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15+ fabulous places to stay in Scotland

Looking for fabulous places to stay in Scotland to get away from it all? From romantic cottages to luxury log cabins, boutique hotels to campsites here are my picks of the best places to stay in Scotland. Looking to plan the perfect Scotland staycation? We’ve tried and tested all of them so you are guaranteed a great choice of places to stay in Scotland.

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The romantic hut on the NC500: The Birdwatcher’s Cabin

Where: Loch Fleet, Golspie

The North Coast 500 might be right outside your door, but hidden on its own beach, the silence at the Birdwatcher’s Cabin is only interrupted by the whistling cry of an osprey taking flight over Loch Fleet’s endless stretch of sand dunes, mudflats, and 100-year-old Scots pinewoods.

Massages are available in the cabin, along with luxury foodie packages and nearby visit the fairy tale, Dunrobin Castle, to explore the gardens and watch the daily falconry displays. Visit the waterfalls at the Big Burn, and if you are feeling energetic there are mountain bike trails on Ben Bhraggie – or you could climb to the top for a view!

Book the Birdwatcher’s Cabin

log cabins in scotland

The luxury log cabin in the woods: Eagle Brae

Where? Struy, near Beauly, Inverness-shire

If you are looking for true luxury accommodation in the Scottish highlands, then let me introduce you to Eagle Brae, a small and exclusive village of 7 beautiful self-catering cedar log cabins.

Hidden deep in Inverness-shire, close to Glen Affric, Scotland’s most beautiful glen, Eagle Brae offers incredible scenery, five-star accommodation and genuine warmth in welcome. Look out for the resident red stag, goats and a Bernese Mountain Dog!

Book: Eagle Brae

Glen Dye

The hipster hangout: Glen Dye

Where? Glen Dye, Aberdeenshire

At the heart of a beautiful 15,000 acre Aberdeenshire estate which rises up from the River Dye to the peak of local icon Clachnaben, are Glen Dye cabins and cottage. 

Offering up rural Highland adventures with a large dollop of luxury, at Glen Dye you can book into one of eight luxury holiday cottages alongside more adventurous glamping options including a 1950s airstream, a converted sawmill and a ‘garden camp‘. 

My favourite is the North Lodge and River Cabin, a pretty three-bed self catering cottage which comes with its own fabulous cabin in the woods, an off grid hot tub and even its own stretch of the River Dye for wild swimming.

Book: North Lodge and River Cabin

places to stay in Scotland

The Bed & Breakfast in the Cairngorms: Balsporran 

Where? By Dalwhinnie, Cairngorms National Park

With four simple, but luxurious, guest bedrooms, Balsporran B&B welcomes its guests into an incredibly warm and stylish space in the heart of the Cairngorms.

Where Balsporran excels is through its food – owner’s Geoff and Fiona offer breakfast to die for (or worthy of a Munro bagging expedition) and tasty evening meals all served communally. Fiona’s Kitchen is also open serving coffee and amazing cakes Fri-Sun 9-5pm.

Book Balsporran B&B

luxury hotels in Scotland

The 5-star Scotland hotel: The Torridon 

Where, Torridon, North West Highlands (on the North Coast 500)

The The Torridon Hotel is a luxury hotel in the most dramatic of locations. With its own herd of highland coos, the friendliest staff (ever!) and a spectacular location on the loch, the Torridon Hotel makes for a destination which invites you to check in, and not check back out.

There is a gorgeous restaurant, a whisky bar with over 350 drams to try, activities including clay pigeon shooting on site, and Munros to bag in all directions.

Book The Torridon

The luxury farm stay near Edinburgh: Eastside Cottages

Where: Just 7 miles outside of Edinburgh

Hidden beneath the peaks of the Pentlands – the shapely Kips and towering Scald Law – is Eastside, a working free-range Scottish Blackface sheep farm which has been in the Cowan family since 1850. Eastside is home to five luxurious self-catering holiday cottages, perfectly located for exploring the surrounding hills or making forages into the bright lights of nearby Edinburgh. 

Choose from one of three architectural gems – the stylish Cartshed and the Wash House and over the valley, the Westside Woodshed, which are perfect for couples – and for families and groups (and muddy pups) the Steading Cottage and Byre Cottage.  Across the farm, Eastside Cottages can accommodate 12 if you want to bring the whole family! 

Book: Byre Cottage (2 bedroom), the Wash House (couples), the Steading (2 beds), and the Westside Woodshed (couples)

Self catering cottages Scotland

The cabin with a hot tub: The Hideaway Experience

Where? 10 minutes north of Dundee

Just 15-minutes outside the arty-cool city of Dundee and set in the rolling fields of a 650-acre barley, coo & sheep farm in the Sidlaw Hills is The Hideaway Experience, four luxury cabins, just for couples.

With views across seemingly endless barley fields, choose between one of three ultra-modern lodges, the Dreamers, the Honeymooners, or the Lovers, or the cute and cosy (and dog-friendly) the Romantics cottage and settle into your own tiny piece of rural heaven. Each lodge has a hot tub – perfect for stargazing.

Book The Hideaway Experience

Fairmont St Andrews

The foodie feast: The Fairmont St Andrews

Where? Overlooking St Andrews, Fife

Offering up two golf courses, a spa and six restaurants, The Fairmont St Andrews is something a little special. Perched up above St Andrews’ Bay, the Fairmont St Andrews was fully refurbished in 2017 with a warm, sleek, and masculine mid-century modern American style.  

The Fairmont St Andrews’ International Brunch takes place on the first Sunday of every month – it is unlike any buffet you will ever experience anywhere else. Check-in for (probably) Scotland’s best brunch.

Book The Fairmont St Andrews

The luxury spa hotel Scotland – Portavadie 

Where? Loch Fyne, Argyll

On the banks of beautiful Loch Fyne on Scotland’s remote Cowal Peninsula sits Portavadie, a marina resort with a quite unbelievable view. Wind your way along the west coast sea lochs to Argyll’s ‘Secret Coast’ and check into Portavadie. Opened in 2010, Portavadie offers up a hotel and apartment complex all set around a 260-berth yachting marina.

Choose from luxury townhouses complete with saunas, lodge-style hotel rooms, cute family cottages or two couples retreats. With two restaurants and a cafe on site and a £10m spa and leisure complex with utterly incredible views, you could arrive at Portavadie and never want to leave.

Book Portavadie Hotel and Spa

The Hotel on Loch Lomond – The Lodge on Loch Lomond

Where: By Luss, Loch Lomond

Located just 30 minutes from the centre of Glasgow, the Lodge on Loch Lomond has an enviable position on the banks on the loch. Checking in you can choose between the hotel’s stylish ‘Munros’ and ‘Corbett’ rooms which overlook the loch from Douglas Fir balconies and have their own saunas or selection of suites, including the Carter Suite (named after the US president who stayed here) and the gorgeous new Travis Suite.

The original loch building contains the hotel’s AA rosette restaurant – a split-level space, with huge fires, comfy chairs, all designed to get you comfortable in front of the view.

Book the Lodge on Loch Lomond

places to stay in Scotland

The best campsite for activities: Comrie Croft

Where, by Comrie, Perthshire

With gorgeous views, quietly secluded woodland pitches, sunny camping fields, a hostel, Swedish katas, a friendly vibe, a great little cafe, mountain biking trails, as well a gold award for green tourism, it is safe to say that Comrie Croft ticks all the campsite boxes.

Plus there is loads to do nearby including an animal park, watersports on Loch Tay, the Bliss arts trail, and beautiful walks. Or just put your feet up in front of the fire!

Book: Comrie Croft

The foodie destination: Ballintaggart Farm and The Grantully Hotel

Where? Near Aberfeldy, Perthshire

Fancy learning to cook whilst staying in your own luxury farmhouse steading? Ballingtaggart Farm offers cooking classes and feast suppers deep in the Perthshire countryside. Stay in the converted Ballintaggart Steading. Over in Grandtully, The Grantully Hotel offers refined rooms and fabulous food and a self catering cottage, East End.

Self catering cottages Scotland

The fashionable staycation in Scotland: Lochinshelloch Cottage

Where? Cawdor Estate, near Nairn

In the Highlands of Scotland, 12 miles from Inverness, and home to a castle dubiously connected to Shakespeare’s Scottish Play, Lochinshelloch Cottage on the Cawdor Estate is a remote rural hideaway really worth discovering.

Make yourself at home on a 42-thousand acre, 700-year old Scottish Highlands estate surrounded by redwoods, roe deer and rambling paths which lead to you a rather nice country pub. If you can bear to share, Lochinshelloch Cottage sleeps six.

Read more and book: Lochinshelloch Cottage

Three Chimneys House Over By Skye

The restaurant with rooms: The Three Chimneys and House Over By

Where? Loch Dunvegan Isle of Skye

With a six-hour drive from Edinburgh or Glasgow and three hours to the closest airport, you need to make an effort for your dinner at The Three Chimneys. However, on arrival at this string of tiny whitewashed croft cottages perched on the banks of Loch Dunvegan, your efforts are seriously rewarded.

You truly have reached somewhere quite special. Suites in the House Over By have views over the loch, Scandinavian shabby chic style and a bathroom large enough to live in – and the 2018 UK restaurant of the year was just across the way… Read more and book: The Three Chimneys

More places to stay on the Isle of Skye

log cabins in scotland

The idyllic hut in the woods: Lazy Duck

Where? Nethy Bridge, the Cairngorms

If you dream retreating to a tiny log cabin in the woods, then I have the perfect spot for you. With an 8-bed hostel, a beautifully quiet 4-pitch campsite and three romantic eco huts, the Lazy Duck is a little piece of off-grid heaven.

Check into the Woodman’s Hut, a tiny house for two made out of a 260-year-old Scots Pine, recycled from where it fell. With a little house on the prairie interior, complete with cabin bed (at a height perfect for viewing the hills), a skylight for stargazing at night, and two old, overstuffed armchairs in front of the fire – it instantly transports you back to a much simpler time.

Read more and book: The Lazy Duck

More places to stay in the Cairngorms National Park

Coastal glamping: Catchpenny Safari Lodges

Where? East Neuk of Fife

Perched on the coast between Elie and St Monans is Catchpenny Safari Lodges – 8 luxury glamping tents. Sleeping up to six in three bedrooms (a double, a twin and a rather cute cabin bed) and decorated in a ‘safari meets luxury Scotland ‘style.

The safari tents have everything you would wish for – including a nifty wood-burning oven which also doubles up as your heater. Sit out on your deck, light your fire pit and watch the sun go down over Elie Lighthouse and the Lady’s Tower… it’s glamping perfection!

Read more: Catchpenny Safari Lodges.

More places to stay in Scotland

Love from Scotland x

James

Monday 8th of November 2021

If I could add 1 more. The Flodigarry Country house hotel near Staffin / Portree in Skye. You have to experience it.

Alasdair

Tuesday 11th of December 2018

If I can make one addition - Knoydart Hide up in Inverie. That is great hideway luxury accommodation.

Albion

Wednesday 21st of March 2018

Every single one of those looks fantastic--even the camping sites, and I'm not a camper at all! I'll keep these places in mind as we start planning our summer travel.

Kathi

Saturday 17th of March 2018

I love the idea of making an itinerary around the quirky places you want to stay in! Comrie Croft has been on my bucket list since a friend from America told me she had worked there one summer and loved it. Need to plan a camping weekend this summer!!! I also really love the campsite on Rum - perfect getaway and the best views!

Love from, Smidge

Monday 19th of March 2018

I'm already booked into Comrie in July - really looking forward to going back for (i think) our 6th visit.

Skye Class

Thursday 15th of March 2018

Wow, I want to visit everyone of these places. I love boutique hotels, and those house boats look magical! These are all going on my bucket list!