My new husband and I have just returned from our honeymoon at the Leannan Boat House in Forbes of Kingennie and we have a few complaints!!

Almost 6 months after booking we were phoned by a staff member to tell us our booking was going to have to be changed from the already booked monday 26th to sunday 1st June(deposit paid and confirmed in writing) to saturday 24th to friday 30th. As this was our honeymoon (which they knew) and we were getting married on the 25th of May I explained that this was impossible.

Our 'experience' started about a month before we were due to stay at the Boat House, we received a letter which can only be described as rude and bullying. The owner explained that they had double booked our 'cabin' she was going to have to change our booking, they offered to change us to another lodge for the last night of our honeymoon, either that or for us to go home and go back for another weekend - NOT REALLY THE IDEA OF A HONEYMOON. I again phoned and explained that this was not going to be possible as it was our honeymoon. The response I received was incredible I was told that the people who they had doubled booked us with were getting married at Kingennie and they wanted the boathouse so they should get it!!! I stood my ground and said NO, it was after all my honeymoon and why was my booking (which was booked first) seen as secondary to the other! I was then told the other bride had her heart set on it!!! My response was so have I!!

What a lovely way to treat customers!

On arrival the manager had left a bottle of champangne in the lodge as a sorry, we thought at least they realised what they did with trying to change our honeymoon was wrong. Well so we thought!

I can't really fault the boat house, it is very nice. But a bit more attention to detail would go a long way, no batteries in remote controls, shakey plugs, fishermen around the 'secluded' lodge 24 hours a day, plastics flower/plants with dust on them etc. But this is all little things! Overall we enjoyed it. The jacuzzi is great as is the huge bed, the kitchen is well equipped.

We had a lovely stay until saturday when we had a knock at our door from a staff member telling us we were going to have to let the bride and groom in to our cabin so they could get photo's taken!!! Yet again our honeymoon comes second to the staff at Kingennie. At this I became upset, this was afterall the last day of our honey moon and I was expected to clear out of our cabin to let someone else into our bedroom! Crazy! My husband phoned the reception and explained that this was not an option!

To say we have a bad taste in our mouths about Forbes of Kingennie would be 100% correct.

Not a friendly place to have a holiday!

We stayed for 4 nights in June 2006.

The cottage is AMAZING - never seen anything like it in my life, the surroundings are picture postcard.
Inside you walk into a gorgeous kitchen, and then the living room with the biggest sofa ever, a wide screen TV and fire place that works by remote.

Down the stairs and the best is to come, the bed is huge with a really comfy tempur mattress, inset into the wall is 42 inch plasma screen TV, and the bathroom has a HUGE proper Jacuzzi.

Supplied with nice fluffy robes!

There is also proper surround sound - every room has its own speakers set into the ceiling (even above the Jacuzzi) with a control next to each light switch.

You can see the buildings being erected over the lake and we occasionally heard / saw a building truck but we were certainly not over looked. In fact the only disconcerting thing was the odd guy fishing on the opposite bank!

The veranda is lovely and we had baby swans taking their first swim whist we were there along with a very friendly robin and a sparrow with a nest in the roof of the veranda!

Management were very helpful and quick to assist with the minor problem we had (couldn’t find the switch to adjust the ample heating).

Kingennie is quiet, many of the woodland walks are shut due to the buildings and its a fair walk / expensive taxi to anywhere but for a get away from it all break I would most defiantly recommend it.

We also had a look round one of the other lodges and have to say although they are not quite as special as the Leanna they are very well done.

Booked the Leannan Boathouse in July 2005 for our March 2006 honeymoon.Arrived in Dundee at 10am was told repair work was being carried out on the boathouse. We waited to 4pm, was given a cheap bottle of wine and a letter listing repair work. What they did'nt tell us was a building development of at least 10 buildings directly opposite the boathouse looking down onto the so called secluded plot.When we spoke to the owner she gave us a full refund. We were now in Scotland 600 miles from home at 4.30pm with no honeymoon accomodation. Not once did they contact us in the 8 months of booking.
In fairness the inside of the boathouse is exellent quality,but secluded it is certainly not. It is not in woodland but more like a copse. The new development completly dominates the view from the decking area and lounge and bedroom windows.
In a nutshell if you are staying one night with the curtains closed then it is lovely property, but if you are staying longer then our advise is to go else where.
inside 9 out of 10
outside 1 out of 10
owner 1 out of 10
web site info 4 out of 10