Questions?

How many dogs do you accept?

We can accept 2 dogs however if you have more, then please get in touch with information about them as we may be able to accept them.  As long as your dogs are well behaved and you clean up after them - then we are more than happy to accept them.

Is the garden enclosed?

Yes, it is fully enclosed with a wire netting and wooden fence and has a large thick hedge on one side too.  We are in the process of growing a small hedge around the other 2 sides.  The fence is around waist height so some dogs may be able to jump over this, if that's the kind of thing they do.  You can have a good view of the garden from the chairs in the living room and out on the terrace so it is easy to keep an eye on both dogs and children out playing.  We do not advertise the garden as escape proof as dog owners will know their dog best and be able to decide if this is suitable for them.  

Can I walk my dog direct from Wester Den?

Yes.  There are paths direct from the house, we provide you with directions in our digital guidebook.  

Can I leave my dog in the accommodation?

Only if they are left in a crate.  We may be able to provide dog sitting either in Wester Den or at our house next door by prior arrangement.  

Are there any other specific rules for dog owners?

For the comfort of our other guests and to maintain the high quality furniture in the best condition we can, we do not allow dogs up on the furniture or on the beds.  We also ask that they are not allowed into the 2 bedrooms that are upstairs as these are carpeted.  We don't provide stair gates due to the design of the stairs, but simply ask guests to close the bedroom doors to stop dogs from wandering in. They are free to go into the downstairs master bedroom and anywhere else in the house as it is all wooden flooring.  

Can I bring other pets?

Please get in touch to check about bringing other pets.  Sorry we don't accept cats however other small animals in cages are usually ok.

Are there local restaurants that allow dogs inside?

Yes.  We provide details in our digital guidebook.  Some may be best to book ahead and we can advise on this.

Can I walk to a pub/restaurant?

Yes.  A 10-15 min stroll will take you to the local pub which serves food.  Dogs also welcome inside too.  There is also a great cafe for breakfast and lunch within a 10 min walk.  

Is parking available?

Dedicated parking is available for 3 cars.  Two are in a car port directly outside the front door so good for keeping your car cool in the summer and you don't get wet if it's raining. 

What family activities are there in the area?

There is lots to do to keep children entertained.  There is an excellent, clean, safe play park at the beach in Arbroath with a paddling pool in the summer, and an amusement arcade.  There are amongst other things, water sports, alpaca walking, steam railway with Thomas the Tank Engine, wildlife zoo and of course, many long, clean, sandy beaches which do not become overcrowded.

Is there storage for bicycles or motorcycles?

We can store bikes in our garage by prior arrangement. 

Are you licensed?

Yes, our licence number is AN-01082-F (Wester Den) and AN-01082-F (The Studio). 

All holiday accommodation providers in Scotland have to comply with the Short Term Let Licensing laws which are that all existing operators must apply or be granted an STL licence before 1st October 2023 or they will not be legally allowed to take bookings or accept guests.  

What are the check-in/check-out times?

Check-in is between 4pm to 9pm.  Check-out is at 10am.  

Can I request a late check-out or early check-in?

We will do our best to accommodate requests however these are often not possible and can only be confirmed on the day in question.  We can message guests if the house is ready prior to 4pm.

What are the arrangements to pick up the key?

We like to welcome our guests personally and show them around the house so keys are picked up from us next door.

What is the cancellation policy?

The cancellation policy is:
Less than 24hrs from the time of booking - full refund.
31 days or more from date of arrival – 10% of the booking amount is payable
30 days or less from the date of arrival – no refund. (Booking extras may be refundable - see T&C's for full details)

We will endeavour to obtain another booking for the dates and if rebooked a full or partial refund of the balance payment may be given in the form of a voucher code to be used for another booking.

Do you charge a security deposit?

Yes - £200 is held as a security deposit on a credit/debit card, no amount is actually charged to the card unless damage is found or substantial extra cleaning is required after check-out.  See T&C's for full details.

Are the owners on site?

We stay next door and are on hand if you have any problems with the house - or need to borrow any equipment/items which you suddenly realise you don't have and need - like sellotape to wrap a birthday present!  We respect your privacy though and some guests only see us at the key handover. 

Is the garden private?

Yes.  The garden is surrounded by fields on 2 sides - although you may see the farmer in his tractor pass by at harvest times.  The fields do not have any livestock in them.  On the other side there is a large hedge which shields you from our garden.  

How far away is Arbroath?

We are a small field away from the edge of the built-up area of Arbroath, so it feels like you are in the middle of the countryside but have quick access into town - a perfect mix.  It is a 5 min drive into the town centre and to the beach.

Are there supermarkets in the area?

You have a choice of Tesco, Morrisons, Asda & Lidl all within a 5 min drive away.  There are also excellent independent butchers and bakers which offer local produce, and can be cheaper than the supermarkets too.

Where is the nearest EV charger?

You can charge your EV at Tesco's, a 5 min drive away.

Can I get food delivered?

Yes, Just Eat & Uber Eats deliver along with local takeaways and restaurants.  Supermarkets deliver to the area.  We have all the usual takeaways close by such as Domino's, MacDonalds etc.  

Can I hold a party at Wester Den?

We want you to enjoy the fantastic social spaces provided at Wester Den but this is only for the enjoyment of the guests that are staying at Wester Den and have been included on the booking.  We have a maximum occupancy of 6 people (both day and night).  We are not a venue for you to book, soley to hold a party or event. 

Wester Den and its Surroundings -

Wester Den is the west end of a former tattie (potato) shed.  This very large farm building was converted into 2 houses (our house and Wester Den) in the 2000's by the award winning, local architect Heinz Voigt.  The 2 houses are at either end of the shed and are separated by a Studio room, garages and a car port. The houses retain the outward visual look of the shed with some great architectural features.  Wester Den is situated at the end of a small private road and within a small steading of 6 houses in total, which were all individually designed by the same architect.  The other 4 houses are all privately owned and are residential.  Google Map View

About the Owners and Wester Den - 

We are Shirley and John Steele, and having taken early (very early!) retirement in 2022 we now run our 2 holiday accommodations at the Studio and Wester Den. We live next door to Wester Den with our 2 friendly cocker spaniels.  Wester Den started welcoming guests in September 2022.  We have used high quality furnishings throughout Wester Den as nothing else would be fitting for a house as special as this.  We aim to provide our guests with the best holiday accommodation we can, and nothing is too much trouble for us in making this happen.  We will aim to keep improving and maintain a very high standard and welcome feedback from our guests to help us do this.

Guest Safety 

CCTV - There is video and audio recording by a camera fitted to the owner's house (not Wester Den) and this covers the car port, parking area and front door of Wester Den.  There is a camera in the doorbell fitted to the owner's house which covers the entrance to the owner's house and the privately owned road running along Wester Den and the owner's house.  Both cameras are activated by motion and the doorbell one also by ringing the doorbell.  These recordings are stored in the cloud and can be downloaded upon request.  The images are stored for 60 days.

Safety certificates - All electrical and gas safety certificates are available to guests through our digital guidebook.

Fire Safety & CO2 - Wester Den is the subject of a fire risk assessment and has smoke, heat and CO2 detectors fitted.  There is a fire extinguisher and fire blanket.

Is there a smoking area at Wester Den?

No.  Smoking or vaping is not allowed anywhere either inside or outside, within the gardens or the grounds.