Suggestions, please, for a nice cottage to rent in Scotland

[frogs]

Somewhere in the Highlands or Islands, ideally, but not so remote that it'll take days to get there. An alternative would be somewhere near Hadrian's Wall. Planning to go in April or May.

Any recommendations? It would be for two adults, two school-age kids and a one-year old. We need two bedrooms, as anything that requires me to share a bedroom with the kids doesn't count as a holiday.

TIA

Try the national trust website

hello frogs, i tried to look up the wonderful cottages we used to stay in on the mull of kintyre but they don't seem to be on the internet, so i am no help at all. can i hijack your own thread to say my harry duley clothes have arrived & they are fantastic. thanks for the tip. see you soon.

Have you tried here It is the Scottish Tourist Board site and I know my cousin uses it for his place.

Sorry didn't work, www.visitscotland.com. I know they have some unusual places available too.

Country Holidays have a really nice couple of cottages in Glenelg (near the Isle of Skye).

Glenelg itself is right on a shingle bay and settled in a valley - surrounded by hills and mountains. You can actually watch otters playing outside the window. The place is breathtaking - and now I've gone and told everyone here about it - damn!

We've been up there twice and it took us 2 days (stayed overnight near Loch Lomond). Alternatively, we've since discovered that a flight with Easyjet would have cost us a lot less even with car hire.

Mandy

I found some great cottages in Glencoe on the net last week as we were thinking of going at Christmas. They were called Torren cottages and I will try and find the web address if you are interested in that area.

PS if you change your mind about cottages and want to go for caravans, try Caolasnacon Camping and Carvan Park in Kinlochleven. My favourite place in the world.

We had two idyllic family holidays on Mull, cottage called Corkamull, well around 30 years ago now - but it's still available (on this site - West Coast Cottages - along with lots of others)

I don't know if this would be any good, as you may be looking for a proper remote kind of cottage, but Arran is lovely and not too hard to get to. We recently stayed at Auchrannie in the hotel, but they have lodges too. The good thing about staying in the lodges is that you still get access to the spa and swimming pool, and nice cafe/restaurants if you don't feel like cooking. I would generally recommend May in Scotland certainly here (Edinburgh) it's often the nicest weather of the year!

If you are willing to spend a bit try Rural Retreats. They have great cottages and even come with a hamper on arrival. We have tried one in Devon (the picture featured on their home page) and also one in Wales which was the most superb place (we've been twice). DH tempted by Scotland this time too .

Here is their website Rural Retreats

Frogs - Miaou helps look after some holiday cottages on Muck, and Kalex went to stay at a B&B on Muck a few months ago. CAT them they might be able to help.

Someone else from mn went last summer to Mull (I think) or Arran last summer and stayed in a great cottage and had a fantastic time ... but I can't remember who and mn search is down.

(PS Can you tell it's one of my dream destinations, so I tend to notice when it's mentioned?)

PS If you decide on Hadrian's Wall we could have a mini-meet up. DS1 will "do" Romans with school in summer term, and will go to either Vindolanda or Howsteads with school. Dh is keen that we should do the other as a family.

Tbh Hadrian's Wall doesn't do it for me, but there you go!

If you went up there you could also detour to Alnwick to see the Harry Potter sights, and the new £3m treehouse!

Second tamum on Scotland in May - those memories of sitting Highers with the glorious blue & gold day wasting outside ...

Agree, we always go in May and have fabulous weather (no, really) but now the school is getting a bit touchy about taking children on holiday in term time so might have to re-think. My only problem with going in the summer is midges!!

Wow, thank you for these, everyone!

Binkie, that place on Mull looks seriously idlyllic. I'm going to give them a call in the morning. Off to check out the others, too, and spend a happy hour or so daydreaming about getting away from London. We may just have to brave the school's wrath and take them out in termtime. Dd1's so fed up atm that we all need something to look forward to.

frogs, we have stayed at Harbour Row, Drummore on the Mull of Galloway and at Dunmore (top picture, RH side) near Tarbert. Both cottages lovely but Dunmore a much nicer location.

We went to Dunmore in mid-June, no midges and it never quite got dark. Lovely

Here a few of suggestions

crieff hydro
arran
monarch country