The Orangery

Good
Traveller Type: Business Traveler

Wonderful
Traveller Type: Business Traveler

Very Good
Traveller Type: Business Traveler
  : The Orangery is a gem of a retreat away from the everyday rush around and the post-Christmas slow-down. Tucked away up a curved dirt track off a 'B' road, it gives one all the privacy of a true 'getaway' break but is also very well placed to be able to go out and about exploring a lot of interesting places. We happened to get caught out in some snowfall over a few days but that suited us just right as it gave us a wonderful opportunity to paint and sketch outdoors as well as indoors. The conservatory area, although a bit on the cold side in a wintery January, made a wonderful artist's studio. The log burner managed to take the chill off the conservatory on the two occasions I used it for my artwork.Relaxing indoors was comfortable, even if a little less clean than I would have liked it. A popular place such as The Orangery, which is obviously heavily booked, can suffer from inadequate cleaning time. Having said that we did not find it impacted us greatly. Possibly because of the weather conditions, we lost the television signal mid-week but again that did not trouble us a great deal as we read books instead. There is a very wide selection of books in the cosy and compact sitting room; even one that give many uses for potassium cyanide!The kitchen was adequately equipped for us to cook all our meals as we wanted. The hot tub is next to the kitchen window and although I had thought I may want to have a dip at some point, seeing the inches of snow settled on the lid (and the two hour wait for the outside log burner to heat it) I though better of it! The hot tub will have to wait for another visit.The bedroom has perhaps one of the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in when on holiday. Also the bathroom was well placed within the cottage and has one of the best over-bath showers with plenty of room and ease of access.
  : There was a general need for a more thorough clean, for instance: windows, skirtings cutlery and crockery. However this did not spoil our experience.

Good
Traveller Type: Business Traveler
  : Great location in the countryside, far away from urban bustle. Their own forest a stone throw away, phantastic hikes possible. The Orangery itself is a really grand accommodation, with porch, hall, kitchen, lounge, bath- and bedroom, you're really spoiled for space. Best time to come is September/October, when the hall (glass-roofed!) is full with heaps of grapes hanging on the in-house vine.
  : Heating the place was a bit difficult, maybe a side-effect of its spaciousness. Local shopping is poor, for a really well-stocked Tesco and other amenities you need to drive 40 mi to Inverurie.