrummy Inn (9.5 miles), which offers delicious food and drink from local distilleries, and even its own whisky snug and bar. For a cosy night in, Alford Bistro offers a takeaway menu, and there’s a highly regarded fish and chip shop in the village.
Alford is home to the award-winning Grampian Transport Museum (open seasonally), showcasing a collection of vehicles from the 1800s to the present day or take a step back in time at Alford Heritage Museum. An 18-hole golf course, narrow-gauge railway, scenic cycle routes and the opportunity for year-round skiing, snowboarding and tubing at Alford Ski Centre’s dry ski slope. In winter, snow sports adventures can be had at The Lecht Ski Centre (30 miles).
For a day out, follow VisitScotland’s Castle Trail, which includes Craigievar Castle (7 miles), open seasonally and said to have inspired Disney’s iconic fairy-tale castle, and Castle Fraser (13 miles) with its spectacular gardens. Balmoral Castle (30 miles) is worth the trip to visit the beautiful gardens and grounds.
For a more spirited outing, take to the Whisky Trail and visit the array of distilleries in Aberdeenshire. For instance, Glen Garioch offers experiences from distillery tours to a whisky and cheese tasting experience.
Poppy Cottage is also perfectly located for exploring Cairngorms National Park (20 miles), visiting Royal Deeside (about 40 miles), or spending a day or evening in Aberdeen (27 miles). After the array of adventures, return to your cosy haven at Poppy Cottage.
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
Downstairs
Open plan living area with Smart TV, electric oven, ceramic hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and coffee machine
Utility room with washing machine and microwave
Bathroom with bath, WC and wash basin
Upstairs
Double bedroom (king-size)
Shower room with WC and wash basin
What's included
- Linen (King-size Double Bed)
- Free
- Sets of towels (per person)
- Free
- WiFi
- Free
Services
Bed linen and towels INCLUDED. Electricity is INCLUDED. Heating is by oil central heating (INCLUDED) and underfloor heating (downstairs). WiFi is INCLUDED. Sorry pets are not accepted.. No smoking.
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 09/10/2026 to 12/10/2026
From 16/10/2026 to 19/10/2026
From 03/04/2026 to 06/04/2026
Changeover Day: Sat
| Rental - Date Range | Sleeps 2 |
| 31 Jan 2026 - 03 Apr 2026 | £550.00 |
| 04 Apr 2026 - 24 Apr 2026 | £650.00 |
| 25 Apr 2026 - 01 May 2026 | £550.00 |
| 02 May 2026 - 22 May 2026 | £650.00 |
| 23 May 2026 - 29 May 2026 | £750.00 |
| 30 May 2026 - 26 Jun 2026 | £650.00 |
| 27 Jun 2026 - 17 Jul 2026 | £750.00 |
| 18 Jul 2026 - 28 Aug 2026 | £795.00 |
| 29 Aug 2026 - 11 Sep 2026 | £650.00 |
| 12 Sep 2026 - 02 Oct 2026 | £550.00 |
| 03 Oct 2026 - 23 Oct 2026 | £650.00 |
| 24 Oct 2026 - 19 Dec 2026 | £495.00 |
| 20 Dec 2026 - 27 Dec 2026 | £795.00 |
| 28 Dec 2026 - 05 Jan 2027 | £795.00 |
| 06 Jan 2027 - 05 Jan 2028 | 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.
Poppy Cottage
Independent Product Rating based on 6 verified reviews.
Platinum Trusted
Service Award
Showing 6 reviews
Poppy Cottage was very comfortable and everything was to a high standard. Nice quiet location and well placed to explore the Aberdeenshire countryside.
We’re so pleased you had an enjoyable stay and that Poppy Cottage suited your needs. It would be a pleasure to welcome you back should you visit the area again.
Modern cottage well equipped. The welcome food basket was most welcome. Found it long way to walk with luggage to cottage could not get near with car. Enjoyed our stay though
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you enjoyed your stay and that the welcome food basket was helpful, and would be happy to welcome you back.
We enjoyed a wonderful week at Poppy Cottage, which was well equipped, spacious and comfortable, the owners were extremely helpful when required providing guidance on places to eat, shop and visit. We chose Poppy Cottage as it was a new property and Ideally located to explore the area from the small ports on the north coast to the many castles and Cairngorms ... it didn't disappoint.
Thank you for your lovely review. We are delighted you enjoyed your week at Poppy Cottage and found it comfortable and well-equipped. It’s wonderful to hear that the location suited your plans for exploring the area, and we’re glad we could help with recommendations.
We had a really fabulous stay in Poppy Cottage. The Cottage had everything we could have wished for. Very modern, well equipped, clean, comfortable and warm. It's in such a peaceful location with excellent walks along the River Don and in the surrounding woodland areas and also the nearby villages. Their welcome basket was really first class and very much appreciated and definitely saved us after such long flights and drive.
Spotless and very comfy and well equipped
A lovely well furnished cottage, we really enjoyed our stay and enjoyed the beautiful countryside. Nothing was too much trouble for the very helpful owner and we were thrilled with a welcoming hamper when we arrived.
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