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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Milo Boyd

The Queen offers cheap stays on Balmoral Estate with cottages from £15 a night

The Queen is offering budget holidays on one of her rolling estates for just £15 a night.

As the cost of living continues to rise rapidly in the UK and many look to tighten their belts, the Monarch has opened up eight of the quaint cottages on her Balmoral Estate to paying visitors.

The cheapest - the Colt Cottages - have prices starting from £555 and are for up to five people.

The cost is based on a week-long stay between January 7 to March 31, which works out at £79 per night for a family-of-five, or just £15.80 per person, per night.

That price does require two people to sleep on a slightly less regal sofa bed however.

Eight cottages on the estate can be rented out (balmoralcastle.com)

Sadly for elderly sovereign spotters, the cottages are not rented out when the Queen is in residence for security reasons.

There are two cottages at that knockdown price available and they have a three-star Scottish Tourist Board rating.

The Balmoral website reads: "Colt Cottages are situated in close proximity to the Castle, near the Estates Office and Stables.

"Access is by the public road to Balmoral and thereafter by the private Estate road.

"Bookings at Colt Cottage run on a Saturday to Saturday basis and the cottages are available throughout the year, with the exception of some weeks during The Royal Visit.

"There are two cottages, which are semi detached. They can be occupied separately or if required they can be used together by one large family.

They can be rented out for as little as £15 a night per person (balmoralcastle.com)

"Each cottage consists of a lounge with dining area and double sofa bed, kitchen - electric cooker, microwave, fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine.

"Double bedroom, single bedroom, shower room with toilet. "The cottages are connected to mains electricity with night storage heaters for space heating.

"There is a television and DVD player in the lounge. Unfortunately there is no telephone in the property however there is Wi-Fi reception."

Those with more cash to splash and a taste for luxury can rent out a cottage for as much as £1,620 a week.

The most expensive is Rhebreck Lodge, which sleeps six and has a four-star rating.

The website continues: "Rhebreck Lodge is set in a quiet location at Easter Balmoral and enjoys wonderful views across the valley towards Crathie Church and also over the golf course.

"Access is by the public road to Balmoral and thereafter by the private Estate road.

"Bookings at Rhebreck Lodge run on a Sunday to Sunday basis and the cottage is available throughout the year, with the exception of the weeks during The Royal Visit.

The Queen won't be in when people are allowed to stay (balmoralcastle.com)

"Rhebreck Lodge is a detached property, which can sleep six people in comfort and consists of a lounge with log burner, dining room, dining Kitchen - electric cooker, microwave, fridge freezer and dishwasher.

"Utility Room - washing machine - two double bedrooms, twin bedroom with day bed, shower room, bathroom with separate shower.

"The property is connected to mains electricity and is heated by oil fired central heating together with a log burner in the lounge.

"Fuel for the fire is provided by the Estate. There is a television, DVD player and Freesat in the lounge. Wi-Fi reception is also available."

A Balmoral Castle and Estate spokesperson said: "As we approach the end of summer 2022 you might already be planning for 2023.

"Following a very busy open season, which included some wonderful Platinum Jubilee celebrations, we too have started planning for 2023 at Balmoral.

"Book now to avoid disappointment and join us for a relaxing break in one of our spacious and well-appointed Balmoral holiday cottages."

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