Duncan's Cottage at Royal Hillsborough

23/03/2026

23/03/2026

Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve posted about Duncan’s Cottage @ Royal Hillsborough—life has been wonderfully busy! 🏡✨

2025 marked our first year running the cottage as a short-term rental, and what a year it was! I’m thrilled to share that we’ve been awarded Superhost Status on Airbnb, along with 50 five-star reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. We’ve welcomed guests from all over the world including Canada, USA, Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Australia—and the feedback has been incredible. Over on Booking.com, we’ve also received 61 exceptional reviews!

Looking ahead, we’re nearly booked out for the rest of 2026, with just the odd gap here and there, and we’re now taking bookings through to April 2027.

We’ve had the pleasure of hosting fantastic guests—whether staying for one night or two weeks—for cosy romantic breaks, visiting family and friends, or business trips. It’s been wonderful to see so many fall in love with what Royal Hillsborough has to offer for dining, exploring, and beyond—not to mention all that Northern Ireland has to offer further afield.

Thank you to every guest who has stayed with us and made this journey so special! 🥰 If you’re thinking of a future stay, now’s the time to get in touch.

16/08/2025

☀️ What a Summer at Duncan’s Cottage! ☀️

We’ve had an incredible, fully booked summer here at Duncan’s Cottage, and we’re feeling so grateful for all the amazing guests who’ve stayed with us these past few months! 💛

From relaxed picnics by Hillsborough Lake, to buzzing weekends filled with artisan markets, castle tours, forest walks, live music, and world-class food—Royal Hillsborough and the surrounding area have been alive with energy and charm.

It’s been a joy to welcome guests from near and far, and the feedback has been nothing short of heartwarming! Whether it was for a mini-moon, a peaceful retreat, or a short break to explore NI, our wee cottage has been buzzing with great craic and good vibes. 🏡✨

🍂 Looking Ahead…
We’re already receiving lots of bookings for Autumn, Winter, and even into 2026 , and we can’t wait to welcome returning and new guests alike! Think crisp woodland walks, roaring fires, fairy-lit village evenings, and a warm, cosy base to unwind.

📅 We still have some dates available, so if you’re dreaming of a seasonal escape with charm, comfort, and that little extra sparkle—you know where to find us!

01/06/2025

01/06/2025

A long weekend 🤝 the perfect time to visit! Head down to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens this bank holiday!

☀️ Come rain or shine you can have a wonderful time in the gardens, with 100 acres to explore 🤩 ☔

01/06/2025

09/05/2025

🌟 Too Good Not to Share! 🌟

We just had to share this wonderful review from our latest guest all the way from Australia — you couldn’t ask for better praise than this! 🇦🇺✨

💬 “So impressed by the quality of the cottage and generosity of the hosts!!

Absolutely everything!
Communication, location, presentation at Duncan’s Cottage is a masterclass in how to offer faultless, tasteful hospitality.
Congratulations Shelley and Randy.
I feel I am reasonably well-travelled, and Duncan’s Cottage is on my top five self-catering style accommodation list.
Ours was only an overnight stay & in future I will base myself in the gorgeous village of Hillsborough and explore surrounding Belfast, Downpatrick, Mountains of Mourne from here.”*

We are beyond grateful for kind words like these—it’s what makes hosting so rewarding 💛

📅 Limited spring & summer availability—book your unforgettable stay now and come experience the magic of Duncan’s Cottage for yourself!