Dundonald Landing, BENDERLOCH

Rated 1/50 by Macadam950 on 18th September 2019

"When we were there in 2014 it was a delight but rebookd in 2015 and all changd . Bed was filthy and damp dog had been sleping in it .. the chalet had been extended also and was not as nice and another one was bing built next door When we were there in 2014 it was on its own I was recovring from cancer and had to leave and go home as we wre going to stay after going ro Oban and buying new bedding but th owner came walking along with his friend and seemed drunk and just came in with his frind to show him the chalet I was in my nightware We just packed up after that and went home SHOCKING !"

Rated 2/50 by Johngbrown on 17th January 2018

Rated 4/50 by John C on 19th November 2017

"Three very pleasant days spent at Dundonald Landing, which is a very comfortable chalet on the shores of Loch Etive. In terms of the location it was superb with outstanding views and an excellent point from which to store and launch a sea kayak (or indeed any such similar small boat). The accommodation was compact and cosy and well appointed for a short break. The owner who lives close by was most accommodating and helpful. The accommodation was dog friendly which was an important consideration for us. A thoroughly enjoyable mini holiday and one I would be happy to recommend to family and friends."

Rated 5/50 by Brian M on 21st October 2017

"Just returned from a weeks break and found the location very private with outstanding views across the loch. The building was very clean, comfortable and well laid out and my mild concerns about the bed being too small and firm were unfounded. Even though it's safe to say I'm quite a large chap my wife and I had no trouble sleeping and the very light traffic on the single track road at the back of the building was not a problem. The owner, Geoffrey, and his son ' Howie' are a mine of local information and very helpful. There is a boat to the right of the building that interrupts the view slightly, but it didn't really spoil or interrupt the evenings I spent sitting on the decking outside the building in the least, in any case it is to be moved as soon as the weather and tide permit. Oban is a must to visit and only a 10 min drive away and there a a fantastic beach only a few miles further on for those that with a pet. Close to the Landing, there are several excellent restaurants/ cafes. My wife and I enjoyed our stay very much and will certainly return next year"

Rated 3/50 by Kramer2088 on 11th September 2017

"I have attached a couple of photos to illustrate previous reviews. Great location but unrealistic pictures"

Rated 2/50 by Happymacl on 8th September 2017

"This should be a 5* plus review BUT as others have said there is a massive ugly grey boat that obliterates view from cabin!!!! It is on a cradle by the dock so i assume it will not moving for some time? Therefore the photos need to be updated, particularly the ones taken from inside cabin looking out. You should be able to lie in bed with a cup of tea and enjoy the view but all you can see is a ruddy great boat. So sad as we loved the cabin and surrounding area with great cycling and walking opportunities. It is small but well laid out, cosy and warm. The storage shed is great and use of BBQ was good. The cabin does need a deep clean, the windows washed and new mats but we could put up with that. However, the main reason we booked was for the view that was advertised and were very disappointed when we arrived. It irked you every time you looked out the window. If it was dry/no midges you could sit on the dock or in garden and enjoy the view. It being the west coast of Scotland though we were regularly driven inside!"

Rated 1/50 by Kenneth W on 30th June 2017

"Very large boat belonging to owner blocking view of the loch,bed starts as a double and ends as a single.chipped plates, filthy oven trays, slippery steps when wet,shed offered for storage was damp and full of spiders,property smaller than pictured, kitchen has no storage space,human hairs in the draws,tea and coffee stains down the draws and on the ends of the sofa."

Rated 3/50 by Melanie O on 26th June 2017

"This property is small, but that is clear from the photos. It is very well set out and the bed was comfy. Could have done with more pots than the ones supplied, as we had to wash up every time we wanted a drink. The parking is across the road, which wasn't a major problem, until it came to packing the car to come home in the pouring rain. There is a quarry a few miles down the road, so even though the property is off the beaten track, we did have lorries thundering past the cottage from 5.30am. There is a jetty and a slipway, which is why we booked it, so we could use our dinghy. However, the slipway is currently occupied by the owners large boat, which he is working on, so the slipway can't be used. This was a disappointment, as although the jetty can still be used once the boat is in the water, we did have to manhandle our boat over the wall to get it in. The owner was very kind, and did offer to help, but was away half of the week. Also, the owners boat on the slipway did impede the view from the sitting area in the cottage. The position of this property on the edge of the loch is fabulous, but the issues listed above did affect our enjoyment."

Rated 4/50 by Janice T on 20th May 2017

"We have just returned from our time at Dundonald Landing in May 2017. Previous holidays have been spent in secluded and isolated cottages which is why we were drawn to Dubndonald Landing. The photo' seemed to offer an ideal location, privacy and a place to relax and forget about the world. Unfortunately the chalet is only a few feet away from the single track road which has HGV' and Quarry vehicles rumbling down at quite a fair pace which spoils the tranquillity and would worry me if I had my dog with me. There are also houses all along the road to the back of the chalet and to the right of the chalet. The owners house is behind the chalet on the opposite side of the road. The photo' do not show it' location accurately, nor do they include the owner' boat which now spoils the ambience and the view that other' have found absolutely stunning and seem to have had a peaceful and private time. As stated the view is spoilt by the owner' boat which requires work doing to it which means the owner and others need access to it, which, again, means any thought of privacy is lost as you are never sure when someone may arrive, or the owner' caretaker who was busy painting the fence when we were there - in addition to the neighbour who is allowed to use the owner' jetty to land his craft. The car park is on the opposite side of the road which we didn't find too much of a problem. We thought a Visitor' book would be a good idea as the cottages we have stayed in have all had such a book which we have found useful in terms of suggestions where to visit/what to see as well as telling you what wildlife is about to look out for. With that in mind we had a an American Mink which arrived daily to be fed, as did a swan - we also fed the crabs which were easily seen in the clear waters...we had regular trips to Tesco (Oban) to buy food for every one :) We did find it surprising that there is no life saver despite being right on the water - all other cottages we have stayed in which have been near the water have had this. We also felt a welcome pack would be helpful - although there are leaflets as to what you can do, but a welcome pack feels more personal and usually has emergency numbers etc on - particularly useful for foreign visitors. And, just like another review, we have always arrived and have found milk and biscuits left for us - at Christmas there is usually milk, a bottle of wine and lovely home cooked scones or cake - which we feel is a very thoughtful touch that is missing at Dundonald Landing. Unfortunately the TV lost its signal on day 3 - we did not highlight this to the owner as we had downloaded films to our computer so this did not affect us and feel sure had we highlighted this the owner would have done his best to rectify the matter. There are about 8/9 DVD' supplied but if this is your only form of entertainment when you return after a day' exploring this would not be sufficient. Much like another review we would have preferred a full bed rather than one cut to allow more access, but we found the bed comfortable, but agree, it is hard. We felt that the sofa should be on the other wall so that you have a better view - particularly as the view you have where it is currently situated is obliterated by the owners huge boat. The owner is very friendly, as is his caretaker and his neighbour...the location is stunning....we loved seeing and feeding the American Mink and the swan and enjoyed sitting out when the weather allowed..we just expected privacy and seclusion which while it did not spoil our time it did detract from the overall experience."

Rated 3/50 by PSM51 on 11th March 2017

"Booked this as a late availability break ( but not discounted) that allowed dogs. Was attracted by the words "secluded" and "terrific views" needing a break from the rat race. The cabin is within feet of a single track road which runs directly behind the cabin where the local bus and a lot of construction traffic was running throughout our stay, inc early mornings. ( Road 6 ~8 feet from bed head!) The owner of the cabin has now berthed his large 'Naval looking' boat on the jetty which totally obscures the once panoramic view from the patio doors. This is going to be a permanent feature for some time whilst it is fitted out at weekends by owner and friend, which is also a bit of an invasion of privacy as its so close. The tethering ropes, cables and hoses pass around the area of the cabin ! You have to park your car the opposite side of the road to the cabin and make several trips to unload/load it, which we did in the pouring rain. The property is fenced but there is a big gap under the double gates where a dog could get out onto the road, so our dog had to stay tethered between walks when outside as he would have gone to explore !. Didn't have high expectations, but cabin does need maintenance as :- kitchen lights did not work (owner provided small lamp to cook by inlieu) and bed space/dining space lights overheated after about 10 mins and left us eating in the dark ( owner about to change) shower extract fan does not work leading to very steamy cabin each morning, cooker supply was repaired the day after we arrived and when had no cooking facilities on first night the owner graciously cooked our food for us. Bed is 'unique' being a piece of memory foam-- double bed size at the top and tapering towards the foot to allow space for the small table and chairs. Located against the sloping roof its not possible to sit up on one side of the bed. Memory foam is not that comfortable in comparison to a sprung mattress. Bed head is opposite to fridge in kitchen cupboard! Everything is that close you can turn on kettle when in bed! Stayed in a few wooden cabins and they have all had smoke alarms, but none fitted here! Although 'allows dogs' there is a patronising notice stating "not to allow dogs on settee or bed and to take all dog hair home with you! " Found that the general area is not that dog friendly with few places allowing dogs in, Oyster Bar at Connel Ferry and Creagan Inn at Apen allowed dogs in and had good food. Benderloch beach is 10 mins in a car, then 10 min walk but a pebble beach on one side leading to sandy beach otherside of Bay.. Take dog away every spring and usually find facilities are well maintained and as described, but not in this instance. "

Rated 5/50 by Moors_2014 on 7th July 2016

"Dundonald Landing is an excellent chalet located on the shores of Loch Etive. The views from the chalet across the loch were magnificent and watching the wildlife was a treat. The location is absolutely brilliant to use either as a base to tour the highlands or stay more local because there is so much to do or see in nearby Oban and the immediate surrounding area. Whether you want to visit a castle, take a trip to the Isle of Mull, take a wildlife tour, visit the Whisky Distillery or just chill out on the lochside in the evening with a glass of wine this is a great place to visit. The chalet itself, although on the small side, has everything you need. The grounds were perfect for our labrador puppy to roam freely. The owners were very friendly and when we had a small problem they immediately sorted it. Nearby is a wonderful beach at Benderloch which was great for our puppy. Each morning we took him to this fairly secluded beach and he had a fantastic time. Dundonald Landing is a genuine retreat and we had a thoroughly enjoyable stay."

Rated 5/50 by Dogmother2112 on 3rd January 2016

"We stayed here over Christmas and had a lovely stay. The chalet is warm and cosy and in a fabulous location, even though the weather was extremely stormy! We slept really well and enjoyed the fact we were overlooking Loch Etive and had lovely views of the mountains too. We enjoyed great walks nearby, We revisited Port Appin where we stayed in September and also Glencoe. We enjoyed Christmas dinner at the nearby Hawthorn Restaurant which is excellent. Dundonald Landing is a great place to relax and explore the stunning scenery with your dog. We would happily return anytime of year to enjoy it's lovely facilities."

Rated 4/50 by Sandra G on 3rd September 2015

"Location Location Location, it was perfect. The views were amazing and you have a feeling of peace and tranquility. Not too far away was the beach and some great scenic walks around Benderloch. We were lucky we had great weather on our week and indeed like an earlier reviewer we came home looking relaxed and tanned. I do have a couple of gripes though, and one of them could have easily ruined our stay if it were not that we are a hardy pair and compromised our sleeping arrangements. The bed has been 'cut to shape' with the bottom right hand corner lopped off to fit it into the tiny tiny space between us and the kitchen, i would have rather struggled with a smaller walkway and had a proper full size adult bed that we could both comfortably sleep in. to accommodate this customisation the owners had used some sort of 'memory foam' as a mattress which was incredibly hard and uncomfortable. After a few nights i was missing my bed at home and indeed had to sleep on the settee in order to get a diecent nights sleep. There is room for improvement and more attention is needed for storage, in such a 'tiny' space you must utilise everywhere but there was precious little and we ended up keeping everything in our cases. there is a wet room which opens up directly to the kitchen and its deadly as there are no bathmats so again we had to compromise and lay down kitchen roll before we went into the shower or made sure we wore flip flops. a couple of personal touches would have been nice also, like 'welcome' information, there was nothing and it took an age to work out the oven, we found the wifi password on a post it note crumpled up in the drawer. and i dont think i have ever stayed anywhere like this were there hasnt been at least a pint of milk and a few teabags on arrival, like i saw a few touches would make all the difference but overall the views and the location would sell the place to anyone."

Rated 5/50 by Macadam950 on 24th April 2015

"We were here in 2014 and have booked again this June ! So peaceful this wee lodge and private pier and beach all on its own completely private. all amenities .. and this year has been extended new photos to be posted this week .Did not think it could get any nore perfect ! Can not wait to go back in June ,Last year I was recovering from cancer ! I genuilly feel this PEACE helped me HEAL"

Rated 5/50 by Heather M on 7th June 2013

"Just spent a wonderful week at this chalet and have come back with sunburn! We wanted a space to relax and enjoy our bikes and kayaks. There was plenty of space for all our kit outside, great access to the water and plenty of places to walk and cycle safely. The owners know the water well, which is really useful. We caught fish for dinner in the loch, had roe deer walk past the door, and a multitude of birds/life to watch from the door. The inside space is small, but feels just like camping but in a much drier space with full amenities. Our only concern was that at the minute it is open to the road while a fence is being constructed, so we had to be careful of the dog. Felt completely at peace in this property."

Rated 2/50 by Jim K on 19th April 2013

"far to small for two adults to have a comfortable weeks holiday .we stayed two nights very cold on second night the 13/4/2013 halogen heaters provided but they light up the whole room, ceiling very low in bathroom hand basin unusable,storage for clothes consists of 4 coat hangers on a towel rail@ bedside cabinet, outside very nice,"