Feel the Heart of Scotland Beat on a Cottage Holiday in the Southern Highlands

Accommodation with Nature on the Doorstep

The Southern Highlands are crammed with wildlife. Perthshire, home to Europe's oldest tree and the world's highest hedge, is a Mecca for botanists and ornithologists, who flock to its incredible forests.

Rent a cottage here to experience the striking landscape of the Highland Boundary Fault, the natural phenomenon that fused Highlands and Lowlands together thousands of years ago. A cottage holiday in Loch Lomond or the Trossachs puts you in the heart of Scotland's first National Park; its mix of towering mountains, rolling hills, tranquil lochs and river rapids are home to some 200 species of birds, 29 species of mammals and over a quarter of Britain's flowering plant species.

The waters around Oban, Mull and their many islands bring year-round wildlife experiences.

Holidays here offer visitors the chance to encounter mighty white-tailed eagles, otters, red deer and osprey. Along the dramatic coast it is common to spot whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals. Or for fishing in an idyllic setting choose a cottage near the crystal clear waters of Loch Rannock. Wherever you spend your time in the Southern Highlands, you can't help but fall in love with the landscape.

Character Cottages Steeped in History and Heritage

The Southern Highlands still ring with the echoes of a turbulent history and, from a holiday home here, you can walk in the footsteps of Rob Roy and William Wallace around the monuments and battlefields of Stirling and Callander.

The National Wallace Monument and exhibition at Stirling tells of the epic struggle for a free Scotland. Or, choose a cottage in Dumfries and Galloway to take a journey of inspiration though 'Burns Country', Scotland's poetic heartland, and home to the legendary national Bard, Rabbie Burns.

Take the 'Palms, Poets and Pilgrims Tour' to experience the same big skies, tumbling ruins, and dramatic scenery that inspired his romantic verse. view of Glamis Castle home of the queen mother, n William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the eponym resides at Glamis Castle For a gentler taste of history, rent a cottage in the Grampian Mountains to explore Scotland's finest fairytale castle, Glamis; famed for its Macbeth connections, and the childhood home of the Queen Mother, its striking pink sandstone turrets look out proudly over Perthshire.

Galloway is renowned for its historic houses and beautiful gardens, and no cottage holiday in the Southern Highlands would be complete without a visit to Logan Botanic Garden where a fabulous array of bizarre and exotic plants flourishes outdoors thanks to the North Atlantic Drift.

Choose a Cottage Holiday for Culture and Cuisine

For a real flavour of the Southern Highlands, food-lovers flock to towns such as St Fillans, on the banks of Loch Earn. From here you can take in the breathtaking views and choose from top-notch restaurants along the water's edge.

The family-friendly Forth Inn at Aberfoyle is renowned for its atmosphere, while fish fans are in for a treat at Drummond Trout Farm and Fishery, at Comrie, where the farm shop stocks multiple smoked trout products.

You could try your hand at catching your own, in one of six pools, and then retire to your cottage to make the most of your self-catering facilities! Holidays in the highlands are heaven for Whisky connoisseurs, who'll find countless distilleries to explore, not to mention the Scottish Liqueur Centre at Bankfoot, north of Perth.

Or if culture's your bag, then head to one of our range of cottages around Glasgow to soak up the city's vibrant arts scene. The Art Nouveau 'Glasgow Style' of Charles Rene Mackintosh may be the city's most famous export, but today you'll also find over 200 art organisations, including Scottish Ballet and Scottish Opera.

Holiday Homes near the Highlights and Hotspots

Any of our enchanting range of cottages in the Southern Highlands makes the perfect countryside retreat. Whether you simply want to relax in awesome tranquillity, or really get active, there are plenty of attractions to fill any holiday or short break with memorable experiences.

St Andrews is a paradise for golf enthusiasts, boasting two championship courses with panoramic views over the River Tay estuary, while Perthshire is popular for outdoor pursuits of all kinds, including the new craze of sphereing, or zorbing. Head here if you fancy being rolled down a hillside in a 12-foot inflatable ball! Or, if it's family fun that makes your holiday special, then you'll find no shortage of great days out near your cottage.

The Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park is just a few miles north-west of Stirling, and home to lions, lemurs and a whole host of other animals, while Noah's Ark in Perth is perfect for a rainy day. For more active fun, try Dunolly Outdoor Adventures in Aberfeldy, where there's plenty of ways to run off steam. From walking, cycling, horse-riding, through to climbing and white water rafting along the River Tay, a South Highlands holiday can be truly invigorating! Visit our availability search page to find your next holiday cottage in the Southern Highlands.