Questions?
We have some answers...
- How do I book and what should I bring?
- Will I need a car?
- Are there any additional costs?
- Do you allow smoking?
- Do you allow pets?
- What is the Antonine Wall?
- Are there shops and pubs close to the cottages?
- What is there for kids to do?
- How do I get to Antonine Wall Cottages?
You can book either by sending the booking form on this web site by email or printing off the booking form and posting it to Fiona Briggs, Bonnyside House, Bonnyside Road, Bonnybridge Stirlingshire FK4 2AA. You can pay the deposit by sending a cheque to the above address or phoning me on 01324 811875 and arranging a bank transfer. Please note that because of the costs involved I do not accept credit card bookings.
The cottages are fully equipped for a self catering holiday - you can find an inventory at the bottom of this page - just click on 'inventory'. In addition to groceries and personal items, you may like to bring a torch, there are no street lights here! Wellies are another good idea, especially for children.
We supply all towels and bedding. There is also a starter supply of the "boring stuff" in the kitchen, cleaning materials, dishwashing tablets etc. There is a hairdryer in the bedroom and shampoo, soap, shower gel and bubble bath in the bathroom. You will find coffee, tea, milk, sugar and biscuits in the kitchen perhaps with a few little treats!
To get the best from your visit a car would be very beneficial, however if you would be happy with visiting the Falkirk Wheel and the canal on foot and perhaps Edinburgh, Stirling and Glasgow by public transport then a holiday without a car is entirely feasible. We can help you by collecting you from the station or airport on arrival and departure, please contact us for further details.
Are there any additional costs?
We charge extra for electricity and any extras that you order on the booking form. We decided to charge separately for electricity as it seemed fairer than to add an average charge to everyone’s bill when for example a couple will use less electricity than a family who are perhaps using the washing machine and tumble dryer everyday. We make no profit from electricity and you pay by meter reading taken at the beginning and end of your stay. Average costs for electricity are £12 per week in Summer and £35 per week in Winter - although less and more have been known! By charging "extra" for electricity we - and you - are also doing our bit for the planet, before we charged separately our monthly electricity consumption was £500 to £600 now it is £200!
There is a charge of £20 for each dog.
We also charge extra for use of the swimming pool, sauna and hot tub. This is so that guests who just want cottage accomodation can pay for just that! The price of any extras is detailed in the make it special page.
No, not in the cottages. You are of course welcome to smoke in the gardens; we have various sheltered areas with seating but please dispose of cigarette ends responsibly.
Yes, up to 2 pets per cottages are allowed at a charge of £20 each pet.If you have more pets than this speak to us first as we may be able to accommodate all of you. We accommodate your pets on the understanding that you clean up completely after your pet (especially dogs), all floors must be hoovered before you leave - the £20 charge is NOT a cleaning charge.. All pets must be friendly and well behaved as we have children and cats and the surrounding lands are working farms with cattle – we will not accept any dogs deemed as dangerous breeds If your pet would benefit from some training before his holiday visit www.pawsability.co.uk.. While in Antonine Wall Cottages grounds dogs must remain on leads at all times and pooper scoopers must be used. If your dog eats one of our chickens - yes, it has happened before - you will have to explain it to two little girls for whom they are family pets! This is not easy!
We back onto excellent dog walking areas where your dog can be let off lead – he will have an excellent time chasing rabbits and splashing in the streams. Please bring your own pet basket or borrow one of ours as pets are not allowed on furniture and beds and they are not allowed in the bedrooms. Aside from dogs we welcome cats, mice, guinea pigs or any other caged animal that you may want to bring. Dogs must not be left alone on the cottages but we may be able to dog-sit and dog walk for you.
With all pets a £100 security deposit is required.
The Antonine Wall stretches from Old Kirkpatrick on the Clyde to Bo'ness on the Forth and is 37 miles in length. It was built on the orders of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius following the re-conquest of Southern Scotland by his army in 140-142 A.D.
The ‘wall’ consisted of a turf rampart on a stone base, fronted by a wide and deep ditch. Forts, linked by a road, were built at roughly two-mile intervals. Rough Castle fort was home to perhaps 500 men 2000 years ago, is the best preserved fort on the wall and is a 5 minute walk from the cottages.
The Wall (which runs through our grounds and up to Rough Castle and beyond) is under the care of Historic Scotland and is currently part of a multi-country “Frontiers of the Roman Empire” World Heritage Site bid.
Are there shops and pubs close to the cottages?
Yes - the local shops and pubs are just less than a mile walk from the cottages. There are three pubs which serve meals and also numerous take-aways, including Chinese, Indian and European. There is a Co-op supermarket, an award winning butcher, a bakery and a fruit shop. The nearest large supermarkets are in Falkirk or Cumbernauld – 10 minutes drive from the cottages.
The local library has free internet access.
In the cottages there is an excellent selection of videos and DVDs, games, jigsaws and we will provide a Nintendo game system complete with numerous games if requested. Outside the cottages there are our three cats to play with (but be nice to them!), chickens to feed and eggs to collect, cows, deer, rabbits, hares, and squirrels to spot, an adventure play area and almost 5 acres of walled traffic- free woodland to play in, climb trees, make dens, have picnics and so on. Within a 30 minute drive there are beaches with wonderful rock pools, museums, stately homes , a science centre, a safari park, castles and Scotland’s Theme Park complete with upside down roller coasters!
For children not used to the great outdoors our grounds represent a fantastic adventure. You can allow children as young as two to roam our large childrens play field and children from four will love wandering further afield - it is safe, there are no cars and no people, just trees, shallow streams, mud and local wildlife!
How do I get to Antonine Wall cottages?
From Edinburgh or Edinburgh airport take the M9 towards Stirling, just past Falkirk take the turnoff onto the M876 (signposted ‘Glasgow’) and then follow the signs for Bonnybridge. From Glasgow or Glasgow airport take the M8 Eastbound, turning into the M80 (signposted 'Stirling') and once you have passed by Cumbernauld, follow signs for Bonnybridge. When you arrive in Bonnybridge follow the signs for Rough Castle and High Bonnybridge, turn into Bonnyside Road, follow the road for about a mile – it will become a single track road, drive over the railway bridge and turn left at the large gates marked Bonnyside House. The cottages are to the left of our house and we will be around to welcome you.