REVIEWS
This was our second time at Holmfield. Thanks to beautiful weather the week has passed too quickly. Gill and Mike have been as welcoming as ever. From the moment we stepped through the pink front door in glorious sunshine we have felt very much at home. The 2023 art works are all very engaging and we were pleased to see that a few old favourites remain. The most wonderful local walk is around Kettlaness. We have also enjoyed walking on Mousa, St Ninians Isle, Sumburgh Head and the Noss boat trip.
Thank you Gill and Mike and we hope to see you again.
Margaret and Stephen, August/September 2023
Thank you Gill and Mike for a wonderful stay. You made us feel like part of the family. Thanks for being so helpful and therefore allowing us to see lots of stuff. It was lovely to spend the evening with you both and have a long chat.
The cottage was really homely with everything we could possibly want which is very important in Shetland as you need to be self sufficient. Shetland is such a beautiful place as being close to nature brings wonder back into your life.
We loved Shetland so much we are seriously thinking about retiring here.
You were both great hosts.
Michael and Kirsty, August 2023
I have wanted to visit Shetland for years – and now I have finally managed to scratch the surface of this lovely group of islands. Many more return visits are indicated! Holmfield has been a wonderful base for exploring, and Gill and Mike have truly thought of everything – even down to details of walks. My favourite beach is Minn, I loved all the geological sites at Eshaness (as was Lunch at da Haaf). There is also a good walk along the Ness of Westshore (Scalloway). I am sorry to be leaving this relaxing, bright, welcoming home. Even the weather behaved!
Anne, August 2023
Thank you Gill and Mike for a wonderful first stay at Holmfield. We have very much enjoyed our time here. It has been a lovely week of peacefulness and appreciating the finer things in life. It has been a nice break away from technology etc, that very much encapsulates our world nowadays…sometimes it is great to appreciate the things around us! Holmfield is a lovely area away from all the noise, cars and business that surround us down south.
We’d also like to thank Mike for our very enjoyable jewellery making session – we all love our rings we created. Thank you Gill for making us so welcome and hope to be back again sometime.
Janet, Graham, Kerri and Ryan. July 2023
We had such a wonderful week, we definitely hope to be back some day!
It was amazing to see so many puffins, particularly on the Isle of Noss and near Muckle Flugga, and the lighthouse near the south. The location of Holmfield is absolutely spectacular. We enjoyed feeding the Shetland ponies and also seeing some non-native wildlife at the outpost. We are so sad that our stay on the Shetlands ends here, particularly after such a great week at Holmfield.
Natalia, Myuriel and Mark, July 2023
Dear Gill and Mike, thank you for your warm welcome, we had a wonderful week here! Next time we won’t miss the Orcas and Otters and complete the drawings.
Valentine, Benjamin, Samuel and Mathias, July 2023
Our second holiday at Holmfield and all memories and expectations met or exceeded. We have had lovely sunny weather with an ideal temperature for walking. The house remains comfortable and beautifully equipped.
Best walk was Westerwick coast from Silwick and we strongly recommend fish and chips from Frankies at Brae.
Thank you Gill and Mike for your help, and anticipate seeing you again in a couple of years.
Sue and Mick, July 2023
We had the most wonderful and restful (although Gill might not agree) time here in our Shetland home. Going back to our Shetland favourite places and discovering new ones – an island per holiday, this time Out Skerries!
So lovely to see our special friends the five ponies through the window. Otherwise we saw Minke whales, Selkies, Puffins, 2 Neesiks and one Otter close up!
Thanks for your lovely hospitality – of course we will be back for more entertainment.
Cora and Nic, June 2023
Sometimes it’s easy to believe that time behaves differently in Shetland. It hardly seems possible that we have been here for two weeks, of beautiful blue skies and unbroken sunshine. As always, it’s hard to tear ourselves from Shetland and from this lovely spot in particular. No-one could wish for kinder, more thoughtful hosts than Gill and Mike.
Maureen and Pat, June 2023
Thank you Gill and Mike for our wonderful stay again in Holmfield. It was a much needed break, which we looked forward to all year! Holmfield holds a very dear place in our hearts and we are taking home and boost of peace and tranquility. It was a joy to sit in the sunshine in the little garden on that first morning amidst the stunning tulips! When we need a quiet moment in days to come we shall remember that morning especially.
Thank you both for your thoughtfulness and kindness, in helping us to have a wonderful holiday. We are all ready looking forward to our stay next year.
Geraldine and Chris, May 2023
Dear Mike and Gill,
Another wonderful visit and welcoming return. As always, your cottage is a delight to live in and so well equipped. We are already looking forward to our September visit.
Charles, Bonnie and Tim, May 2023
It has been a real pleasure to stay here again, and to experience Shetland.
The weather has been lively! but hasn’t stopped us getting out and about. We stayed on the mainland this time, and had a good time exploring all the dead end roads etc. Still plenty to see I’m sure and we hope to see you again sometime.
Jill and David, October 2022
What an amazing place! Perfect. So welcoming and well equipped. The tea loaf was sumptuous. Our first visit to Shetland, being lured up by an old friend who has returned home after wandering for many years. First impression is the weather, mainly the amazing winds! (luckily we love weather). Lovely, lovely people here. Never thought I would see a wallaby though! Thank you again, Gill and Mike.
Sue and Alan, September 2022.
We have all had a great week exploring the islands. The weather has been great, dry and not too much wind. We had a great visit up to Unst and through Yell. We would love to return sometime to see more. The cottage has all you need and is well stocked. Thank you Gill and Mike for such a warm welcome. Catriona and Ian and Marjorie. September 2022.
We have had a lovely, relaxing week at Holmfield. Thank you for the warm welcome and useful milk and lovely lemon drizzle cake. The cottage has been just perfect- I could have stayed for many more weeks. We have stayed in a lot of cottages over the years and this may well be the best. A highlight were the seals at Sanik beach and a walk round Houssness on the most perfect day weatherwise. Minn beach and St. Ninians are delightful. Thanks again for your hospitality and welcome. I shall look forward to wearing my “Fair Isle” necklace and looking at the pictures. See you next year! Sarah & Steve Jones, August 2022
It’s very fun and comfy and we done so many things here. We go to Shetland a lot but we have always found it hard to find somewhere to stay but now we know where to stay. Freya and family, August 2022
Our stay at Holmfield has been a wonderful experience. Gill and Mike are excellent hosts. They welcomed us on arrival and showed us around this outstandingly beautiful house, full of light and colour. We really enjoyed being surrounded by interesting works of art and visiting the Red Houss studio. Of the recommended walks in Burra the highlight for us was Kettlaness where we even saw a whale as well as dozens of birds, including black guillemots. Margaret and Stephen, July 2022
A great week with the weather being kind to us. Thank you for your hospitality Gill and Mike, the house was ideal for a week of exploring. Shetland has so much to explore, we will be back from highland Perthshire. The highlights for us being the night-time storm petrel watching at Mousa Broch. A simply stunning wildlife spectacle. Still a bit more exploring time today before returning to the mainland. Richard and Kathy, July 2022
We had a wonderful stay at Holmfield! Thank you very much, Gill and Mike, for your warm welcome and for your helpful hints for going to Unst! Holmfield is a very well equipped stylishly furnished – we felt very comfortable here. We have been waiting to come to Shetland since 2019 – we are so glad we finally made it. We very much enjoyed Hermaness, Eshaness, Sumburgh Head and seeing so many interesting seabirds – Puffins, Terns, Gannets, Skuas, Red Throated Divers. We are still hoping to see Otters and Orcas tomorrow. We hope to come back to Holmfield one day but it is a long way from Germany. Clara, Jakob, Boris and Sarah, July 2022
On our first visit to these stunning islands that have been on our bucket list for a while. We were not disappointed, not one bit. Thank you, Michael and Gill, for all your help and advice. This holiday home is a credit to you both. Peg adored the lemon drizzle cake. Very very windy the first few days, no rain until Friday, bright sunny days until then and you are correct Michael, go west, good advice. Wildlife and wild flowers in abundance here such a joy to behold. Off to Yell Unst and Fetlar now for a few days so looking forward to much of the same. Best wishes. Dave and Peg, June-July 2022
After a busy couple of months (including moving house!) we have had a great relaxing week here – walking, meals out and also relaxing with feet up watching the weather. Thank you Gill and Mike for all the thoughtful touches and warm welcome. Alistair and Anthony, June 2022
Third time lucky! After having to postpone our holiday due to Covid for two years, we finally returned to the beautiful islands and Holmfield – and our special friends, the four ponies. We had and amazing time with many happy memories and we saw ‘the Shetland big 5’ – Orcas, Otters, Seals, Puffins and Shetland ponies! Thanks to Gill and Mike for a lovely stay – and the most delicious lemon drizzle cake! We will be back.
Cora and Nic, June 2022
Finally! At last we managed to get here for our second stay at Holmfield! We have been looking forward to this week for such a long time. It has been a delightful, restorative holiday, which we both really needed. We are going home refreshed with more happy memories of Shetland and Holmfield. Holmfield now has a very special place in our hearts. Thank you so much Gill and Mike for your “wrap around” kindness and generosity. We are looking forward to returning again. Geraldine and Chris, May 2022