Cosy winter cabins
What could be more inviting than hunkering down with your loved ones in a snug cabin in the wilderness? Take time to digitally detox, get out in the fresh air and bond around a crackling fire
Hunker down with your nearest and dearest in these heavenly hideaways
TOP OF THE TREETOPS
The newly opened Treehouses at Lanrick, Perthshire are dotted along the banks of the River Teith with easy access to the stunning Trossachs National Park. Each one has a kitchen/living area, a log-burning stove, bathroom and outdoor bath or shower and roomy terrace with barbecue. They are built to Passivhaus standard (meaning a high level of comfort while using very little energy) and run on air source heat pumps for heating and hot water. Wrap up for a boat trip on Loch Lomond or visit nearby Doune Castle, Stirling Castle and Deanston Distillery.
COST: From £280 a night over Christmas. All have a super-king bed and can sleep two children in a double sofa bed. Cots, Scottish toiletries and a welcome hamper are all provided; lanricktreehouses.co.uk.
HEAD TO THE HIGHLANDS
The Highlands of Scotland is one of the most beautiful places to seek out the wilderness and celebrate winter with plenty of opportunities for majestic walks, warming drams of whisky and hearty local food. Eagle Brae is an impressive collection of 10 five-star, sustainable cedarwood log cabins tucked away in the glens and Munros of the Highlands, though easily accessible from Inverness. They are all dog-friendly, and interiors are a mix of handwoven textiles, exposed wood, antler chandeliers and eco-friendly wood-burners, with all mod cons. Grab your tartan throw and head out to the balcony for awesome views, too.
COST: Cabins sleep from two to six guests. Buteo (sleeps four to six) costs from £859 for two nights; eaglebrae.co.uk.
LOVE LOCH NESS
Allt Lodge is an imposing two-storey wooden cabin near Loch Ness in the Cairngorms National Park. With the look and feel of an Alpine ski lodge, you’ll be cosy and warm here with its wood interiors and tartan curtains. It is accessible for those with limited mobility via ramp access and has a ground floor twin bedroom suitable for wheelchair access, plus a handy wet room. Fishing and sailing are on the doorstep should the weather allow, and you can discover the history of the Loch Ness monster at the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition or visit the 16th-century Urquhart Castle. Walkers will adore being right near the Great Glen Way, a 73-mile path running from Fort William to Inverness and passing through the nearby village of Drumnadrochit.
COST: Seven nights cost from £1,040 (sleeps six); sykescottages.co.uk. ➺