Scottish Highlands cottage or hotel any recommendations?

[wook]

I have a dream of a trip to the Scottish Highlands this winter where me and dh and dcs can walk round a loch, see red deer, red squirrels, etc out of our windows and sit by a log fire and drink loads of whiskey (not dcs, obviously) and yet also be near enough to some civilisation to not be too scared if it snows etc.
Does anyone know of such a place? Any recommendations would be very gratefully received

What do you mean by civilisation? Edinburgh, Inverness..1hr drive from a major hospital.....somewhere with a shop/pub?

I've stayed here with DP before and it's really nice. I think the photos must be old though as the decor/beds etc all looked different and newer when we were there and much nicer than on the pics. The living room isn't shown either but has two large sofas and a log burning fire.

How about around Aviemore, Boat of Garten area. There are shops etc (Aviemore itself is a bit naff) but you will get snow, red squirrels, Reindeer and lots of activities. Also near big whisky producing areas...

BTW Scotland is the one place where you really don't need to worry about it snowing. They keep the roads open and gritted even after feet of snow.

Suggest this website for ideas of area
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usmapindexes/northcentral.html
This kind of thing?
www.greatnorthlodges.co.uk/mountainbear.htm

Places that would be good are Loch Garten, Rothiemurchus, Loch Morlich - all close-ISH to Aviemore.

places round Arisaig are nice to (NB NOT Mallaig) and around but NOT IN Fort William.

Try Mull as well, Tobermory is good (it's Balamory, if you have toddlers).

Thank you so much for the advice- am going to go for it !

Nethybridge is lovely if you want to blow the budget try Mountain bear

Some cheaper Nethybridge properties

Two cottage recommendations for you one east one west, both absoliutely lovely.

East: Milton Cottage in Knockando. Its near Abelour on Speyside. (ecosseunique website - if this is too small some other great places on there) Speyside is gorgeous and only an hour from Inverness and about 1.5 hours from Aberdeen.

West: Halftown cottages near inverary only an hour north of Glasgow and close to Loch Lomond. Went there in September, gorgeous walks, squirrels etc. (argyll cottages website)

Sorry haven't worked out how to do links yet.

I have always pined over Crieff Hydro.

we've stayed here a couple of times, lovely walks from the cottage, views over the isles, pub down the road, small shop, interesting area