The Hideaway Cottage at Wardhill Castle, Aberdeenshire

Reviewed by Laura Delahunt and Sam Fox from Edinburgh

The Cottage at Wardhill Castle offers a magical entrance to a world of garden walls from the Victorian era, with mysterious doors leading to enchanting sights within the grounds.

The cottage, or bothy, is an eclectic mixture of Victorian and contemporary style. You will find Scottish Highland-inspired design and a small collection of books on Scottish history and culture, a thoughtful feature of this hidden gem. The bathroom is a modern extension that has been built next to the original feature Victorian stove with an old kettle hung over it.

A wood burner sits in the original chimney below a welcoming piece of artwork, and these both make the cottage very cosy. Wallpaper in a deep, romantic crimson lies behind (what seems to be) an original Victorian bed. Surrounded by faux fur and soft furnishings of ochre and fawn in front of a roaring fire, we found ourselves in a romantic fantasy.

The owners are very thoughtful, with the gesture of gorgeous white chocolate fudge from the Wardhill Castle shop and sparkling French brut left in the fridge. The bothy is cosy and ample for an extended weekend away from city life as you escape distraction, and immerse yourself in the smell of the forest and delicious home-cooking over the modern electric cooker. Making do with the necessities helps you appreciate what has been lost from our everyday lives: the scents of pine and oak; the sound of geese squabbling and shuffling; the trickle of water and the graceful flurry of leaves falling from grand, ancient trees.

Small things enchant you about the cottage, from antique plates, to the wooden beams above a glorious fireplace. A hand-drawn map of the walk through the grounds is charming to peruse, whilst roasting chestnuts and sipping sparkling wine in the warmth. Call me a romantic, but these small things we only dream of in our mundane, everyday lives, come to reality within this Victorian bothy. Located beside the old castle, not like a faithful companion but with its own character, it stands strongly as a magical hideaway for two.

Prices from £99 per night.