Self-catering hits heights of luxury

Scotland’s wealth of DIY holiday accommodation offers a real sense of freedom, writes Sandy Neil

Scotland abounds with self-catering accommodation, so here are just a few good ones to get you started on your autumn travels. Melfort Village comprises 32 four-star cottages in the hills and oak woods overlooking Loch Melfort near Oban, Argyll – an ideal base for touring the outstanding scenery of the Isles of Mull, Iona, Islay, Jura, Gigha and the Outer Hebrides. Every cottage has its own unique character, furnished in comfortable country house style with fully equipped kitchens, each with colour TV, DVD and Freeview.

The hamlet has excellent on-site facilities: swimming pool, sauna, gym, tennis court, playground, putting green, games rooms, bike hire, fishing for wild brown trout on Loch nan Druimnean, and a bar and restaurant called The Shower of Herring Inn serving seasonal dishes. Search for a cottage at www.melfortvillage.co.uk, and contact 01852 200257 to book.

Taigh a’ Bhraoin is a luxury Four Star self-catering cottage on the banks of Loch Broom near Ullapool in the magnificent north-west Highlands, with four bedrooms sleeping two to eight people, a lounge/dining room, luxury bathroom and sauna.

The terrain is ideal for walkers and climbers of all abilities, with rugged peaks including many Munros (over 3,000ft), and the challenging lower summits of Suilven and Stac Polly. Rocky coves and pink sand characterise Gruinard Bay, one of Scotland’s loveliest beaches, and Wester Ross’s range of mountain and moor makes perfect habitats for birdwatching.

Ullapool is a hub for sea-anglers, and fly fishermen flock to salmon-rich waters like the River Ewe at Poolewe by Loch Maree: a warm microclimate where tropical plants thrive in Inverewe House gardens. To begin your adventure, visit www.scottishhighlandcottage.com, or call 01560-484 003.

On a farm near Cupar, Balmeadowside Lodges incorporates seven modern self-catering cabins with hot tubs overlooking the stunning Fife countryside. All seven lodges can sleep four, with fully-equipped kitchens, open plan dining areas, and verandas, TV/DVD, wi-fi, iPod decks – and, perhaps most important of all in autumn and winter, underfloor heating. See their special offers at www.solidluxury.co.uk, or call 01337-870 468 for more information.

Gartenandmore is a self-catering holiday cabin sleeping four in the Boat of Garten holiday park between Aviemore and Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms National Park. “We called our lovely cabin ‘Gartenandmore’,” owner Fiona Graham says, “Firstly because it is situated in the picturesque village of Boat of Garten, and more because there is so much more to the cabin and the area than meets the eye.” Visit www.gartenandmore.co.uk, and contact [email protected] or 01479 831652.