Tomintoul, the kind of place where a log fire crackles in the living room and the outside world feels pleasantly distant.It's the sort of village where most of the houses gather around a single street, and that's enough. No need for more. The police, fire and rescue service, and NHS all share one building. One pub, one hotel, one restaurant, one village shop. Simple. Uncomplicated.I haven't seen this much wildlife in a long time. Red squirrels, deer, pheasants, rabbits, birds of prey, and other birds whose calls I couldn't recognise. Don't bring your headphones here, you'd be missing the point. What a great few days. The kind that remind you how little you really need: a quiet village, a few paths, good company, and the feeling that around the next bend there might be something worth stopping Ailsa is an excellent host—very communicative, direct, and responsive. I never waited more than an hour for a reply to any of my messages, which made the whole stay feel smooth and stress-free.The welcome pack at the property contains everything you need to know about the cottage and provides helpful guidance on navigating the limited resources available in the village. It was an invaluable source of information throughout our stay.The cottage itself is stylish, charming, and beautifully presented. From the moment we arrived, it felt warm, welcoming, and instantly like a home away from home.