Osdale Cottages

Self Catering accommodation on the Isle of Skye

News

How Osdale deals with cancellations due to government COVID restrictions

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If your booking is cancelled because:

  1. Osdale Cottages are required to close due to government restrictions and the restriction coincides with all or part of your stay; or
  2. Your home address is placed into local government restrictions that prevent you from travelling and the restriction coincides with all or part of your stay; or
  3. government restrictions limit travel across borders that prevent you from reaching Osdale and coincides with all or part of your stay;

we will refund in full all payments made, or refund on a pro rata basis where the stay has to be terminated early, or the arrival date is postponed to a later date within the period of your stay.

Our normal cancellation terms will apply should you, or a member of your group, fall ill with COVID, are required to quarantine or self-isolate. If you require additional cancellation protection for these circumstances it must be covered by your own travel insurance.


We recommend that you take out your own travel insurance for UK holidays to cover late booking cancellation. This will provide you with peace of mind that you will receive your money back if you need to cancel your booking within two weeks of your stay. 
  

Flexible Cancellation Terms

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EDITED JANUARY 2021

From August 2020 we were able to offer flexible cancellation that was protected by Master Cancel. Master Cancel sadly pulled out of the UK market in early January 2021 so we have now introduced Osdale Flexible Cancellation. This means from January 2021 guests can cancel up to two weeks before a stay and receive a full refund. Unfortunately we can’t match the flexibility that Master Cancel offered but we think it is still provides our guests with peace of mind when booking. See our new terms and conditions for details here.

13 January 2021

JUNE 2020

When we had to cancel stays at Osdale because of the Coronavirus pandemic we immediately offered guests a full refund, a transfer of dates or a voucher to be used against a future stay. We thought it was important to be as flexible as possible and didn’t want our guests worrying about losing money on a holiday when life was turning upside down with the lockdown. Guests appreciated this and it got us thinking about how we deal with cancellations at Osdale. This is why we have now introduced flexible cancellation with Master Cancel.

So now, if you book a stay with us that begins after 1st August, you can cancel for any reason between 60 and 2 days of your arrival day and receive a full refund. You can book with confidence, knowing that your money will be returned should you have to cancel. There’s no additional cost either – it’s included in the rental fee.

The unforeseen circumstances that result in a cancellation are often stressful and difficult but at least you won’t need to worry about losing your deposit or balance payments booking with us. Osdale is a place to relax, sit back and unwind, so if we can spread a little of that from the day you book that has to be a good thing.

25th June 2020

Anne

Short Stays at Osdale

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Currently we offer short stays at Osdale Cottages of three nights or more but have decided to increase the minimum number of nights to seven for future bookings. This allows us to more easily meet COVID-19 cleaning requirements and help promote more sustainable tourism on Skye.

We may be able to offer occasional short stays, so please email me at info@osdalecottages.com to see if it is possible, but our general policy will now be weekly bookings.

24th June 2020

Anne

Missing Osdale

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In mid-March 2019 my sister, Lucy, and I were handed the keys to the Osdale Cottages. With much enthusiasm and many ideas we set about preparing Osdale Farmhouse for our first guests on 23 March. Little did we know that exactly one year later the country would enter lockdown and the cottages would be closed – what a terrible end to our first year but we are determined to bounce back and, once restrictions are lifted, open our doors to all who would like to stay. 

During lockdown I have remained in Oxfordshire and look forward to returning to Skye as soon as I am allowed. It will be lovely to see my sisters, Lucy and Jane, and my parents. I was last on Skye in January and my extended time away has made me think about some of the things I love about Osdale.

From Dunvegan to Osdale

The Osdale location. There are some beautiful, awe-inspiring sights on Skye but to find a place that is part of one of Skye’s great landscapes is very special indeed. Our two cottages sit beneath the magnificent Macleod’s Tables – two flat-topped mountains that dominate the landscape in North West Skye. Our cottages look tiny by comparison, tucked away from the rest of the world.

The views. When I am on Skye I am always drawn to sit at a window and look at the views and watch the wildlife and weather. Osdale is perfect for this – comfortable chairs by the windows and a view for miles. You can see from the Cuillin in the South East around to Loch Dunvegan towards the North from Osdale.

The stillness. Life is busy and Osdale offers a little escapism. To sit outside and just watch and listen is a wonderful experience.

The cows. The cows on the land surrounding Osdale can often be seen on the track to the cottages. They are a friendly bunch sometimes trotting behind the car as you travel up the track. Apparently, they are very fond of Lucy’s new puppy, Ned (who I still have not met yet).  

Osdale’s Cows

We are hoping to open in mid-July, subject to the government regulations being lifted and are busy making preparations. The Byre was upgraded at the end of 2019 and we are now completing some improvements at the Farmhouse. The outside space is being tamed a little and professional photographs were taken of the Byre last week so we will update the website shortly. In addition to this we are keeping abreast of government guidelines regarding cleaning protocols post-COVID19 to ensure all guests are kept safe once they return. 

So I think there’s lots to look forward to at Osdale. If you would like to join us and experience Osdale for yourself please get in touch. Come and take in the views, walk up a mountain, watch seals in the loch, spend time with friends and family and fall asleep happy.

Osdale to Macleod’s Table South

15th June 2020

Anne