100 BEST in Luxury - 100 BEST in Service - 100 BEST in Value
Vernon's 100 Best Guide
to the top luxury Self Catering Scotland has to offer. This is the benchmark independent guide for interesting, comfortable, welcoming and luxurious accommodation throughout Scotland and the Scottish Isles. That doesn't mean they are the most expensive holiday homes, prices start from only £150, value for money underpins this guide, every single one of these chosen properties are excellent in their own right, and visitors are ensured a really special vacation or short holiday. All enquiries are made directly to the proprietors and no commission is taken by this guide. It is a truly independent guide to the very best Scottish luxury Self-Catering holiday cottages. ( who is Vernon? )
Take the risk out of choosing self catering in Scotland we have selected the top 100 self catering Scotland offers. This first one is always the newest member of the guide.
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Self catering Crieff - Nestled in the heart of Scotland, in the small town of Crieff. A luxury apartment in a grand building with it's own private garden. Crieff is the gateway to the highlands and remains one of Scotland's premier holiday destinations because of it's fortunate geographical location. All of these places are possible days out - Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Dunkeld, Callander, Loch Lomond, Blairgowrie and St. Andrews.
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The Isle of Skye is my own personal destination of choice, here is one of the most romantic cottages in Scotland
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Kingsburgh Boathouse is spectacularly located just a few steps from the private rocky shoreline. The view southwards is of the whole Cuillin ridge, beyond Skeabost. Dating from Jacobite times, the Kingsburgh Boathouse is arguably the most luxurious small private retreat on Skye. Lovingly restored in recent years by Skye's pre-eminent craftsmen
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These first two cottages epitomise the accommodation on this guide, picture perfect, in a great location, completely up to date interiors and most importantly each owner wants to provide the best holiday experience to their guests.
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Muirhall - Perfectly located 5 star self catering Wonderful oak beams in double height spaces, this accommodation is stylish, comfortable and is in the "day out" capital of Scotland. Day trips to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Jedburgh and Falkirk are all on your doorstep. |
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"He enjoys true leisure who has time to improve his soul's estate".Henry David Thoreau
My job often involves flying to any one of the great cities of Europe, driving to an airport at an un-Godly hour to queue in a bustling melee of fellow travellers each bound to the same destination. I find it all too much of a headache, the noise, the anxiety and the waiting around, tramping in an uncomfortable heat in a barren dust covered landscape with too much luggage. This is the last thing I want to do on my holiday or short break. No, for my "me time" I will take Thoreau's advice I want to improve my soul's estate with scenic journeys by land and sea through beautiful landscape and stay in a cottage or boutique self catering holiday home that adds to this experience. For this, Scotland is perfect..
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Knoydart House Luxury Self catering accommodation holiday house – unique to Knoydart. A large stunning luxury architect eco designed holiday home self-catering accommodation venue on the remote Knoydart Peninsula, highlands, Scotland - with one of the best hot tub views in Scotland directly overlooking Loch Nevis
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Harris is the most popular Island for self catering in Scotland, the remote, natural location lends itself to the ultimate Scottish self catering experience. The journey to get here is a memorable in itself, the ferries, the roads that twist through the mountains and lochs that make scotland such an incredible holiday destination. Contemporary architecture, stunning views and sumptious luxury, Ailean could be yours for a brief memorable stay in Harris, spend you well earned vacation time somewhere that will live with you forever..
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àilean holiday home large windows frame panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean, North Harris hills, island of Taransay and Chaipaval (Ceapabhal) with its distinctive feldspar trumpet. Crofting lands behind the house lead to the gentler hills of South Harris, peppered with small lochs and the remains of Duns and shielings. |
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I moved to Dumfries and Galloway nearly 20 years ago to find a better way of life in a spectacular environment, I wanted to be a permanent vacationist, Christmas Eve, to New Years Eve all of which I found. With a new family I spent many years converting the Old exchange into self catering accommodation and now it is available to rent, have a look at the Old Exchange holiday lets below.
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The Old Exchange is located in the heart of the National Trust for Scotland's Estate of Threave Castle and Gardens, the Old Exchange has four holiday accommodations set in this lovely location. Castle Douglas is Scotland's national Food Town and as such The Old Exchange makes an excellent self-catering Scotland holiday home in which to take a short break. |
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I see lots of self catering holiday homes throughout Scotland in my work, and every now and then I am taken aback with one that is so different it it is a real treat to experience. Trust House
self catering in Edinburgh is one such accommodation. Located in the heart of the Old Town between the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket, from the moment you enter you realise you are in an extraordinary building with a history to wonder at.
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The Trust House is one of the oldest houses in Edinburgh located on West Bow under Edinburgh Castle it is hard to describe this incredible property. It stretches over 4 stories and is located in such a way that you access the property on the ground floor in West Bow and access four stories higher also to a road. This is Scottish City Self Catering at its best. Ideal for a honeymoon in Scotland's Capital. |
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Time off from work is essential to your well-being, and this new breed of holiday accommodation, designed to be a part of the landscape, eco friendly yet very stylish and comfortable. One exemplar of this is the Hebridean Earth House. Situated beside a loch on the southern part of Uist, beside the coast it makes a wonderful Vacation destination.
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Hebridean Earth House This earth shelter is built into the hillside on the shore of a beautiful fresh water loch - the ideal location for you and your partner to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life in one of Scotland's luxury holiday lets.
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Some of us want a truely Scottish self catering experience, the Gavin Maxwell "Ring of Bright Water" get away from it all and see the Scottish highlands in its raw beauty experience. Kylesmorar offers this extraordinary option. Only accessible by boat this small cluster of buildings sits on the banks of Loch Nevis in an utterly astounding natural landscape.
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Kylesmorar Accessible only by boat, Three spectacular cottages have been spectacularly converted into holiday homes using local craftsmen and materials. They now offer most comfortable and beautifully appointed accommodation furnished with great style and originality. Each stands just a few yards from the water's edge, nestling right at the foot of some on Scotland's most majestic mountains.
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I live and work in Dumfries and Galloway, and my favourite place to stay for self catering in Scotland would be Craigadam. Part of a traditional Scottish Country House and Estate, the self catering accommodation is set in the courtyard at the back of the Hotel, and has many advantages compared to most self catering establishments, the primary one is that you are on the doorstep of one of the best eating experiences you will ever have. Craigadam is an organic farm, and benefits from producing its own organic lamb, deer and beef. Celia is a renowned chef and makes the very best of her ingedients to produce award winning meals. I was last here on the half-term break, but the rest of the experience I will leave for you to discover, as it is simply wonderful.
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Located in the centre of Dumfries and Galloway, Craigadam is a large Scottish Country House that is part Hotel, part Bed and Breakfast, part Restaurant and part Self Catering. The accommodation is beautifully presented and if you stay here you get all the benefits of a Hotel with its award winning restaurant. Craigadam is a pleasant experience that you will always remember. |
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As I say in my review, I didn't really want to include log cabins in my guide, I have stayed in a few over the years and they never live up to their expectations. However, when I came across Bear Lodge I had to give in, it is truely exceptional and has been described as Scotland's best self catering property. So if you want a roasting log fire, romantic, if you enjoy your leisure time and this luxurious log cabin in the hills of Speyside, then here it is.
I personally love it when an old building with age and character has been treated with a contemporary transformation. It usually happens when an old farm has been left to rack and ruin and left unused for many years. It is in this state that planners and conservation groups become realistic and allow the owners to rejuvinate it, and this marriage between the old character and contemporary luxury can happen. This next example of a luxury self catering holiday home in scotland is just what I mean - Locherlour Mill - devoting time to pleasure or relaxation
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Locherlour Mill sleeps 18-20 people - A wonderful mix of old and modern within the Mill, where all rooms have been decorated and furnished to the highest standards. There are 9 bedrooms & 8 bathrooms in the Mill, wonderful dining areas and lounge, as well as an impressive Orangerie. We can also accommodate smaller groups up to 12 when we close one of the wings but you still have exclusive use.
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The criteria we have used for inclusion in this guide We value aspects of luxury Scottish self-catering accommodation that has a real effect on your holiday experience. like interesting architecture, an inspirational view or the proximity of a property to an historic site and the comfort of the furnishings and the tastefulness of the decoration. All the self catering accommodation in this guide has been personally chosen by Vernon Ballantine His passion for providing world class self catering in Scotland has made his voice valuable in Scottish tourism and he hopes you enjoy his choice; Vernon's 100 best luxury self catering in Scotland
