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KINCARDINE - REFERENCES
"Tis a bit of heaven"
So wrote one of our guests in our visitors'
book recently. In light of the kind comments received from our visitors we
thought we'd let them describe a few days at Kincardine rather than bore you
with our version.
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What a unique experience. Your warm
hospitality in a breathtakingly beautiful setting provided a special
memory. It put a new standard to a business conference!
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We shall never forget
the extraordinary warmth of your welcome at Kincardine. You two are
wonderful hosts and you spoilt us rotten. You have a very special house,
and you have the great gift of being able to share it with people you’ve
never met before, treat them as friends and make them feel completely at
home.
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Thank you for looking after us so well. I
knew it would be special but you exceeded my wildest expectations and
from my colleagues who tend to "get about a bit" - you clearly exceeded
theirs too. It really did feel like home but within which we had the
ability to have a continuous meeting, uninterrupted and supported with
everything that we needed.
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Your warmth and
hospitality is unsurpassed and of course both of you, with endless
talent in music and story telling, makes staying with you at Kincardine
a magical moment in time. It was an enormous milestone in my life and I
just wanted you to know and send you both heartfelt thanks always.
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What a wonderful place
for meeting, a homely environment rather than yet another nice hotel.
Superb.
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Had a great offsite
meeting here, fantastic hospitality and a warm and cosy castle.
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I can only echo the
sentiments above, a fabulous house and an entirely memorable stay.
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A paragraph seems and
is inadequate to say thank you and goodbye to this magical place and you
wonderful people. The estate of Kincardine has become our Brigadoon and
we can only hope that it and you are a part of our lives before the next
100 years. You've opened your doors and your hearts and for that there
is no adequate thanks - but thank you, thank you, thank you.
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What an amazing place! It’s been a perfect
occasion – made even better by the warm hospitality and beautiful
scenery.
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Yes, we had a fantastic time, the
hospitality and local knowledge of Andrew, Nicky & Charlie cannot be
described by words, and the castle itself is indeed a very special
place:-)
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A truly relaxing location for our meeting
– it is not often I wish that meetings would last longer!
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Andrew and Nicky - As large and
magnificent as this estate is, there is an element of human nature that
transcends it all - without question your heart shines brighter than the
warm October sun filling us all with your sense of adventure, your love
of life and your passion for great conversation. You are truly
remarkable people, lovely, brilliant, funny and incredibly genuine.
Thank you for sharing your lives with me - You are most loved.
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I think this has been the best meeting in
my 29 years. I’m looking for more meetings in Aberdeen.
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Thank you for an incredible time, we don’t
want to leave.
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It’s like staying with family. I can’t
imagine a better venue for our meetings.
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In my feeling of life and experience,
spirit is everything - or nearly everything, and here we had, for
starters the sprit of our dear friends and the kind and loving and
enthusiastic spirits of all their friends, and the eternal ever-natural
spirit of Kincardine; but above it all and through it all is your
spirit, Nicky and Andie - it is one of
gentle intelligence and easy warmth, acceptance, attention to each and
every individual - extraordinary! Unforgettable,
and we will always cherish it.
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You looked after our every need from the
moment we arrived. Thank you for welcoming us into your home.
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Thank you so much for an absolutely
fantastic weekend at Kincardine Castle. You both contributed in making
it into a magical and memorable birthday celebration.
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What a place – it felt just like home too
throughout the 3 day meeting.
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Once again a blast!
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A time of extraordinary friendship in the
warmest of family settings. We indeed feel like royalty!
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An extraordinary experience in every
respect - setting, people and feeling - for days on end and evenings,
too. Thank you so much for your excellent hospitality, for the warmth of
your welcome and the pleasure of our stay. You have friends in Boston
who now feel they have part of themselves in Scotland.
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We have been longing for a country estate
and now we have perfection - great: music, food, wines, comfort, warmth
and lots of love. The sun ALWAYS shines here . . . with thanks and our
love.
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It has been a dream
come true! Thank you for making it all happen.
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I've come home to Scotland for the second
time in 3 months in 42 years! The wind, the rain, the sunshine, the hail
all rolled into 100 hours. I've met new friends, re-acquainted with old
ways - roamed around the links, the moors and always came 'Home' to
Kincardine - the most spectacular place. Thank you for your hospitality,
your warmth and a most fabulous holiday.
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A wonderfully special time - a huge thank
you.
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A proper "thank you"
will follow shortly but A--- and I wanted to quickly get in touch to say
that our stay at your wonderful, wonderful home was beyond our
imagination. If you could have heard A--- the month before departure
carry on about why should she have any fun at a cold, old hunting lodge
in northern Scotland....Well, needless to say it was the ONLY vacation
we have ever taken together where she was sad to come home (she is a
classic "homebody"). All because of you both.
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Our 'world view' has
been changed forever!! Heartfelt thanks to you both in giving us a
special glimpse into your wonderful world. These days go into our life
best of memories and top of our list of places we will visit again . . .
soon! Thank you Andie and Nicky from the
bottom of our hearts. You are the best.
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Yours is a fantastic
family and it has been a tremendous privilege to have met you this past
long week-end: perfect host, very pleasant, really 'simpatici'
as we would say in Italy, efficient, full of care, so multi-gifted, and
so on . . . unity.
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Beside the fact that
we have had an unforgettable time due to our dearest friends and to the
most delightful environment, to the great programme with wine-tasting,
ocean liners, sight-seeing, pony trekking, castle sketching, to the
Church service. Each meal was a gourmet's treat, and the wines were
outstanding. These elegant dinners and breakfasts challenge and inspire
the day-to-day food I prepare at home. I could go on and on, because the
thought and organisation you put into our visit went way beyond our
expectation. We felt very much at home, and part of your setting. Your
graceful manner, and desire to share the
heart of Kincardine and Scotland made this a happy memory for our
lifetime.
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This old lady is so
pleased to have been included in this great group. Had a wonderful time.
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What a memorable trip
to Scotland. If only all our trips were as glorious as this. Thank you
so much for all of your efforts, fine humour and terrific meals. We will
never forget you all. We will hold these memories for a good long time
and perhaps we will find our way back here someday! We will miss you all
very much.
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A plan and dream that
began 20 years ago has come to fruition. Delayed last year by 9/11 all
the work has paid off. I am grateful to you for all your help in making
a dream come true. Many, many thanks.
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So much fun and
fantasy in one place. Thank you both for making our stay at glorious
Kincardine a lasting memory - we will miss you - until the next time.
Heaps of love
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Thank you for
perfection.
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A truly magical week
for all of us who came to celebrate L---'s birthday! Thank you Andrew
and Nicky for thinking of every detail and for taking such magnificent
care of us all!! With love,
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Kincardine has
exceeded all expectations. After a year of anticipation, we have had a
wonderful time. The scenery is spectacular and all activities were
terrific. The weather was unreal! The highest of highlights was the
hospitality of our hosts. Thank you Nicky and Andy for tending our every
want and need.
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Phew! We have to catch
our collective breath. Five days have passed too quickly. The moors,
grouse, stag, haggis, whisky, singing, piano, poetry, Robert Burns,
black sausage, our hosts, etc.! Too much to absorb all in one sitting. I
hope we will be allowed to return, but we will never forget the
experience. Thank you for sharing your life with us.
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Bravo. All the parts
exceed the whole! In US parlance Andy - you're the man! Thank you for
all the wonderful stories, songs, and meals. Kincardine is special,
and a return visit is a must. Please come to the US - stay well.
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Thank you so much for
opening your lovely home to us with such warm hospitality. We do hope to
be back soon! Till then, many thanks, cheers
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Very few people will
have the privilege of this wonderful home and generous kind family. We
are most appreciative and grateful. Looking forward to the next time.
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Thanks to the hosts at
Kincardine we have done the entire larder in, wallowed in the warmth of
your wonderful house and managed to miss a few hundred grouse. Huge
thanks
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To our very gracious
hosts - thank you for letting us share your family home for the past
several days. It has been so much more than we anticipated. We look
forward to our return. Thank you again.
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Thank you so much for
a wonderful stay, and intend to return for a much-needed rejuvenating
sojourn.
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To have you open your
home and your hearts to perfect strangers and make them feel like old
friends so genuinely makes all feel so welcome! Thank you, thank you,
thank you! We demand you presence in the
States next June in order to meagrely return your gargantuan
hospitality!
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I feel that we have
met lifelong friends and have had the most wonderful time imaginable!
Andie, Nicky and the entire cast have been
both gracious and entertaining - and Louisa - the food. . . . XOXO
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(With a gift of some sheet music.)
A few additions for your wonderful repertoire --- It was such a really
wonderful time - we are definitely coming back next
year . . if you will have us! Please
come visit us in the US and again, many many
thanks for the most memorable of times.
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We are still basking
in the glow of Kincardine and just want you all to know how much we
enjoyed spending time in your home and getting to know you.
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We all had the trip of
a lifetime; meaning that it was filled with perfect days and perfect
nights. You are consummate hosts and consummate persons - piano playing,
dog training, singing, cooking, writing, sailing, guiding . . . wow!
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A---
remarked again this morning how much she had
been thinking of Scotland and how noisy and crowded it seems here now.
You've managed in a short week to seduce her from her visions of Vermont
as Shangri La.
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Our week with you both
at Kincardine was the highlight of the year - of the decade!
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Again, wonderful,
wonderful time had by all. Thanks Nicky and Andie
for your superb hospitality and for looking after us so well.
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Great Estate/ Great
Weather/ Great Food & Drink/ Magnificent Bradford FAMILY!
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Thank you for a great
holiday. The estate almost as wonderful as the hosts.
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A dream family
adventure - from planning via e-mail to arrival - through every
wonderful day and evening - thank you for an extraordinary week in your
castle.
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Thank you for
extending such warm hospitality to us. We really did feel 'at home'.
What a precious heritage you are protecting. God bless you as you
maintain community here.
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10 years later and
its better than ever.
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Once again you've made
your home our home. It just keeps getting better and better.
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from a US Foreign
Service Agent who wrote a kindly message in the visitor's book in 2003 -
as he put the pen down he said "Could be worse - it could be in
Baghdad!" - we insisted he wrote that bit in
too!
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Thank you, thank you
for another pound gaining, hill straining, elbow bending wonderful time.
Your largesse and hospitality are unmatched in all of Scotland.
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Yet another
extraordinary visit with the Bradfords in
lovely Kincardine. The best time, best company, best food.
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Whew, gosh, the night
of a thousand stars . . .
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Thank you so much for
a wonderful stay: excellent dinner, fantastic setting but mostly such a
personal welcome. A true honour to be a guest!
Merci encore!
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As an introduction to
Aberdeenshire, I cannot see how it could have been improved.
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Please hold on to this
beautiful house and all it represents. It is what makes you and your
family and the whole atmosphere of the place. It is worth the constant
effort it certainly will require.
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The combination of
good food, good wine, good conversation and faultless hospitality make
for an unforgettable experience.
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Thank you so much for
a beautiful weekend - its like stepping into
a fairy-tale. The scenery, setting, hospitality, food,
wine - everything has been magnificent. Can't
wait to return!
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What a wonderful
weekend. I cannot thank you enough for your amazing hospitality and for
all your help in planning this weekend. The aim at the outset was to
have a weekend to remember full of fun and relaxation. All of my
expectations have been exceeded. An absolutely wonderful time. I can't
thank both you and Nicky for a perfect weekend.
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We've been spoilt
rotten.
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Thank you all for
making us so welcome at Kincardine and for giving us such a happy,
comfortable and well-fed time. The music was delightful and so much
appreciated. The castle was just such a lovely, restful place to come
back to after our journeyings around the
countryside.
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I still can’t get over
the view from the Great Hall to the hills and their ever-changing
colours.
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It was really a joy to
stay in your lovely home, so full of atmosphere, and experience your
warmth and friendliness to people you have never met before. The cooking
was superb, and so lovely sitting at the long
table each night with the candelabra gleaming magnificently. You all
went to so much trouble.
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It was one of the most
enjoyable and memorable holidays that I have ever had. The food and wine
in particular were outstanding.
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What a
houseparty you put on for us in your lovely
castle. It was all so much fun while we learned of your history,
castles, country estates and architecture with decorative arts to feast
our eyes. You both were such delightful hosts and my memories of your
wonderful family will last forever. Many thanks for all your energy and
enthusiasm.
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Thank you so much for the wonderful
hospitality you gave to the group last week. Staying in a private home
instead of a hotel added hugely to their enjoyment of the tour. They
have all been very enthusiastic about the personal touch and the relaxed
and comfortable atmosphere.
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It was lovely to be
able to share your beautiful home for that all too short stay, with its
wonderful views, superb cuisine, every comfort and the pleasure of those
extra touches such as the musical interludes, the anecdotes and the
skirl of pipes! I will think back nostalgically on that nightly glass of
champagne and the elegant table settings which have been just two of the
spoiling features!
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Finally from an agent based in Scotland. “I
have heard so much of what you do at home for the groups you have and
now I have seen for myself. You were the best hosts I have ever seen -
the atmosphere was terrific and all the Americans loved being with you.
Your singing after dinner was amazing. I hope when 'our' Americans start
to travel that we will be able to pass some on to you as there is no
better house/castle for them to go to in the north.”
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