The Herdsman’s Bothy at Tahuna Bothies
Tucked away in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire you will find three tiny homes, also known as the Tahuna Bothies. Often booked up quickly, these bothies had a rare one-night availability so I snapped it up as quick as I could type in my details for a short staycation.
There are three all staggered next to each other: The Beekeeper’s Bothy, The Shepherdess’s Bothy and the Herdsman’s Bothy, where I was staying. Tanya and Gail, the lovely owners of the properties, worked closely with their brother, Stuart, to bring these modern bothies to life that can each sleep up to four people.
These meticulously designed bothies may be small but upon entry, the incredible view over the local golf course, Seal Beach and Newburgh will have your jaw on the floor.
After you first arrive and have spent some time soaking in the view, here’s what you will find around the accommodation:
- A super king-sized bed – This isn’t your usual hotel bed! In each bothy, there is a mezzanine bunk area which you need to climb a ladder to get up to (this can be moved flush against the wall when you want full use of the kitchen area). Once you have made the climb and crawled onto the super king-sized mattress, you will then get to enjoy the view yet again. Even better, there are plugs and a fan behind the mattress so you can charge up overnight and keep cool if you’re lucky and it’s warm during your visit. In the morning after you wake up, you’ll likely be greeted by golfers on the course if you leave the blinds open!
- The living area – Right next to the floor-to-ceiling window is a small sofa, which can be folded into a sofa bed to accommodate another two people (although I do think this would be an uncomfortable stay for two adults if you’re planning to be there for more than one night!). There is a coffee table that can fold into a makeshift dining table area. When you do this, you’ll notice the table is also filled with an assortment of board games.
- A kitchenette – The bothies are self-catering but are fully equipped with a small fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle, cutlery, glassware and a tabletop hob. Everything you could need for a short stay!
- Shower room – A small simple shower room with, you guessed it, a shower, sink and toilet.
The best thing about staying here, aside from each bothy being decorated with its name in mind because that’s just bloody adorable, is how at home you feel right away with all of the help provided by the owners, Tanya and Gail. A kind handwritten note, a blackboard doodled with some handy information and a super informative binder that has everything about the bothy and surrounding area you could ever want to know.
Speaking of surrounding areas, we took a 5/10-minute stroll down to the beach which we hadn’t previously researched. Much to our surprise, it was ‘Seal Beach’, a popular destination for tourists. It’s a lovely walk and if you are lucky, you’ll see hundreds of seals hobbling about on the side of the river Ythan and jumping in for a swim. Keep your ears peeled if you go because you’ll probably hear them before you see them.
It was a great stay in a gorgeously designed, unique bothy. I’d highly recommend stopping by for a few nights if you find yourself planning a visit to the area. There’s parking and ⅔ of the bothies are dog friendly too (1 dog max!). The perfect spot for making memories you can cherish forever…at least I will!
- Tahuna Bothies
- Beach Rd, Newburgh, Ellon AB41 6BY
- @tahunabothies
- 2-4 people (4 max)
- £100 per night+
- Not fully accessible
- www.tahunabothies.co.uk
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