Self-catering in Scotland for big family reunion?

[binkie]

Next year is a big milestone for our family & there is a plan to spend a week all together somewhere in Scotland, self-catering. We'd need somewhere that sleeps at least 20, whether one big house or - maybe better - a group of cottages. We've found a website imaginatively called "large holiday houses Scotland", which has some good options, but I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions of where else to look?

Location doesn't really matter, though not too remote is probably best.

A colleague at work took over a semi-stately home somewhere on the West Coast for his wedding, whicxh extended into a weekedn House Party.

I'll ask him for the details.

Apparently it was a beautiful location, although the building itself was slightly "faded". Photos looked fantastic though!

If you want a group of cottages, Pitmilly might be worth a look. It's near St Andrews, so not too remote, and the facilities are all good. It does get quite heavily booked though, so it would be worth booking quite early. Hope you have a lovely time, anyway!

Could try here

or here

or here

What area of Scotland? I know Glencoe area very well but it might be too far for you.

Could be anywhere save outlying islands, really - some of us in southern Scotland, some further north, some in England (& the England dwellers are nostalgic so won't mind travelling).

Ardgour House, on one of Pagan's links, looks superb. Might be out of our bracket but will see.

You could rent a Youth Hostel...have a look at their Rent-a-Hostel site and in specific their Scottish locations .

butterfly

Crieff Hydro Hotel has some lodges and cottages which are on a self catering basis or can be booked through a hotel break which meals/activities are included. Crieff is fairly central with lots to do at hotel and plenty of day trips reoundabout.

Also - in weekend supplement you could try

www.iolair.co.uk

Mar lodge near braemar is run by the national trust and is spectacular with lots of good walks round about. might be abit pricey but worth a look.

What about Rosslyn Castle? It is just south of Edinburgh so not too remote, has a resident ghost and lots of gruesome history and is in a really spectacular setting.

You've got to try the Landmark Trust and Vivat trust - both have hot properties in Scotland. The latter, has a couple of castles - one with a separate cottage too - we stayed in it a couple of years back and it was fab! Look them up on their own websites via google.

www.hoeseasons.co.uk have cottages and lodges Some private converted farms etc grouped together and on holiday parks. They have 3 large properties which take 20.

www.country-holidays2005.co.uk are similar.

Seperate accomidation might be best, we did a family holiday with 2 families, gran and great gran for a week. It was a bit crowded and no way of escaping each other. Great gran ended up hiding in her room or turning her hearing aid off. We only had had 7 in the house but had 19 for a meal in a local pub and went out for a pub quiz. The rest stayed in B&Bs for a couple of nights or just dropped by for the day.