The Mission Hall Crovie Gardenstown Banff Scotland

Description from the owner

The Mission Hall was previously an old Church of Scotland and has been featured in magazines and newspapers for its architectural flair, style and humour in the owner's rennovation project. It is a very special place to stay.

This house has the wow factor! There is a breath-taking gallery-cum-dining room with a dark blue coloured concrete floor and pale blue “spatolato” finish walls and a wooden boxed ceiling. A specially designed crystal table sits on the flag-stones (originally covering the aisle of the church) in the middle of the room. When you look up, you’ll see how the owner has recycled the sides of the pews (still with nu...mbers on!). There are 3 antique pitch-pine doors with impressive brass handles, two leading to the small bathrooms and a double one leading to the cosy sitting room. The sitting room has wood-lined walls (recycled from the back of the pews) with 4 armchairs in front of an open fire. There is a TV with built-in DVD, a radio and a CD player.

The well - equipped kitchen has a crystal ceiling to let in the morning sun, a large stainless-steel fridge and freezer, electric Lofra cooker with ceramic burners, dish-washer, washing machine and microwave (all hidden in the big wooden larder). There is plenty of crockery and cutlery, gourmet pots and pans and utensils. There is a table with a silver tea-service on top for breakfast. A central wooden staircase (built by the Macduff ship-builders with the recycled wood from the pews) leads to the two upstairs bedrooms (with normal standing height - unlike the smaller cottages with attic bedrooms); Zebra double-bedded room (with original Austrian duck-down duvet) and green and pink flowery twin-bedded room (with electric blankets). Both were created on galleries with original recycled pitch-pine floors. The bedheads and galleries were created from the original sides of the pews (still bearing the seat numbers). The zebra room incorporates a crystal floor overlooking the stainless steel kitchen, while the flowery room overlooks the picture gallery. There are Velux escape windows looking out onto the gorse-covered hill at the back and two little ones looking onto the North Sea at the front.

There are two small bathrooms at the bottom of the stairs – the sanitary ware and tiles were brought from Italy and there is a Greek key design on the glass doors. One bathroom has a shower, WC and wash basin, the other bathroom has a bidet, WC and wash basin.

The toilets, wash-basins, sink, shower, bidet, washing-mashing and dish-washer all run on an eco-Saniflow-system before the waste goes into the sea. HOWEVER, IT REQUIRES RESPECT! NOTHING should be flushed down the loo except the necessary and BLOCKED DRAINS SHOULD BE AVOIDED

The Mission Hall has a sturdy wooden side door with a decking entrance. The sea wall is only a few metres away from the front of the house. Recently, a new decking area has been added at the back of the house – it catches the morning sun. There are 2 antique benches originating from John Knox’s church at the front and side. Pets are allowed as guests, but not upstairs.Read more

Additional Location Information

Classed as one of the best preserved conservation villages in Scotland, this little jewel sits right on the wall of the North Sea. Yes, actually on the wall ... no traffic ... only the sound of the waves lashing, the pebbles rolling to and fro under the changing tide and the seagulls crying. A ten-minute walk from the car park/barrow park, (each cottage has its own wheelbarrow to help get daily provisions - and furniture and building materials! - along to the house), maybe catching sight of a fox, a weasel or even on rare occasions a wild cat on the path.

From Crovie you can look out to sea and be rewarded with the spectacular sight of a shoal of bottle-nosed dolphins (sometimes up to 35 at a time) and even a whale or a shark. There are two boats which take outings onto the North Sea and this is an event not to be missed. You can take a 20 minute walk along the pebbled beach to Gardenstown, where you can find a small grocer's shop. The small Gardenstown Arms serves meals as well as a good stock of beers and malt whiskies.There is also a restaurant at the harbour where they serve very good fish dishes! On the other side of Crovie, there's the picturesque village of Pennan with the Inn, famous for the shooting of the film "The Local Hero" where you can have a good pub meal and have a chat with the locals.

Walking, beach-combing, fishing and underwater diving are some of the favourite pastimes here, also painting and generally getting inspiration for writing, or practising the arts. Both owners and tenants are mostly of an artistic or outward-bound bent.

If you are interested in the Castle Trail or the Whisky Trail, there are more distilleries and castles in this area than in the whole of Scotland. Attractive fishing villages to visit along the coast include Pennan and Portsoy, there are seven golf-courses to choose from, a wonderful lighthouse and museum with a very good tearoom overlooking the sea as well as the fish-markets in Fraserburgh. Duff House, a Palladian Villa (housing part of the Scottish National Gallery collection) is 7 miles away in the bustling little town of Banff. Day visits to Inverness and The Loch Ness Monster, Dufftown and Elgin are all well worthwhile.

Location Type Away from it all, Ocean, Village

Additional notes from owner

Dogs and cats ÂŁ10 each per stay.ÂŁ50 deposit for any damages.
A usual week runs from Saturday, 16.00 to Saturday, 10.00. Any short breaks are advisable between these days for a reduced price. If the short break runs into 2 weeks it is more expensive.

What Past Guests Are Saying

Overall Rating

• shadbury_bonwell
  London, United Kingdom

  Character and charm - definitely going back!

  Left on 04/03/2013 for a stay in March 2013
  
  

  Aah, beautiful Crovie (pronounced Crivvy!). A long row of cottages facing the sea, and nothing else – bliss. All you have to do is barrow your belongings down to your cottage (it’s a long barrow: the Mission Hall is right at the end) and set up camp on the bench with a glass of something nice, and watch the sunset. Wonderful.
  
  Inside, the Mission Hall has two bedrooms (one twin, one double) a big dining room/entrance area, and a cosy wood-panelled kitchen sitting room with an open fire. It’s furnished with a mixture of designer, antique and Ikea in a cluttered way that is both interesting and stylish, and the place has everything you need - with a lot of atmosphere and home touches. The only downside (which didn’t bother us, but it might if there are more than two of you) is that both bedrooms are mezzanines so that any downstairs noise sounds like it’s in the same room – and there are only two comfy chairs. So I’d say ideal for a couple but no more! The place is a bit of a gem, as you not only have Crovie but a historic place to stay.
  
  We were really impressed with the friendliness of the local people (and visitors) in Crovie and neighbouring Gardenstown, and loved our beach walks. The local pub is a walk along the beach (you can’t take your dog in, sadly, which is a big miss for locals and tourists alike). It’s a place to go back to.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends

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  Response from Margaret Leigh - 04/04/2013

  

  Margaret Leigh

  Owner

  I'm so happy you found a 4* Listed Building at the end of the village!
  Just one point: Although I, myself, prefer only 2 guests at a time in my property, there are another 2 armchairs on their way to the sitting area.

• pschlo2157
  hier

  Most magical place we ever been

  Left on 09/23/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  There is everything told about the house (so can describe this house) and I need a long time to decide, if I should write a review. The reason is, that we will keep the place and the house for ourselves and not for everyone... but Margaret asks so nice, so we could not resist...
  This year we stayed the second time in the mission hall and it is the first time we stayed for the second time at the same place anywhere! And we will come back for sure!
  Normally i am a person that needs a lots of activity in holiday, but later one for more.
  At first, it is unbelievable when you get in contact with the owner Margaret. It seems you know her from a long time ago, but you have never seen her.
  If you get to crovie you may a bit embarassed, that you can only take your baggage with a wheelbarrow to the house. It seems you leave our nomal time and get into something else. But then...
  Just Sitting in the morning whith a cup of coffe in the front of the house, get in contact with the locals, get in touch with the rhythm of the tides in front of you, feeling the spirit of the house, the nature...
  It is an amazing feeling there I can not describe it really.
  The place and the house will keep a place in your heart forever.
  When we leave we try to resist to a look back. It will be dangerous, your heart could tear apart.
  Just crying to sit here and not in crovie in the mission hall.
  
  Thats not all!

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Friends, Families w children

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• Yvonne G.
  Denny

  Blissful and inspiring sanctuary

  Left on 09/14/2012 for a stay in September 2012
  
  

  From first contact with Margaret Leigh; to meeting the Crovie locals; arriving to find a lovely welcome picture of the Crovie sunset and a complimentary bottle of wine; and the open fire already set for us, our experience of both the service and stay at the Mission Hall was more than we could have hoped for - first-rate throughout.
  
  Situated directly on the shoreline, in the most quaint village of Crovie, the Mission Hall has been considerately restored and refurbished to the highest standards throughout: combining the contemporary with the traditional in seamless fashion. Exuding a warm energy, you feel instantly at peace and relaxed both in the acommodation itself, and sitting outside watching and listening to the ocean and the wildlife it attracts and maintains.
  
  A great location for walkers, nature-lovers, life-lovers, those who need to 'go off grid', those who want to experience remote life - yet it is a lovely bolthole for coordinating visits to the beautiful Spey Bay, the white beaches of Lossiemouth, and the many historic fishing villages and ports around the Moray and Banffshire coasts. If, however, you seek the busy centres, then the Mission Hall is centrally located between the two.
  
  Memories to hold are too numerous to mention here, but suffice to say that my husband and I are so very delighted to have had the opportunity to spend our 10th wedding anniversary in such an idyllic location and amazing accommdation. It is very clear that Margaret has treated the Mission Hall with great consideration, care and love and all that is reflected in how visitors feel throughout their stay. Thank you so very much Margaret.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Luxury

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  Response from Margaret Leigh - 09/14/2012

  

  Margaret Leigh

  Owner

  The Mission Hall means SO much to me, and you captured this feeling. I am SO HAPPY to share it with like-minded guests!
  Thankyou from my heart,
  Margaret

• Bel
  Keith

  Brilliant holiday in superb house..

  Left on 08/30/2012 for a stay in July 2012
  
  

  The Mission Hall is a beautifully and imaginatively restored house. We have enjoyed several stays here and plan to continue to do so. The kitchen is a joy to cook in, the lounge and open fire a great place to relax and unwind and the unusual galleried bedrooms are very comfortable. What we enjoy most about Crovie is the peace and tranquillity, the sound of the sea lapping on the shore and the gorgeous views. Usually we are rewarded with stunning photographs of sunsets and quaint cottages and of course there is always a chance to see dolphins or whales as you gaze out to sea. Go there and relax and find yourself in another world! Its grand!

  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Families

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  Was this review helpful? Yes

   

  Response from Margaret Leigh - 08/31/2012

  

  Margaret Leigh

  Owner

  My Dear Bel,
  I put my heart into restoring the old church, and it really was a "mission", but when I read 5* reports I know it was all worth it and I'm very happy to share it with such wonderful guests. Great pictures - thankyou!! Margaretx

• Marco
  Rovigo, Italy

  Fantastic!

  Left on 08/27/2012 for a stay in August 2012
  
  

  Fantastic self-catering house in Crovie, near to Gardenstown. The house is comfortable, with all services. In Gardenstown and Pennan there are two pub/restaurant. There are market in Gardenstown and Banff. We suggest to rent a car to visit all locations! 1 hour by car you can come to Keith and Dafftown (Whysky Trail), Peterhead and aberdeen; in 2 hours you can come to Inverness and Loch Ness. Mission Hall is adorable!

  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Families

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  Response from Margaret Leigh - 08/28/2012

  

  Margaret Leigh

  Owner

  Dear Marco, Thankyou for your great review! I'm really happy that you enjoyed your 4 days at The Mission Hall.You will always be welcome guests - perhaps for longer next time when the rental rate is lower! (Saturday - Saturday)