PERTH

Just over an hour from both Glasgow and Edinburgh – and under two from Aberdeen, Perth is in easy reach for a cheeky escape.

Why go?

Renowned as the centre of Scotland, Perth is a great place to make an escape to from pretty much wherever you are on mainland Scotland. Add to that the fact that it’s postcard pretty, surrounded by rolling hills and ideal for pottering around independent shops and cafés before retreating somewhere seriously cosy.

Where to stay?

Boutique stay: Murrayshall Country Estate

Set across 365 acres of private Perthshire countryside, Murrayshall is a 17th-century country house reimagined for modern luxury. Just ten minutes from Perth yet surrounded by rolling hills and ancient woodland, it offers 62 elegant rooms, suites and secluded pods with views over fairways and forest, alongside two on-site golf courses, miles of scenic trails and bespoke wellness treatments at the Gate Lodge.

Dine at Eolas, the hotel’s 2 AA Rosette restaurant with an AA Notable Wine List, or settle into Barossa Bar or Cairns Bar & Restaurant for something more relaxed. With bedrooms ranging from deluxe doubles to spacious family rooms and dog-friendly options, plus woodland pods for something different, this is a stay that flexes easily between a romantic break, a family holiday or a full-blown wedding weekend.

Good for: couples, families, golfers, dog owners and anyone after a country house feel without the stuffiness.
The damage: rooms and pods vary by season, contact Murrayshall directly for current rates.

Self catering: The Stables, Horselea, Forgandenny

Four friends or a family will love this stone-built cottage near Perth, thoughtfully furnished to feel like a proper home from home rather than a generic let. Downstairs you’ll find a well-equipped kitchen, dining area and a twin bedroom with countryside views, while upstairs offers a bright lounge with a Juliet balcony (the sofa converts into a double bed for extra guests), a pretty double room and a family bathroom.

Outside, an enclosed patio is made for alfresco dining, and the hot tub is the perfect spot for a stargazing soak after a day exploring Perth and Kinross. There’s also a shared lawn with a children’s see-saw, ideal for working off any excess energy before bedtime.

Good for: families and groups of four wanting a characterful base with a hot tub.
The damage: check current rates and availability direct with the let.

THE STRATHEARN VALLEY

Just over an hour from both Glasgow and Edinburgh, Strathearn Valley feels properly rural without demanding a full-day drive.

Why go?

This is gentle Highland scenery at its best – glens, rivers, woodland and characterful villages with plenty of places to stop and eat. Base yourself here and you’ve got walking, cycling and some of Scotland’s most beautiful country roads on your doorstep.

Where to stay?

Self catering: Monzie Estate, Crieff

If your dream rural escape involves a stone cottage by a stream, hares in the field, a castle next door and homemade brownies waiting in the kitchen, Monzie Estate will be dangerously hard to leave. This private estate just outside Crieff has a small collection of self-catering properties, that are warm, characterful and relaxed, with none of the over-styled fuss that makes some country stays feel like showrooms.

Log fires and underfloor heating make them cosy when it’s chilly. Handmade brownies waiting for you when you arrive make you welcome. Plus the estate itself is lovely for a wander with walks, an Outlander-famous castle and a 1950s hydro station still powering the whole place – you’ll barely need to leave the grounds.

Good for: couples, families, dog owners, walkers and anyone who wants self-catering with real character.
The damage: rates vary by property, season and length of stay; the estate encourages booking direct for the best price.

Boutique stay: The Coorie Inn, Muthill

A historic village inn just outside Crieff, with six en suite bedrooms, a destination restaurant and a bar made for settling in over a cocktail. There’s been a hostelry on this site for over 250 years, and Coorie Inn lives up to its name, wearing that history lightly but stylishly, with stone walls and roaring fires meeting houseplants, bespoke soft furnishings and witty design touches throughout.

The food is the real draw: a tight menu of five starters and five mains from owners and former pastry chefs Phill Skinazi and Andrew Mackay, built around local, seasonal produce, with sourdough from Damsel Bakery and butter from Strathearn Dairy. Save room for pudding, the soufflé with heather honey from the owner’s own hives is a genuine highlight. Of the six individually styled rooms, room one is the one to bag: the largest, with the inn’s only bath, a striking gold tub with views to the old church.

Good for: a romantic weekend, a foodie overnighter, anyone happy to dine out on having bagged the room with the gold bath.
The damage: rooms from £190 per night B&B; mains £24 to £38.

CAITHNESS & THE NORTH COAST

Around two hours north of Inverness, Caithness delivers that glorious end-of-the-world feeling without needing to go fully off-grid.

Why go?

Come for dramatic cliffs, huge skies and some of Scotland’s wildest coastal scenery. There are endless opportunities for walking, sea views and spotting wildlife, with the bonus of quieter roads and beaches than many better-known Highland hotspots.

Where to stay?

Self catering: House of the Northern Gate

Perched atop Dunnet Head, this nine-bedroom house is for anyone who wants to stand at the edge of the world, with views stretching to Orkney, the Atlantic crashing into Dunnet Bay, the Pentland Firth and the calm of St John’s Loch. Recently restored, it sleeps up to eighteen guests across nine individually styled bedrooms, perfect for multi-generational gatherings or a big group of friends (the Queen Mum herself sought solace here in the 1950s, so you’ll be in distinguished company).

Inside you’ll find Egyptian cotton linens, fluffy bathrobes, a fully equipped gym, movie room, games room and a living room with a wood-burning stove for rainy days. Outside, the beach is a stroll away for walks and sea swims, with surf at nearby Dunnet Bay and coastal paths for proper Highland hiking.

Good for: large groups and multi-generational family gatherings wanting serious wow-factor scenery.
The damage: check current rates and availability directly.

AVIEMORE & THE CAIRNGORMS

An hour – give or take depending on which bit you go to – from Aberdeen, and roughly two and a half hours from Edinburgh — the Cairngorms are one of Scotland’s easiest big-nature escapes.

Why go?

Whether you visit in summer or winter, the Cairngorms deliver on scenery and outdoor adventures. Think mountain walks, lochs, forest trails, wildlife spotting and cosy pubs to collapse into afterwards.

Where to stay?

Self catering: The Cairngorm Retreat, Boat of Garten

This luxurious Highland retreat sleeps up to 14 amid the breathtaking Cairngorms National Park, with vast social spaces inside and out and Aviemore just six miles away. Exposed woodwork, rugged stonework and Icelandic fur rugs set the tone throughout, with three wood burners spread across a welcoming lounge, a farmhouse-style kitchen/diner and a cosy snug/bar.

Upstairs, bedrooms include a family room with bunks plus two further super-king and king rooms with en suites and Cairngorm views, and there’s a Scandinavian sauna downstairs for warming up after winter walks. Outside, an enclosed garden has play equipment, a hot tub and a firepit, with parking for six cars, useful for the inevitable convoy of a big group booking.

Good for: large family or friend groups wanting a luxe base for walking and cycling.
The damage: check current rates and availability directly.

Family-friendly: Aviemore Resort, Macdonald Hotels Group

If your under-5s have energy to burn, this resort is a Highland holiday hero, built with families firmly in mind. Expect a huge indoor lagoon pool and flume, a four-storey soft play centre, outdoor play park and its own cinema for rainy days, with rooms across three hotels or self-catering Woodland Lodges nearby.

Beyond the resort, little adventurers can meet polar bears at Highland Wildlife Park, ride a steam train through stunning scenery, or explore Landmark Forest Adventure Park, all close enough to make this one of those rare family stays where boredom never gets a word in.

Good for: families with young children wanting built-in entertainment for every weather.
The damage: rates vary by room type and season; check direct with Macdonald Hotels.

Glamping: Kirriemuir Shepherd’s Hut

A Scandinavian-style micro lodge at the foothills of the Angus Glens, with far-reaching rural views and a private hot tub for soaking aching limbs after a long walk. It’s flooded with natural light from patio doors framing the glen views, with an open-plan layout, a kitchen with gas hob and oven, and a comfortable king-size bed (plus a sofa bed for two extra guests if needed).

Outside, an enclosed decked balcony and wood-fired hot tub make for proper stargazing, with a shared firepit and BBQ hut on site. Sister lodges Acer Maple and Whitebeam Rowan nearby each sleep four with their own private hot tub, set on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park with a children’s play park close by.

Good for: romantic getaways, or small families wanting a base near the Cairngorms.
The damage: check current rates and availability directly.

THE BLACK ISLE

Just 20 to 40 minutes from Inverness, the Black Isle feels wonderfully removed despite being one of the easiest Highland escapes to reach.

Why go?

Expect a slower pace of life, sweeping coastal views and some of Scotland’s best chances of spotting dolphins from shore. There are pretty villages, beaches, walking trails and excellent food packed into a surprisingly compact area.

Self catering: Hot Tub Hideaways, Invergordon

Part of a complex of pods and cabins, this charming glamping pod is a wonderful romantic retreat for two, surrounded by stunning scenery and miles of walking and biking trails. French doors lead into a bright open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner with a Smart TV and breakfast bar, with the bedroom leading through to a shower room.

Outside, an enclosed patio with garden furniture steps down to a bubbling private hot tub, perfect for an evening of stargazing, with shared use of a BBQ hut and sauna on site too.

Good for: couples wanting a quiet, low-key escape with a hot tub.
The damage: check current rates and availability directly.

Boutique stay: Newhall Mains

A Highland escape that swerves every cliché, just 20 minutes from Inverness on the Black Isle, with its own private airstrip if you’re feeling very extra. This beautifully reimagined former farmstead mixes boutique hotel rooms with self-catering cottages in a design-led restoration: soaring ceilings, statement art and big windows that drink in that crisp northern light, with no tartan overload or taxidermy in sight.

Food is rooted firmly in Scotland at restaurant Spruce, much of it farmed, fished and foraged from the Black Isle itself, while a private sauna and Scandinavian-style cold plunge offer a slower kind of indulgence. Hop on one of the hotel’s free e-bikes for a cycle to harbour town Cromarty, spot bottlenose dolphins from the shore, or book a flight over the Black Isle with the owner at the controls.

Good for: couples, design-conscious travellers and small groups wanting a relaxed but polished coastal escape.
The damage: The Cosy Suite starts at £600 per night for two, including breakfast; mains £20 to £40.

PERTH

Why go?

Where to stay?

Boutique stay: Murrayshall Country Estate

Self catering: The Stables, Horselea, Forgandenny

THE STRATHEARN VALLEY

Why go?

Where to stay?

Self catering: Monzie Estate, Crieff

Boutique stay: The Coorie Inn, Muthill

CAITHNESS & THE NORTH COAST

Why go?

Where to stay?

Self catering: House of the Northern Gate

AVIEMORE & THE CAIRNGORMS

Why go?

Where to stay?

Self catering: The Cairngorm Retreat, Boat of Garten

Family-friendly: Aviemore Resort, Macdonald Hotels Group

Glamping: Kirriemuir Shepherd’s Hut

THE BLACK ISLE

Why go?

Self catering: Hot Tub Hideaways, Invergordon

Boutique stay: Newhall Mains

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