Enclosed self-catering - Scotland

[jackparlabane]

An unusual query here - looking for a self-catering place with at least six beds - twin, double, whatever, but not sofa-beds, with interesting outdoor space that is well-defined yet safe? It doesn't need to be 100% enclosed and escape-proof (which some websites do have as a category, but many of those gardens are tiny so good for toddlers but not 11-13yos), but needs to be clear where the kids need to stop running, not have ponds in it, and if shared with some other houses, no dogs. Anything from a large garden with play equipment and some trees for hide and seek, to a couple acres of woodland with a fence round.

It's time for my annual rant about the number of self-catering websites which don't tell you how many bloody beds there are or which rooms they're in ('sleeps 6' won't do if that's two doubles and a bunk in the second room), but getting detailed info on the exact layout of the land and what is within an enclosed bit involves phoning up every single potential place and grilling them.

So asking for recommendations of places, or companies that know their houses well enough to assist. Hoping for Scotland or the Lakes/Cumbria/Northumberland, but any recommendations in UK or even Europe aporeciated.

Currently thinking a Scottish island might work - hard to get lost on say Cumbrae! Basically two kids are autistic and chances are at least one will want to stay in the holiday 'home' much of the time, and the more freedom they can safely have, the better everyone's time will be. Many thanks for any ideas.

We have used Sally's Cottages for Lake District properties. Good Facebook site and website. I like that the property info lists how many bedrooms.

Similarly, Little and Large Holiday Houses Scotland have lovely properties. Their website is lhhscotland.com

www.scottish-cottages.co.uk/southern-scotland/dumfries-galloway/rusko-house-uk12160?adult=2&child=4&nights=7&range=3
Maybe you want more rural tho ?
www.portbahnislay.co.uk/portbahn this looks lovely with kids stuff in garden but maybe not enclosed enough ?

Thank you @Srictlybakeoff - those look lovely though only 5 separate beds - I think I'll have to look for 'sleeps 8' to get enough, but those sites both stated what beds were in which rooms which is what I need.

Will try your recommended sites which I hadn't found yet @SingingSands - ideally we'd like shops and a pub/restaurant within walking distance and in moon on a stick territory, a castle or National Trust type place. Less fussed about beaches. Will keep looking, thank you.

www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/cottages/arandel
What about this one?

I've stayed here before: www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/31081504

It's in the Cairngorms in Scotland, easy to get to as it's just off the A9, and it's close to Aviemore, Highland Wildlife park etc.
3 bedrooms upstairs and a sofabed downstairs so sleeps 8. You don't say how old your kids are, but it has lots of baby/ toddler stuff like high chair/ bed rail/ travel cot etc.

It has a decent sized fenced garden and then from the house there are beautiful woodland walks to bird hides / waterfalls etc. There are trails through the woods and there are clear walls which act as a divider between the end of the forest and the road.

It also has a sauna which is a fantastic treat once the kids are in bed!

have a look at groupaccommodation.com and bigholidayhouse.com websites there is also a fair number of holiday lettings facebook groups including one specifically for big properties where you post on the facebook group exactly what you want and only those people that have it reply. very handy when you have very specific needs.

Good luck with your search @jackparlabane . I like that the Sally's Cottages site tells you exactly the distance to the nearest pub!

We use Large Holiday Homes Scotland

Try Village Farm Cottages in Northumberland. Pantile, Melrose, Townfoot and Farrier’s View all have three bedrooms and enclosed gardens. Pantile would be the best option in my opinion because it’s handy for the games rooms and games field. There’s an Indian restaurant within walking distance.
It’s also worth looking at Beacon Hill Farm near Morpeth. It is a little dated but could be what you want, particularly Kestrel Cottage.
Also look at Burnfoot Holiday Cottages (also in Northumberland) especially The Granary which has the largest garden.

Thank you all very much. The youngest is 7 so we don't need toddler stuff or stair gates, but info about layout and location, and separate beds for everyone, is critical.

That one near Kingussie may be a contender - I can't see all the site on my phone though. Ditto the one on Arran.

Keep the suggestions coming!

we've holidayed in Kingussie a few times - the Highland Wildlife Park is great and, a bit of a longer drive, the Landmark Park is great.

We've also holidayed on Arran. Whilst I enjoyed it (boiling hot, stunning and found a beautiful little beach), we felt it was more a 4-5 day holiday than a full week.

If you can find somewhere near Stonehaven up towards Aberdeen, Dunnotar Castle is truly breathtaking. There's also an outdoor (seawater) pool and a fantastic playground in Stonehaven itself.

I've stayed here and iirc it has an enclosed garden.

Try Shepherds Cottage at Beadnell in Northumberland. Huge 4 bedroom cottage with at least 6 beds from what I remember, lovely enclosed garden and separate private games room. It's fabulous!!

Landmark is AMAZING!!! A really day day out and worth the drive from Kingussie. That house is also really near Loch Inch which has lots of watersports and a very good cafe.

It's a shame that you said no ponds. I was going to suggest you look for a cottage on Easdale Island - very defined space, you have to get a passenger ferry - but it's smothered in flooded slate pits.

@EggysMom - that's giving me nightmares just thinking about it! We're talking a kid who can absent-mindedly walk off a towpath into a canal... Luckily the canal was only 3 feet deep but still hard getting him out again.

Will look up Landmark Park. Have gone via sleeper to Inverness before which was great - they loved Urquhart Castle and Cawdor. Used to go regularly with my nephews to Cumbrae.

Friend suggests Arran - I'd assumed the place was overrun with geology and other students on field trips in the summer - is there space for families on holiday too?

We did Arran last week of August so no idea on what it's like at the height of summer. Added to that the Scottish schools were back at school.

It was super quiet. We drove up to Lamlash and it was almost post apocalyptic - not a soul around.

Sorry - Lochranza.

Though everywhere was super quiet.

Thanks @BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz - one attraction of Scotland is being able to go once locals are back at school. Must look up how long the ferry is to Arran (ie short enough for the child terrified of boats to be distracted...)

I think it’s a bit big for what you’re looking for but New Lodge in Strathcarron, Scottish Highlands is a beautiful house with plenty of space and a converted barn shed which forms a separate games room / ceilidh barn! Also has bikes and tennis court available for use and lots of gorgeous walks around the area. We stayed there a couple of years ago with a large group of friends and it was fantastic.

www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/cottages/new-lodge

The ferry itself was around 40 mins but there's a bit of queueing to get on and off. We also had to drive up into a second layer of cars which was terrifying when getting off the other side. I'd have no problems doing it again but it was nervy first time

There's a bar/lounge etc on board for relaxing in.

I just wanted to say I share your pain re. Number of beds! I had an argument with an AirBnB host when I queried his number of beds because it said 6 beds, sleeps 6 but showed photos of 3 double/king sized beds. They weren’t the sort that can separated into singles so that’s 3 beds, sleeps 6 but he was adamant his listing was correct

@emmathedilemma oh god, don't get me started on totally inaccurate listings. It's even worse looking in Germany where a bed-room is obviously any room with a bed in it, so includes the lounge if it has a sofa-bed.

DP says, quite reasonably, that if he has to share a bed it's not a holiday. I don't mind sharing a king-size with him, but he claims I snore.

Have been looking at Sally's Cottages as recommended upthread - you can't even specify how many people any more precisely than '6-8'! And another peeve - it shows you Location via tiny inset Google maps, with no scale on them whatsoever! On the plus side, they did have three good-value contenders, two walking distance to shops selling good food...