Holiday cottages in Scotland

From the scenic Scottish Borders and the magic of its many islands to its wild Highlands and world-class cities, Scotland’s beauty lies in its diversity. The tough bit is picking a place for your cottage break. To give you an idea of what this incredible country offers, here are a few of our recommendations.

The Highlands

Wild, beautiful and packed with adventure – if those three things feature highly on your list of ‘must-haves’ for a cottage holiday, then the Scottish Highlands might just be for you.

Obvious choices include Fort William and area surrounding Ben Nevis, Loch Ness (which offers so much more than its resident monster), the rugged Isle of Skye and the magnificent Cairngorms National Park, Scotland’s colossal green heart.

If you’re after somewhere a bit more ‘under the radar’, you won’t have to look too hard, either – The Highlands is one of the most sparsely populated areas in Europe. Consider Torridon, Dornoch or the wonderfully-named Tongue, for a break minus the crowds.

Villages, towns and cities

If you’re after a holiday cottage that is less out of the way, consider booking accommodation near to one of Scotland’s brilliant cities.

For Edinburgh, look to Cockenzie or Livingston. For Glasgow, Bearsden or Glenmavis are close by. And for relative newcomer Perth – it became a city in 2012, as a part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations – options include Comrie and Pitlochry.

You’ll find similar cottages close to UNESCO City of Design Dundee, Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, Sterling, whose Old Town is unmissable, and coastal Aberdeen.

Coastal Scotland

Thousands of miles long, the Scottish coast is as varied and charming as they come – and perfect for a cottage holiday.

Top beaches include Seacliff, Big Sands and Sango Bay. If you’re looking to enjoy a lovely backdrop close to one of its lochs, Loch Linnhe, Loch Fyne and Loch Gairloch are all well worth a visit.

For more of an adventure, book a hire car and experience the North Coast 500. Often described as Scotland’s ‘Route 66’, this spectacular road trip takes in over 500 miles of breathtaking Scottish scenery, starting and ending at Inverness Castle.