10 of the best Airbnbs in Scotland

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1. A writer’s retreat in Poolewe, the Highlands

This cute Highland hideaway in Poolewe is so secluded it’s billed as a writer’s retreat, with views to inspire across Loch Ewe and the mountains beyond. There’s a pastel-painted boathouse for sleeping with a cathedral ceiling and wood burner, and a separate shepherd’s hut next door housing a small kitchen. While you’re mulling over your next novel, you can watch seals swimming in the loch from your private hot tub, try kayaking or fishing or stroll the cliff-top path with views to the Outer Hebrides.

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2. A golfers’ apartment called Meet Me On The Green, East Lothian

It’s obvious what the USP for this bright first-floor apartment is. Every room is named after a golf term and the prestigious Gullane Golf Club is just a seven-minute walk away. Though there are four double rooms, capacity is also capped at four to ensure a good night’s sleep before you hit the course, plus there’s a private garden, modern kitchen and off-street parking for two cars. The golden sands of Gullane Beach are within walking distance, while Edinburgh is a 45-minute drive for sightseeing and shopping.

3. A unique and secluded airship in the Highlands

It’s all about the view at this unique hideaway on a four-acre site in remote Drimnin on the Morvern Peninsula. The insulated aluminium pod is architect-designed and has large dragonfly windows for watching the sun set over the River Mull plus a deck for stargazing with a hot toddy. Inside, there’s a wood-burning stove and simple cooking facilities — just don’t run out of milk (or wine); the nearest shop is eight miles away down a single-track road in Lochaline.

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4. Cairngorms Castle, Perthshire

Always wanted to take over an entire castle with your family or friends? Built in the 1860s, Cairngorms Castle ticks all the regal boxes with a traditional library, drawing room, sweeping staircase and roaring fires aplenty for nights battling over board games. Be sure to bring your walking boots: the 64-mile Cateran Trail passes straight through the 200-acre estate and winds on towards dramatic peaks and picnic-perfect glens. The surrounding Cairngorms National Park has a whopping 55 mountains for keen climbers and offers every sport imaginable from whitewater rafting to golf.

5. A gorgeous modern home on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile

Location is everything at this stylish first-floor apartment on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, a short stroll from the city’s castle, shops, restaurants and pubs. There’s even a bus stop for city tours and the airport right outside. Inside, it has a boutique hotel feel with a wrought-iron balcony overlooking the street, plus thoughtful extras including dressing gowns, towels and even olive oil for cooking. The stay includes unlimited access for one person to the gym, pool and spa at the nearby Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, with a second guest paying just £5 per visit.

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6. Isle of Skye Eco Bells glamping

Unplug and unwind at this eco-glamping site on the Isle of Skye where you’ll bed down in a Finnish hut warmed by a wood burner. There’s a simple communal kitchen, a private outdoor fire pit and a barbecue area, but otherwise things are rustic: think no electricity or wi-fi, composting toilets and a shared shower in a greenhouse. Fill phone-free hours at the windswept black sands of Orbost beach, the clifftop Neist Point Lighthouse and the fairytale castle at Dunvegan with its rock pools and waterfalls. Skye’s oldest operating whisky distillery, Talisker, is less than half an hour away on the shores of Loch Harport.

7. An eco retreat in Burmieston, Perthshire

Keep everyone happy by booking a family escape to a sprawling stone cottage on a smallholding in Burmieston in Perthshire, an hour and a half from Edinburgh and Glasgow. There’s plenty to entertain all ages including a courtyard with a fire pit for toasting marshmallows, a stash of books and games, a DVD and projector for movie nights and a separate play barn with table tennis and darts. Further afield, there’s Gleneagles golf course, Blair Castle and the picture-book pretty riverside town of Dunkeld.

8. A secluded forest retreat in Claddach Vallay, Outer Hebrides

Wake up in the trees in this elevated wooden forest home in secluded Claddach Vallay in the Outer Hebrides. A dream for bird watchers, honeymooners and anyone hoping to spy the northern lights, the treehouse has a balcony, wood-burning stove, kitchen and free-standing bath with Atlantic Ocean views. Days are spent on deserted white sand beaches, hiking across moorland or exploring the uninhabited tidal island of Vallay. Just remember to arrange ferry crossings in advance if bringing a car as these do get booked up during summer.

9. A stunning four-bedroom house in Glasgow’s West End

Spread out on your next city break by taking over two floors of this Victorian townhouse in Glasgow’s West End. A seven-minute train ride to the city centre and within walking distance of the trendy bars and cafes of Byres Road, the listed 19th-century property is an interior decor dream, with original wooden shutters, reclaimed cast iron radiators and stainless-steel kitchen worktops. The SEC centre and Glasgow university are both nearby.

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10. Seafront cottages in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire

Fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing on the shore just two metres away in this eco pod in Pitullie on the Phingask coast in Aberdeenshire. Made from larch wood in the style of an upturned boat, this bijou pod is surprisingly hi-tech, with underfloor heating, a smart TV, surround sound and wi-fi, plus a kitchenette and wet room. Look for dolphins and orcas from the seafront decking, go diving or enjoy blustery walks to nearby Fraserburgh or Rosehearty, half an hour in either direction on the coastal path.

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