Seven Cosy Hideaways in Scotland to Book Now

Scotland is a destination that does cosy countryside hideouts like no other. We’ve pulled together the best bothies and Scandi-Scot-style boltholes that still have availability for autumn/ winter 2020. Planning a staycation? Book now, before we do.

05 October, 2020

Words by
Robbie Hodges

Why is it that as soon as the weather turns from balmy to barmy, the lure of golden coastlines starts to wane and cosy countryside hideouts surrounded by blustery tumult become infinitely more appealing?

Scotland is a destination that does cosy countryside hideouts like no other. For a handful of the best, look no further. We've pulled together our favourite places in Scotland to see out the colder months, whether you're looking for a Scandi-Scot-style bolthole with scant decoration and bigger-than-life vistas or a souped-up bothy nestled under bowing forestry.

At time of writing, these places still have availability for autumn/winter. You know the deal. It's first come, first served, so book now or risk missing out.

Book now: Scotland's best bothies, boltholes and boutique hideaways

Harlosh Black H

Isle of Skye

Sleeps: two

Black H isn't like those other cabins. Clad in sheets of rippling, shiny-black timber and outfitted with a carefully selected assortment of designer furniture in soothing tones of nothingness, this place puts the Chic in cosy-Chic (yes, that's Chic with a capital C). This moody, waterside lair bathes in natural light. Clean lines and polished-concrete floors are softened with artfully strewn sheepskins and a tidy wood-burning stove. Expect to see otters, eagles and dolphins dancing through the rolling landscape.

Inverlonan

Argyll and Bute

Sleeps: two to four

The humble bothy - that is, a traditional shelter or refuge used by farmers in poor weather conditions - has undergone quite the facelift over the past decade. Just look at Inverlonan; there's nothing perfunctory about these perfectly weekend-sized cabins, each of which have been outfitted with natural furnishings, fabric and products sourced from some of Scotland's most sought-after craftspeople. Those who love nothing more than hunkering down in complete seclusion will be delighted to learn that these bothies are only accessible by bike, foot or buggy so the only disturbances you're likely to encounter will be from the local fauna.

57 Nord

Wester Ross

Sleeps: two

It would be too easy to describe this architect's delight as Scandi-style. This designer hideaway harks back to the ninth century, when the Norse-Gaels settled in western Scotland. More than its minimal, Nordic interiors, this place is about the epic views; 57 Nord's floor-to-ceiling windows frame the Highlands like Horatio McCullough paintings of yore. The glorious Eilean Donan Castle is within hiking distance and the Isle of Skye is a short drive away, though we're planning to spend most of our time nestled on the sofa with a book or, more likely, getting the pages soggy while soaking in the freestanding bathtub

Westside Woodshed

Midlothian

Sleeps: two

Blanketed in a coarse carpet of heather and spiked with hills made for walking off indulgent Sunday lunches, the Pentland Hills Regional Park provides the perfect conditions for an autumn hideout. Tucked within one of its fleecy folds, Westside Woodshed is a timber-framed, fairy-tale cottage for two that does cosy without being at all stuffy or twee. Gaping skylights and sliding glass doors mean that even when you're snuggling down for an evening by the fireside, the magnificent landscape is right there with you. It might only be a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh, but the city feels a world away.

The Beekeeper's Bothy

Aberdeenshire

Sleeps: two to four

This bothy is set in a wildflower meadow, clad in strips of nude-toned larch wood and lined with expansive windows that allow you to see in one side and out the other. From your super king-size mezzanine bed, you'll wake up to views out over the icy North Sea. The beady-eyed will spot seals larking about in the middle distance, but we suggest heading down to Seal Beach to get up close and personal with these adorable, little mammals. It's a little tight on space for four people, but would be terribly romantic for two.

The Cart Shed

Kincardineshire

Sleeps: four

Okay, it might not be teeny-tiny, but we couldn't not include this airy barn conversion. With slip-and-slide smooth concrete floors, vast, two-storey ceilings and industrial-chic furniture The Cart Shed manages to be both cottagecore and deliciously modern all at once. Some of Aberdeenshire's most enticing beaches and lip-smacking distilleries are a short drive away, but those who'd rather keep things simple can roll out of bed and into a magical woodland of Scots pine, just 10 minutes' walk from the doorstep.

Sound of Harris

Isle of Harris

Sleeps: two to four

This coastal cubbyhole on the Isle of Harris comprises two adjoined houses (Big House and Other House) both of which sleep two. Inside, it's surprisingly capacious. Big House is an exercise in loft-style living, while Other House offers all the same perks - a reading area, a bathtub big enough for two and spindly, late-modern furniture made by some of Britain's most loved manufacturers - albeit on a smaller scale. Outside, porpoises, dolphins, otters and seals will keep you company (from a comfortable distance, of course) as you trundle along the sandy crescent of Scarista Beach.

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