There are many thousands of Scottish holiday cottages and other self-catering properties available; but with a little time it’s possible to find some that are pretty special in terms of their nature, location or historical/literary associations. This article provides some suggestions as to how to choose self-catering accommodation that will make holiday in Scotland even more memorable.
Scottish Oddities: The Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a charity founded in 1965 with the specific intention of rescuing buildings of historic and architectural interest, restoring them for letting as self-catering apartments and, by so doing, giving them a purpose and allowing as many people as possible to enjoy them, with the letting income going to maintain the buildings in future.
A UK-wide organisation, the Trust manages 19 properties in Scotland. Perhaps the best-known – and most eccentric of its Scottish self-catering properties– is the Pineapple at Airth near Falkirk (sleeps 4), a former summer house for Lord Dunmore. Two properties designed by famous architect Charles Rennie Macintosh are also available to let, one in the Stirlingshire village of Comrie (sleeps 4) and one within the famous Hill House at Helensburgh (sleeps 6).
Other Landmark properties of interest include two sixteenth century tower houses in Dumfries and Galloway, the Castle of Park at Glenluce (sleeps 7) and the Old Place of Monreith in Port William (sleeps 6). And close to Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian (world-famous for its association with the Da Vinci Code), visitors can stay in the historic former inn visited by Boswell and Dr Johnson (sleeps 6) or in Rosslyn Castle (sleeps 7).
Historic Properties: the National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland has in its care many of Scotland’s most historic properties. Although its commercial activities are primarily targeted at day visitors, the Trust also owns a large number of individual properties for rent. More unusually, several of its large houses or castles contain self-catering units which are available to the public.
Perhaps the most famous of the Trust’s Scottish self-catering apartments is the Eisenhower Apartment at Culzean Castle, which it describes with some justification as ‘perhaps the most exclusive accommodation anywhere in Scotland’. A gift to America's President Eisenhower after the war, the presidential apartment (which accommodates up to 12 people) occupies the top floor of the castle and has stunning views. Unusually, rooms can be rented separately or the whole apartment may be booked.
Culzean isn’t the only place where visitors can enjoy the homes of the aristocracy. The former residence of the Dukes of Fife, Mar Lodge near Braemar, has a self-catering apartment with seven bedrooms, plus separate cottages in the grounds; while there are apartments within the castles at Brodie and Fyvie castles.
The Trust also owns apartments in some of Scotland's historic town centres. The pick of these is probably the one-bedroom apartment in Gladstone’s Land, in a prime location on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile; there are also historic properties to let in towns and villages such as Cromarty, Kirkcudbright, Falkland and Whithorn.
Other Unusual Accommodation
Since the programme of automation of Scotland’s lighthouses, many of the former keepers’ cottages have been sold off and a significant number have been converted to self-catering accommodation. Remote by their very nature, they are ideal for visitors in search of stunning views and some peace and quiet – and who don’t mind travelling to get there (lighthouse.cc).
The National Trust for Scotland owns self-catering cottages at four lighthouses, generally sleeping four or six. The locations are at Scotland’s most southerly point, the Mull of Galloway; the famous Mull of Kintyre; the spectacularly scenic Point of Stoer in the far north-west; and Covesea Skerries at Lossiemouth. Other, privately-owned, lighthouse cottages are also available including those at Loch Indaal, Rattray Head and Sumburgh on Shetland.
Visitors can stay in traditional thatched blackhouses in the Outer Hebrides; and the former Abbey at Fort Augustus has been developed into a high-quality holiday club with associated facilities. Many of the self-catering apartments within the former abbey are available to rent, some of them with stunning views along Loch Ness.
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