Duck Keepers’ Cottage
Vintage Nethy Bridge
This original old-time cottage sits happily in its own space within the Lazy Duck six acres. Beyond lie the moor and the mountains.
Relax into living a little way off the beaten track. Open your senses to the sweetness of wood smoke and the gentle sound of a sheep bell.
This early 1900′s 3-bedroom cottage is full of old style charm. It is bright and airy, deceptively spacious, comfortable, well equipped and flexible for families of up to 5 people + cot.
as an option adds comfort to the cosy sitting room. A telephone landline if your network here is borderline, as well as free wi-fi, will keep you connected if you want to be. Masses of insulation and economy tariff central heating will keep you warm in the coldest weather.
The kitchen, with a red squirrel feeder right outside the window, is spacious, convenient and well equipped with dish-washer, microwave and washer/drier. An adjacent lobby provides an optional heated drying space for boots and outdoor clothing. Watch the ducks on the pond as you wash up.
This bedroom catches the morning sun and looks to the field and the forest. It easily accommodates a cot if needed and leads through to a little single bedroom, a favourite with small children.
This bedroom, also sunny in the mornings, has a curtained alcove bed with its own light and little window, offering an old-time Scottish ‘box bed’ experience and some extra privacy, very popular with all ages.
The garden looks over to the sheep field, the duck pond and the tiny 4-tent camping ground. There is a lawn where you can sit out in summer as well as plenty of space for parking bikes overnight, perhaps with a tarp over them.
Here are the winter wood-stacks and a 2-person, infra-red sauna with music and changing room, available to all and free of charge to our cottage guests.
Walks can be enjoyed straight from the door. The ducks on the pond can be watched from the ‘Welcoming Seat’ and if young people would like to help at duck feeding times then please encourage them to ask us. Red squirrels, deer and the crested tit live in the woods all around.
Category 2 Access for Wheelchair Users with Assistance
Annually inspected and graded by VisitScotland to ensure wheelchair access to and within the accommodation.
Easy Entry
The route from close private parking on firm grass is via a level pavement through the garden.
Level entry at the front door is over a very shallow tapered threshold. The back entrance has 2 separate steps through a small lobby, each of 11cms/4.5″, not suitable for wheelchair users.
Indoors
At least 75cms/29.5″ clear passing space is provided at all doorways.
Turning circles are provided in every room, – except for the small single bedroom.
Clear under-space is available for a hoist at any bedside.
The sitting room
There is comfortable seating with extra seat cushions available and some flexibility for wheelchair positions if wished.
The extending dining table provides under-space for up to two wheelchair users.
Equipment available
Carter mobile hoist which can be used for access to all bed spaces.
Bed hoist for all except the bed in the curtained alcove in the twin bedroom.
Toilet seat raiser and twin-arm toilet frame.
Self-rolling shower chair.
Simple folding wheelchair.
Bedrooms
All bedrooms and bed spaces are wheelchair accessible, with transfer to all the single beds being to the left.
Beds are all standard height and all provide under-space for a mobile hoist.
The bed in the single room is 76cms/2’6″ wide but is full length, sturdy and has an adult quality mattress.
Light switches, plug sockets and coat hooks are all fitted at wheelchair-accessible heights.
Bathroom
The warm bathroom is spacious and has a roll-in shower with fold-down seat, accessible shower controls, a hand rail on L.H.S and lateral transfer space for a wheelchair user on the R.H.S. of the seat.
The toilet seat, designed for stability and support is standard height with raiser available, hand rail on L.H.S. and transfer space on R.H.S.
The wall-hung wash basin has good under-space and lever taps.
The floor is non-slip.
Bathroom
The kitchen
The cooker hob controls are fully accessible, and there is a drop-door oven below.
The kitchen has lever taps at the sink, which is mounted at lower than standard height.
The garden
Easy access to a sheltered sitting-out area at the front and to the lawn, all inside the picket fence.
Beside the Pond
There is a family summerhouse with a sheltered wheelchair accessible deck overlooking the ducks.
We can usually make this available on request to our disabled guests.
£60 per night
for up to 3 people
Sunday to Thursday
(+ £10/person/night up to 5 people)
£75 per night
for up to 3 people
Friday and Saturday
(+ £10/person/night up to 5 people)
10% Discount for Green Travellers – Walkers & Cyclists
Booking Terms
Private & Separate
The Duck Keeper’s Cottage, Lazy Duck Hostel, The Woodman’s Hut and the 4 pitch camping ground are private and separate from each other. Combined groups cannot normally be accepted, very sorry.
Dogs
A single dog may share your holiday free of charge, but this will need to be negotiated for at the outset.
Visitors must undertake to:-
- keep the dog on a lead outside the cottage garden fence due to the free-roaming waterfowl
- bring and use their own dog’s bedding, for use only on the floor please
- never leave their dog in the cottage when going out
- keep the cottage garden clean,
- pay for the cost of any accidental damage
Prices Include
Prices include all domestic essentials, linen, towels, logs and peat for the open fire. Please don’t bring in coal or equivalents.
Depending on availability, the 2-person sauna with music is included free of charge to cottage guests.
A travel cot and high chair can be provided free of charge, subject to availability. Please bring cot bedding and chair harness.
You may like to bring a cover for bikes kept in the garden.
Cleaning
We clean thoroughly between lets, but because time is limited, we ask you please to leave the cottage as clean and tidy as possible; this is always greatly appreciated. Breakages or damage to cottage or contents must be paid for either by agreement on departure or at a later date upon receipt of paperwork.
Be assured, Lazy Duck, including the Duck Keeper’s Cottage, is a non-smoking environment.
Extras
Electricity is charged for on meter readings taken on entry and departure.
Telephone calls on the landline must be paid for on the basis of the free automated charge advice. We ask you to keep a tab for any calls made.
Arriving & Leaving
You can arrive any time between 4pm and 9pm and we ask you please to text Valery on 07936 363 300 when you are about 30mins off so that we can be there to meet you and show you in.
Checkout is any time up to 10am on day of departure.
Making a Reservation
A deposit of 50% of the total cost of your holiday will secure a reservation which we will then confirm with a receipt by e-mail.
- CHEQUE – Payable to ‘Valery Dean’. DKC and your DATES on reverse please. Post to ‘Lazy Duck, Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire PH25 3ED’.
- CARD – On receipt of our PayPal invoice sent to your e-mail (except hotmail) address. 3% added to share the cost of this service.
- BANK TRANSFER – Sort Code 83-22-19 Account 00140633 with DKC and your SURNAME as our reference
The remaining balance is due on arrival please, by cheque or cash only as we cannot process cards in the hand.
Say
Hello
The next step is for us to talk by e-mail via the form below. If you ring us on 01479 821642 we may well be out and about, so it is better by far to submit this form. Thank you.