The 10 best winter retreats

WHEN the weather outside is frightful, a fire really is delightful. Heading to a cosy cabin and battening down the hatches is perfect for this time of year, with a growing number of luxury lodges across Scotland that allow you to escape the harsh winter in style.

1. ARDMAY LODGE, ARROCHAR

Small but perfectly formed, the centrepiece of Ardmay Lodge is its spectacular view. Perched on the edge of Loch Long, each lodge has its own walk-out private decking area that sits on top of the water and offers unrivalled views of the hills. But if the winter weather proves too chilly to sit outside, the living room has huge patio doors that provide the same great view (but with the added warmth of a wood-burning fire).

From £110 per lodge per night www.ardmaylodge.co.uk

2. PIPERDAM LODGES, ANGUS

Piperdam Leisure Resort, Fowlis, Dundee 01382 585000

A bit like a grown-up Centre Parcs, Piper Dam is a custom-built luxury resort that offers guests a restaurant, beauty spa and pool, a soft play, activity centre and two golf courses. Access to the swimming pool, sauna, and gym is included with a stay in one of the lodges, which provide a cosy environment that feels a world away from everyday life. There are a range of lodges – sleeping between two and 12 people – but the executive and spa versions are particularly indulgent and have both a hot tub and indoor sauna.

Prices vary depending on lodge www.piperdam.com

3. THE DUCK’S NEST, NETHY BRIDGE

The Lazy Duck, Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire

Looking like it came straight from the pages of a fairytale book, the wooden-panelled Duck’s Nest is a rustic “eco-lodge” that sits in the middle of the Cairngorms National Park. It has a picturesque porch that overlooks a duck pond, an outdoor chiminea stove to cook on and a star-gazer window to enjoy the spectacular sight of the night sky. It provides a real escape from everyday living: with an I’m a Celebrity-esque open-air shower powered by heated rainwater, and an outdoor toilet or indoor potty. But if going back to nature proves all too much, you will be relieved to find that there is a wood-fired sauna and a hot tub.

Prices vary, but approximately £125 per night if you stay for three nights 07846291154 www.lazyduck.co.uk

4. WILDSIDE HIGHLAND LODGES, INVERNESS

Whitebridge, South Loch Ness, Inverness 01456 486 371

Spending hours in an isolated lodge might sound fun but it can admittedly get boring. If you need some entertainment (or just some alcohol) then the Wildside Highland Lodges have the added benefit of a country pub within 200 metres of its grounds. The lodges come in a range of styles and sizes but are all comfortable, quiet and offer beautiful surroundings on the banks of the River Fechlin. If you are lucky enough to get wintry weather then the grounds look spectacular in the snow, especially from the vantage point of your outdoor hot tub.

Prices vary depending on lodge but start from £150 a night www.wildsidelodges.com

5. SUNNYSIDE LODGES, DUMFRIES

Sunnyside Farm, Sanquhar, Dumfries and

Galloway 07506 710587

With all the benefits of camping (fresh air, beautiful views, quality time together) but none of the downsides (soggy clothes, windy tents and sleeping bags) the wooden pods of Sunnyside Lodges offer pretty much the best of both worlds. Each mini-cabin has its own kitchenette, complete with a toaster, hob and fridge, along with a seating area, double bed and modern bathroom. Central heating helps keep out the chill

and there is also a private deck with a hot tub.

£85 a night www.sunnysidelodges.com

6. WOODSHED COTTAGE, PENICUIK

Eastside Cottages, Penicuik, Midlothian 01968 677 842

If you want to get away from it all without going too far away, then the Woodshed Cottage could be for you. Just ten miles from central Edinburgh, it feels a lot more remote thanks to being nestled at the foot of the Pentland Hills, which look especially good when capped with snow in the winter. The Scandi custom-built timber cottage should appeal to architecture buffs, with huge windows and glass doors revealing a postcard view of the countryside. It is stylishly decorated with underfloor heating – and dog-friendly too.

Prices vary, but roughly £100 a night during low season www.eastsidecottages.co.uk

7. TREE HOWF, DUNBLANE

Craighead Farm, Braco, Dunblane, Stirling, 01786 880321

The Tree Howf – a hand-crafted, self-sufficient cabin built around a huge ash tree in the middle of a field – certainly provides a unique setting for a night away. It might have a modern shower, toilet and king-size bed, but the wooden interior is unmistakably rustic and gives a sense of tranquillity. As well as a star-gazing window and large glass door, the Howf has a wooden platform that wraps around its exterior: offering the kind of views that can only be gained from the branches of a tree. It sleeps only two and tends to get booked up pretty quickly but if you can’t get a space for this winter then it is well worth a trip in the summer.

£175 per night www.craigheadhowf.co.uk

8. GRAND VIEW, FIFE

Newburgh, Fife 01237 459888

The clue is in the name with this lodge, the hillside location offering a grand view of the rolling Fife countryside and hills in the distance. Letting in light is a key consideration of the design, and floor-to-ceiling windows are strategically placed in every room, with the view out from the free-standing bath particularly good. The French windows in the living room open out to an extensive outdoor area with a sunken trampoline for children, a hot tub for adults and a charcoal barbecue that has plenty of seating. It sleeps six but your furry family members can also join the holiday as dogs are welcome in the property.

Prices vary depending on time booked but the cottage was available for £108 per night for a week in February www.holidaycottages.co.uk/centralscotland/fife/grand-view

9. EAGLE BRAE, GLEN STRATHFARRAR

Eagle Brae Log Cabins, Struy, Beauly, Inverness-shire 01463 761301

If it’s a proper log cabin you are looking for, look no further than Eagle Brae. Each of the seven lodges has been handmade from the trunks of cedar trees, with intricate carvings on the wooden staircases and balconies to add a rustic edge. The cabins wouldn’t look out of place in the Swiss Alps but instead they sit on the hilltop of a Highland estate, offering plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities nearby. The cabins are pet-friendly, eco-friendly and decorated in a charming style: think woollen rugs, tartan pillows and the essential wood-burning fire.

Prices vary depending on lodge and time booked www.eaglebrae.co.uk

10. UIST FOREST RETREAT, OUTER HEBRIDES

Taigh na Coille, Claddach Vallay, North Uist, Outer Hebrides 01876 560 894

Built on stilts quite literally in the middle of a forest, the Uist Forest Retreat offers its guests isolation and relaxation in spades. The panoramic bay window (with a couch handily placed behind it) provides a clear view over the forest and out to sea, with a chance to see the Northern Lights in the winter. The cabin is also a birdwatchers’ paradise, with goldcrests (Scotland’s smallest bird), long-eared owls, sea eagles and golden eagles all having been spotted from the window. Inside the decor is sleek and minimalist, with a free-standing bath that also looks out across the forest and a handily placed log burning fire. The cabin isn’t pet-friendly but, with deer known to have been caught grazing right outside the door, it’s probably for the best...

Prices vary, but a two-person cabin is £115 per night for three nights in February www.uistforestretreat.co.uk