Just how fun would it be if you could rent a large holiday house in Scotland, to throw a big get-together for family or friends? I'm just back from one such gathering, so it's very much on my mind.
Books, plays, films are all written about them the country house weekend and you can see why. There's something heady about journeying to some isolated destination to spend time with a crowd. The tricky part is often finding a house that will fit everyone.
So here are five really good Scottish holiday lets where you can gather together a good group of people you love and enjoy each other as well as the glorious Scottish countryside.
The Large Holiday House on a Scottish Island
Carsaig House, Isle of Mull
This beautiful old Scottish country house on the Isle of Mull sleeps 15. Elegant but comfy, the house is full of period charm, sea views and of course stunning countryside all around. It's in a quiet part of the island so you'll have miles and miles of deserted coastline and countryside to explore in blissful peace.The Traditional Scottish Country House
Dungarthill House, Perthshire
This Victorian country house would make the perfect setting for a film. It has wide hallways, huge rooms and the usual Scottish furnishings such as tartan carpets and stags heads. But it's tastefully done and while the house feels grand, it isn't too grand. It sleeps 21 and the billiard room and TV room make it the perfect place for teens too.
The Fancy Large Scottish Holiday House
Cromarty House
Have you ever stayed in a Scottish country house with a piano bar? Cromarty House may look like a traditional Scottish hunting lodge from the outside but inside it's pretty swish. I'm talking hot tub, rainfall showers, integrated music system and 11 ensuite bedrooms. It sleeps 22 and it a great house for entertaining.
Large Scottish Holiday House in a Beautiful Town
Harmony House, Melrose
This house is owned by the National Trust and its the perfect place to be based if you like your mix of countryside and town. It's in the middle of Melrose, named as 'Best Place to Visit in Scotland 2023' by Which? and they're not wrong. You have a pretty main street packed with cafes, restaurants, bookshops, as well as wonderful surroundings with Melrose Abbey and the Eildon hills beyond. The house sleeps 18 and is beautifully furnished, elegant but comfortable.
The Action-Packed Large Scottish Holiday House
New Lodge, Strathcarron
It may not have the history of an older lodge but if you've a crowd that wants to keep busy, this one's a banger. Surrounded by countryside, it's next to a river (good fishing), is close to the sea and has not one but two tennis courts. There's a separate ceilidh barn which as snooker and pool tables, table tennis, table football, roulette, a TV and a wood burner. It sleeps 18, the interior is super bright, cosy and modern. It's on the Applecross penninsula and worth every mile getting there.
