Holiday in Scotland self catering recommendations (autistic friendly) please

[Tinkerbellone]

Hi I’m a Single mum. I have three ASD socially anxious teens. They want to go on holiday to Scotland. We haven’t all been away for years died to their needs.
The holiday needs to be quiet (isolated-ish) with WiFi, a hot tub (for me!) plus fishing on site - fishing preferably where we stay.
We cannot stay where there are lots of lodges next to each other and lots people. My eldest is too anxious for that.
Would like countryside and scenery with a village/town driving distance. My eldest teen loves fishing so something like a fishing deck ‘on the doorstep’ would be fabulous.

I have no idea where to look or anything. I am totally thrilled they’ve all agreed to come away. I will have to drive because they won’t go on a train.
thank you in advance ❤️

Not a recommendation but a suggestion
Beautiful and quiet region
https://borderscountrycottages.co.uk/a-guide-to-fishing-holidays-in-the-scottish-borders/

Look on loch Leven (near glen coe), or loch linnhe there’s quite a few options of small groups of lodges (not huge caravan parks) with private fishing. The place I stayed at isn’t available this summer as fully booked already but it’s a good starting place. To get completely isolated you will need to go inland from the lochs as landowners tend to capitalise on their waterfront space

The Crask Inn is one option (no hot tub though). Owner said he got a lot of fisherman coming to fish in the flow country
Or this option just outside Helmsdale https://www.logcabinsscotland.net/remote-detached-highland-lodge-hot-tub-sea-views/#prettyPhoto. A very quiet type of place.
or this Air bnb in South Ayrshire

We had the most amazing week here on the Isle of Skye. Not sure about fishing but has everything else.
https://captainsrestskye.com

Forbes of Kingennie Country Estate ad hot tub lodges and onsite fishing.

we stayed in a lodge at Loch Awe last year that ticked all of these boxes. I found it on AirBnB

I think the Borders or Dumfries & Galloway might be quieter than the Highlands, unless you go very far west and north. Plenty fishing there, lots to see.
Loch Ken has good fishing - New Galloway is a wee town with a shop but also 20-30 minute drive to Kirkcudbright or Castle Douglas for more variety. There are gorgeous wee cottages with kayaks at the Activity Centre there, which wouldn’t be in view of each other, but you might prefer more solitude.

I think if you are driving that the Islands , whilst absolutely beautiful would probably be a bit much for a first trip .

If you are driving from England , I think you should perhaps look as others have suggested at the borders / Dumfries and Galloway .I think you will also need to factor in driving time ie how many hours with breaks would you be comfortable driving for without having to factor in an overnight stay ? As the options available for this may not be suitable for your children e.g busy hotels , premier inns etc ( dependent on budget too ).

I think you would need to look at fishing lodges / rural estates and then check out how many cottages etc are on site . There may be a few , but may be quite far apart from each other , have a lot of privacy - so that may work for you .

You will also need to consider budget , are you flexible for dates etc ?
I use cottages.com , air bnb a lot for family holidays . There are lots of filters re dates , budget etc . Had a quick look on Airbnb and there are filters re waterfront .

For the hot tub , this isn’t something I have searched for , but would usually be available in more luxurious accom where they are catering for couples on breaks .

I have had some great family holidays , staying on farms and private rural estates in cottages . Would probably have been close to rivers for fishing , but not “on site “ and no hot tubs .But if you are able to push your budget , you may get this offered in the luxury cottages etc .

I would try searching for luxurious fishing lodges and then try and check which ones would offer you the privacy you need and the hot tub.

You could also post in scotsnet to see if you get any more suggestions . Good luck and hope you all have a fab holiday when it comes .

We have used this company in the Highlands before to stay in a remote cottage. https://www.escapecottagesscotland.com/

Wow thank you SO much. These suggestions are really great xx

Don't know about fishing nearby but we stayed at Landal Brunston Castle for a week last year and it was brilliant. Was England school holidays and the site was very quiet - we had the pool and cafe/bar to ourselves. Lodge was amazing...a great home from home. Hot tub lodges were available. Would love to go back.

We had a beautiful apartment with hot tub overlooking a lake in Castle Douglas near Dumfries.
Lochside Apartments.
lochsideapartments.co.uk/

Took my teens on thd North Coast 500 trip. We stayed at loch assyht look up inchnadamph Lodge. It was amazing. Single mum here too. Teamed up with another single mum wd flesh to Inverness hired a car. It wax easy, remote, beautiful. Campsites o sky and Dornoch. Beware of midges though.

Flew to inverness, even, !

Scotland's brilliant for this. Self-catering is genuinely the best call for autistic kids, you get predictability and control. I have done this myself a few times.
The place itself:

• Quieter locations (away from towns or tourist)
• Ask if there's a separate lounge or retreat space for sensory downtime
• Check for outdoor space (gardens, quiet grounds) so your child can decompress

Timing:

• School holidays are busier everywhere. Term-time means way fewer crowds
• Scottish autumn is lovely cooler, fewer tourists

What to pack:

• Familiar comfort foods or a way to order them in
• Noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs
• Fidget toys and comfort objects they already use at home
• A printed schedule of what you're doing each day (knowing what's happening helps enormously)
• wet weather gear as it tends to rain more there.

Meals: Self-catering beats restaurants every time. One-pot meals mean predictable timing. A slow cooker is your friend. Scotland's landscape is really soothing for sensory kids, less chaos than beach resorts, easier pace. (Full disclosure: I'm a neurodivergent travel planner and I am a mom of a autistic son and I have ADHD, so this is a special subject for me and I have been to Scotland a few times.)

I don't have a suggestion for a specific s/c house because the one I stayed in wouldn't be big enough for your family. However I recently had an amazing holiday with my AuDHD teenager staying near Falkirk where there are several cool things to do (climbing up inside the Kelpies though that's expensive is highly recommended. Segway safari at the Falkirk Wheel less expensive and also great fun). There's also convenient road links to other parts of Scotland from there so might be a good general area to seek an appropriate house in?

stayed here with my daughter and family last year, was great, not modern but had all we needed. Enclosed garden with horses the other side of the wall, and just outside Dunfermline.

https://www.holidaycottages.co.uk/cottage/oc-42197-the-farmhouse-kinglassie

I’d agree with others that seeking out rural estates is the way to go. With fishing quite often the rights are licensed, I have a river in the middle of my driveway but I’d need a licence to catch brown trout, it’s just £3 per day for a junior licence ( where I am) but y to hat could easily add up over a week *3

We go to Scotland every year.
Would recommend Unique cottages or Isle of Mull Cottages.
Mull is wonderful. The beaches are usually empty but there are also mountains for eagles. Easy drive and ferry.
All ND here and Scotland really works for us.
Would advise staying away from NC500.

It's nowhere near Scotland but I can highly recommend Herons Mead near Skegness/Or by in Lincolnshire https://heronsmead.co.uk/

Fishing on site and hot tubs at the holiday accommodation. We travel down from Scotland and stay for a week every year and have never been disappointed.

There's Landal Piperdam just north of Dundee, there's fishing on site and loads of quiet towns with easy access to beaches or hills.

We have been here it’s really preety - we didn’t have a hot tub but maybe some of the fancier lodges have one and I’m sure there was fishing 🎣 but again we didn’t do that
but there is a lovely pool and the staff were fantastic.

www.barendholidaylodges.uk