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9 Forest Breaks & Retreats in Scotland

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Loch Insh Chalets at Kincraig in the Cairngorms National Park, Highlands

Get back to nature and book a luxury stay set in peaceful Scottish forests and woodlands. Splendid country houses, eco-friendly cabins, glamping-style tents, dreamy treehouses, and magnificent log cabins with private hot tubs; take your pick from an exceptional array of luxury accommodation and enjoy a Scottish staycation surrounded by beautiful trees.

1. The Folly at Old Melrose, Scottish Borders

Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders

The Folly at the Old Melrose estate boasts one of the most enviable settings in the Scottish Borders. Surrounded by serene forest on the banks of the River Tweed, discover a one-of-a-kind retreat where you can savour the joys of country living. Feel right at home in the modernised interior brimming with charming period details, including colourful floor tiles, stained glass windows and a stone fireplace. Explore the many riverside walks throughout the estate or simply sit outdoors and watch the Tweed flow by as the wind rustles the leaves on the trees.

2. Windlestraw Hotel, Scottish Borders

Location: Walkerburn, Scottish Borders

Located just an hour from Edinburgh, the Tweed Valley is home to several unspoiled forests. Rejuvenate amid this green landscape at the Edwardian mansion house of Windlestraw. Bursting with style and character, luxuriate in the homey interior while taking in stunning views of undulating woodland and the River Tweed. Venture outdoors to explore the garden and the many footpaths leading from the house, before heading back for drinks, canapés and a five-course dinner of seasonal local produce.

3. Brochloch Treehouse, Dumfries & Galloway

Location: near Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway

Brochloch Treehouse is somewhere you can enjoy some peace and quiet without venturing too far off-grid. Inspired by Scandinavian design, Brochloch stands on larchwood trunks in the middle of the bluebell wood of a working farm. Enjoy the tranquil ambience of its quirky interior, illuminated by natural light through small box windows, and replete with eco-friendly and solar powered amenities including a wood stove, kitchenette and sunken bath. After dark, gaze up at the dazzling night skies the region is famous for – Galloway is home to the UK’s first Dark Sky Park – through the skylights.

Explore more: South Scotland has everything you could possibly want from a luxurious staycation surrounded by nature. Discover luxurious experiences and amazing glamping experiences in the South of Scotland waiting for you.

4. Dreamcatcher Cabins, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

Location: Gartmore, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

Discover a magical getaway in the tiny log Dreamcatcher Cabins hidden away in the private secluded woodlands of a National Park. Delightfully rustic and sustainably minded, each cabin is designed to keep your carbon footprint to a minimum – electrical sockets are not provided but mobile reception is available – allowing you to truly digitally detox from the outside world. Relax on the terrace beneath the glow of solar-powered fairy lights as the wood burning stove crackles away, and soak in the outdoor bathtub surrounded by candles before falling asleep to the sounds of the forest in the snug but beautifully furnished en suite bedroom.

5. Craigmaddie Muir Roundhouse, near Glasgow

Location: Baldernock near Glasgow

Located just 10 miles outside of Glasgow in East Dunbartonshire, this stylish and sustainably designed wooden Craigmaddie Muir Roundhouse brings the natural world indoors. The stunning floor to ceiling glass frontage gives 180° views of the surrounding silver birch woodland and the Clyde Valley beyond. Unwind in the bright, airy interior lined with beautiful, pale spruce with the help of the wood fired hot tub outdoors, wood burning stove, rainfall shower, king size bed topped with plush linens – not to mention a lavatory with an incredible view!

6. Nordic Kata – Comrie Croft, Perthshire

Location: Braincroft by Crieff, Perthshire

Comrie Croft are experts in helping to create unforgettable camping experiences for the whole family. Set in placid birch woodlands, this eco-resort offers an array of glamping experiences and rustic accommodation. Camp in this leafy wilderness without the hard work of pitching your own tent with a stay in one of the Nordic katas – spacious tipis with wood burning stoves, alpine-inspired sleeping areas, and a campfire pit right outside. There’s a farm shop and tea garden on the site, as well as plenty of hiking and mountain trails to explore nearby.

7. Cairngorm Bothies, Aberdeenshire

Location: near Aboyne, Aberdeenshire

A bothy is a traditional Scottish shelter, historically used by shepherds and cattle drovers as refuges from bad weather in the Highlands. At Cairngorm Bothies you can experience a modern, eco-friendly version of the bothy. This cluster of six self-sustaining holiday homes is surrounded by the Blelack woodlands of the Cairngorms National Park. Each bothy has been constructed from sustainable materials using ecologically non-invasive methods to protect the roots of the surrounding forest. They offer a full range of home comforts as well as custom-built wheelchair access. Hunker down inside the simple but beautifully furnished interior, and enjoy the crisp, pure air infused with the scent of ancient Scots pine.

8. Eagle Brae Log Cabins, Highlands

Location: Struy near Beauly, Highlands

When it comes to forest settings, few are as impressive as the one at Eagle Brae. Situated between Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar, this luxe collection of cabins is surrounded by ancient Caledonian pine forest and rugged Munros. Handcrafted from immense cedar logs and crowned with grassy wild-flower roofs, each cabin is a masterpiece of carpentry with carved interiors inspired by Celtic and Pictish art and the Scottish wilderness, with local art and handmade furniture and textiles throughout. Some even boast their own private sauna! Head out to fish for your dinner at the lochs nearby, or on the Garrar and Glass rivers, before curling up in front of the fire or watching the sunset over Strathglass from the deck.

9. Kinlochlaich Treehouse, Highlands

Location: Appin, Highlands

Did you dream of having a treehouse as a child? Turn that dream into reality at Kinlochlaich Treehouse. Feel as if you’re floating in the leafy canopy of this 18th century orchard inside this delightful octagonal cottage with its slate roof. Perched on an elevated timber platform, towering trees shoot up through the spacious outdoor decking, while indoors an entire oak trunk stands at the heart of its cosy interior. With a double bedroom and a small gallery containing single beds ideal for kids, it’s a great choice for a family break.

There are many ways you can spend time in Scotland’s forests and woodlands. Learn about forest bathing, and discover other fantastic glamping locations as well as lodges, chalets and log cabins you could book.

You can also browse forests and woodlands which are located near you.

The post 9 Forest Breaks & Retreats in Scotland appeared first on The Blog.


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