Mallard Lodge is a brilliant single-storey wooden cabin you'll find in a scenic part of East Ayrshire. This unique and compact property sits just 0.1 miles from a private fishing lake and has been awarded perfect 5/5 ratings from previous guests here. The lodge offers a peaceful countryside escape with plenty of modern comforts and a fantastic outdoor space. Head out onto the south-facing balcony and take in those lovely views over the water.
Set within peaceful country surroundings, this accommodation is ideal for guests looking for an escape from everyday life surrounded by nature. There's loads to do on-site too with activities such as clay shooting, archery, air rifle practice, fishing and even axe throwing! The property sits 4.8 miles from the nearest shops if you need to stock up and there's also a popular country pub you'll want to check out.
Inside you'll find a bright and attractive open-plan space with a well-equipped kitchen with electric oven, two-ring hob and everything else you could need. The king-size bedroom includes a Smart TV and a posh walk-in wardrobe. There's also a modern shower room with a heated towel rail. And the ramp access makes the property accessible for all guests.
Ready to head out and see the area? There are some great attractions a short drive away. Visit Dumfries House (15 miles/25 minutes), Dean Castle Country Park (7 miles/15 minutes), Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (12 miles/20 minutes) or Ayr Beach (16 miles/30 minutes).
Perfect for couples wanting a rural getaway with an excellent location and plenty of activities on the doorstep. Relax in the hot tub with lake views after a day of adventures or just chill in these fantastic surroundings. Mallard Lodge won't disappoint. Check your availability today.
At Sykes Cottages
19 reviews from guests who stayed at Mallard Lodge
Stunning views and great location. The lodge itself could have been cleaner, we ended up finding an vape down the side of the couch.. And please note, if you want ice for your drinks, there is no freezer. The bedroom was spacious but the mattress could do with replacing to a more comfortable one But overall, we had a lovely stay and enjoyed the hot tub very much. Booking was easy and checking in and out with the key safe was great
My fianc, our dog and I had a lovely few nights stay here. It was cosy, relaxing and the perfect place to unwind. There was a great variety of activities to choose from during our stay, and we decided to try the clay shooting and air rifle. A big thank you to Brian for taking us clay shooting and showing us the ropes, and to Jay for helping us and showing us how to use the air rifle. We really enjoyed both activities and had such a great time. Jay was incredibly welcoming, generous and kind, which made our stay even more enjoyable. Well definitely be booking to stay again and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing getaway with plenty to do!
Great little cabin. Clearly quite new. Immaculate. Easy to find following the directions. Beautiful view across the lake and countryside and so far from any traffic that you can literally escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The host welcomed us and was very friendly. Couldnt ask for more. Will definitely return.
Me and my partner recently stayed at the mallard lodge with our dog. Facilities were clean and easy accessible. Jay was very accommodating and also gave us please ty of privacy. It was also a bonus she had a little dog which was extremely friendly and playful. The dogs had fields to run around in. Grounds were lovely for walks. We enjoyed the scenery and the wildlife. Lodge and hottub were clean and decor up to good standard. Would definitely go back
Amazing lodge to stay at. Enjoyed waking up in the morning looking over the lake and a lovely view. The owner, Jay, was very welcoming and very helpful. Invited us in for drinks and boardgames one evening. Really nice location with plenty to do on site and around. Inside was brilliant. All rooms are great, everything you need is there. Nice to have a hot tub that your able to use aswell as a great sized shower too. Highly recommend to anyone thats looking for a relaxing holiday at a nice place of scenery!
The owner was very friendly and knowledgeable, only saw her a couple of times ... The owner was very friendly and knowledgeable, only saw her a couple of times but she was very approachable , hot tub could do with a little maintenance
Property could have been cleaner and could do with a really deep clean Apart from that has everything you need for a nice stay Not so good when people are out clay pigeon shooting most of the day but didnt start until 10am ish so not a big deal as we were out for the day but definitely a watch out !
It was a nice break storm Dave so weather not great, everything in the lodge was functional, I had to fix the w Roller blinds in the bedroom no Biggie, it would benefit from some fimer touches, like for instance a shower mat to stand on instead of having to use a hand towel but overall pretty good. Roof rattled quite a lot due to the wind, the electrics tripped once due to to many appliances on at once IE heater, kettle, very helpful the owner's came to reset it straight away. The bin is at the beginning of the drive around a mile down the road don't walk unless you want to get the steps in
Was not happy overall. Bed not comfy. Waiting on water heating up for shower. Cleanliness throughout was bad.
Had such a wonderful team cant thank the owner enough. The location was amazing and the lodge was beautiful and the Hot Tub was great. Definitely going back and a big thank you to the owner. and the owners dog was beautiful.
Brilliant place to stay. Lovely view. Had a go at archery. Would stay there again.
Excellent property nice and clean and in a lovely quiet location would definitely recommend
Lovely little lodge. Great king bed and walk in shower. Fantastic hot tub. Lovely lake Outlook to the rear with picture window. Loads of activities if you want. Fishing shooting archery and much more
Lovely 2 night stay lodge is very cosy and well equipped. Jay the owner was lovely and welcoming. Gorgeous view and surroundings.
This cottage was a disgrace, we were driving around trying to find it for over an hour, we had to ask somebody, and they told us it was 2 miles down this dirt track, so we find it, the floor was full of dust, cobwebs everywhere and grime in all corners, the cups in the cupboard had been drank out of, then instead of washing, were put straight back in cupboard, there was no ttowel,paint was peeling off bathroom skirting board, there was hair everywhere in the bedroom, pet hair and human hair, the carpet was thick with them, the bed was broken, and a block of wood was holding one end of the bed up, there was no pillow cases on some of the pillows, at 4. 30 am my partner had woken up and was covered head to toe in a rash, we packed up straight away and came home, it was a nightmare, we had tried contacting the phone number left in the lodge but it was never answered, i got in touch with sykes to get my money back, but could have to wait 30 days just for a reply,
We loved our 2 night stay, the weather wasn't on our side but you don't rely on sunshine when on holiday in Scotland. We used the muti activity option also and loved that so would definitely recommend.
Our stay was amazing loved every minute and didnt want to leave. Gorgeous views and owner was very helpful.
Lovely peaceful place to stay, plenty to do in area, beautiful views, nice clean cabin, lovely owner who was very helpful.
We had a lovely stay at Mallard Lodge. A very peaceful location and a very cosy lodge with a hot tub. We would love to stay again in the future.
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of Mallard Lodge, with real driving times.
Sat nav: ML1 3RT
Scotland's Theme Park beside Strathclyde Park, with roller coasters, a tropical house, glow-in-the-dark bowling and soft play.
M&D's is an amusement park in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, bordering Strathclyde Park. It has two roller coasters, including Runaway Mine Train and the children's Big Apple, plus thrill rides such as Air Raid and a pirate ship, and Moby's Revenge, a three-lane dinghy water slide. Younger children have their own junior rides, including trampolines.
Tip: Check the park's website for opening times before you go, as hours differ between attractions.
Sat nav: KA3 1XB
A 14th century Kilmarnock castle with arms, armour and early musical instruments, set in a 200-acre country park.
Dean Castle is a 14th century stronghold in Kilmarnock, once home to the Boyd family, who were lords of Kilmarnock for over 400 years. The keep dates from around 1350 and has walls two to three metres thick. Inside, the Great Hall displays collections of arms and armour, while the solar holds early musical instruments.
Sat nav: KA1 3BU
Ayrshire's largest museum and gallery in Kilmarnock, with big touring exhibitions, natural history displays and a tearoom.
The Dick Institute in Kilmarnock opened in 1901 and houses the largest museum and gallery spaces in Ayrshire, alongside East Ayrshire's central library. Its main gallery hosts major touring exhibitions, often in partnership with national institutions such as the V&A and National Galleries Scotland, and it has been described as "Scotland's finest municipal gallery".
Tip: The venue is signposted once you are in Kilmarnock, with car parking around it and town centre parking a 5-minute walk away.
Sat nav: KA18 2NJ
An Adam-designed Ayrshire mansion with its original Chippendale furniture, set in a large estate of woodland and gardens.
Dumfries House is a Palladian country house near Cumnock in Ayrshire, built in the 1750s by the architects John and Robert Adam. It is known for still holding much of its original 18th-century furniture, including pieces specially commissioned from Thomas Chippendale. The house was saved for the nation in 2007 and now serves as the headquarters of The King's Foundation charity.
Tip: Check the Dumfries House website to book a house tour before you go, as the house is visited by tour rather than turning up.
Sat nav: G3 8AG
Glasgow's best-loved free museum, with 22 galleries covering art, animals, Ancient Egypt and Mackintosh.
Kelvingrove is a major art gallery and museum in Glasgow's West End, set in Kelvingrove Park. The Spanish Baroque building opened in 1901, and its 22 galleries display over 8,000 objects. The collections range from natural history, Egyptian antiquities and armour to Scottish history, design and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, plus one of Europe's great civic art collections.
Tip: Download the floor plan or the free digital guide before you go, to pick out the must-see objects first.
Sat nav: G43 1AT
Glasgow's award-winning museum holds 6,000 years of art and history, set in Pollok Country Park.
The Burrell Collection is a museum in Glasgow that houses the art collection of Sir William Burrell, a shipping magnate, and his wife Constance, Lady Burrell. It spans 6,000 years of art and history, with highlights including Rodin's The Thinker, Rembrandt's Self Portrait, a Degas portrait, a Ming Dynasty meiping vase and a tapestry of a falcon fighting a heron.
Tip: Pick up the museum's top 30 objects list and head for those first, then explore Pollok Country Park next door.
Sat nav: KA7 4PQ
Step inside the thatched cottage in Alloway where Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, was born.
Burns Cottage is the birthplace of Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, who was born here in 1759. Built by his father, William Burnes, in 1757, it is a long, low, thatched building of clay with four rooms, set on the main street of Alloway in South Ayrshire. It forms part of the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.
Tip: Head for the kitchen alcove first to see the bed box where Burns was born.
Sat nav: G41 5BW
A house built from Charles Rennie Mackintosh's 1901 designs, in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park.
House for an Art Lover is an arts and cultural centre in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow. It was built between 1989 and 1996 from a design that Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife, Margaret MacDonald, produced in 1901 for a German magazine competition. The house in that competition was never built, so this is a later interpretation of their drawings, realised with contributions from many contemporary artists.
Full guide to days out near Mallard Lodge »
Drive times are typical times by car with no traffic. Check opening times and book tickets on each attraction's own website before you go.
