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Make a holiday rental cottage in the Scottish Highlands and Islands your home away from home

It is hard to describe the pure beauty of the Scottish Highlands and Islands to someone who has not seen the area with their own eyes. It seems that every twist in the road brings you to a new landscape or new little community to explore. Wildlife and nature play a large part in life in the Highlands and Islands, and there are few places in Europe where you can go on holiday in such unspoilt surroundings. Most people looking for self catering accommodation in the Highlands and Islands will already know a huge amount about the area and the possibilities for walking holidays, golfing breaks and fishing trips, but there is always more to see and do in the far north of the UK!

Things to do on holiday in the Scottish Highlands and Islands

Gaelic culture is still strong in the Highlands and Islands, and although the small communities which adorn the landscape have had to adapt to survive, there are still distinct features of Gaelic culture in music, food, arts and sport, which all come together perfectly at the frequent Highland Games competitions which occur throughout the summer. If the local games are on when you are staying in a holiday property in the Highlands and Islands, you are in luck. They provide a wonderful day, brimming with entertainment and Scottish delicacies! Local folklore is hugely regional, and there are some magnificent stories and tales to investigate, which really capture the imagination.

The Scottish Highlands and Islands have had a rough and highly innovative history, resulting in the landscape being covered with fascinating places of interest from huge, humbling castles and ancient monuments to whiskey distilleries and original steam engines.

Walkers, hikers and climbers who fancy a challenge and unrivalled peace will be in their own personal heaven whilst staying in a property in the Scottish Highlands. You could walk and climb for days without having to walk across a road, and there are an enormous variety of marked trails to embark upon, from the dramatic coastal paths to the timelessly secluded forest trails. Riding and mountain biking holidays thrive from Highlands accommodation too.

There are over 40 golf courses to choose from when staying in a cottage in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Golfers will already know of courses like Nairn, but wherever you decide to take self catering accommodation in the Scottish highlands and Islands, you are sure to be able to find a local course for a round.

The untainted rivers and lochs of the Highlands and Islands teem with fish, and although conditions may vary from the optimum conditions you are used to, finding someone willing to pass on a little local knowledge should not be too hard in the Highlands! Fishing permits are required, but are easily purchased from most towns. The waterways and coast of the Scottish Highlands and Islands are perfect for water sports, although wet suits are strongly advised for much of the year. Sailing, kayaking and windsurfing are among the most popular.

During the winter, the Scottish Highlands and Islands are the best place in the UK for skiing. The skiing in Scotland is highly enjoyable, with rewarding runs for beginners and experts alike. There are three main skiing centres which all provide everything you need for a fun skiing holiday or weekend break. These are to be found in the Nevis Range, (near Ben Nevis, and offering Scotland’s highest pistes), Cairngorm (the most popular) and Glencoe (which offers the longest runs in Scotland).

Anyone staying in a self catering holiday in the Scottish Highlands and Islands towards the southern region should also concider a quick exploration of the Aberdeen and Grampion region.

Weather in the Scottish Highlands and Islands

The weather in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland is famously unpredictable, largely due to their position on the edge of the European landmass. The weather is not as bad as it may appear by the number of jokes made, but it is nonetheless hard to predict! As long as you have a jacket ‘just in case’, there should be no problems!

Travel to the Scottish Highlands and Islands

There are numerous options for reaching self catering accommodation in the Highlands and Islands. Some of the more remote cottages will have specific instructions for arrival, but in general, Inverness Airport (INV) is the main entry point, with flights from London taking just over an hour. Alternatively, road and rail networks are surprisingly good across the region, but having the freedom to explore by car is a real luxury.


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Wonderful! 4.9/5
(64 reviews)
£110
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 4
House #8166008
64
Viewed 161 times in the last 48 hours
£71
avg/night
  • 4 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 7
House #898508
4
Viewed 121 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(26 reviews)
£150
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cottage #6789331
26
Viewed 107 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(57 reviews)
£135
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Separate Toilet
  • Sleeps 5
House #720112
57
Viewed 65 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(61 reviews)
£62
avg/night
  • 1 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 3
Cottage #711010
61
Viewed 78 times in the last 48 hours
Excellent! 4.6/5
(26 reviews)
£79
avg/night
  • 1 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 3
Apartment #1767166
26
Viewed 45 times in the last 48 hours
Excellent! 4.7/5
(26 reviews)
£104
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #1767167
26
Viewed 48 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(44 reviews)
£139
avg/night
  • 5 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 12
House #1039674
44
Viewed 81 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(9 reviews)
£128
avg/night
  • 5 BR
  • 4 BA
  • Sleeps 10
House #486570
9
Viewed 60 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(27 reviews)
£100
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #412184
27
Viewed 58 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(20 reviews)
£80
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 5
Cottage #6732649
20
Viewed 26 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(50 reviews)
£80
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 5
Cottage #8146034
50
Viewed 60 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(14 reviews)
£55
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #8170588
14
Viewed 119 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(19 reviews)
£113
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cottage #8151457
19
Viewed 47 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(51 reviews)
£96
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #722905
51
Viewed 62 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(21 reviews)
£243
avg/night
  • 4 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Separate Toilet
  • Sleeps 8
Villa #6516884
21
Viewed 41 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(19 reviews)
£75
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #8077168
19
Viewed 27 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(43 reviews)
£135
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Sleeps 5
House #838862
43
Viewed 36 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(21 reviews)
£50
avg/night
  • 1 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cottage #6562530
21
Viewed 43 times in the last 48 hours
Excellent! 4.7/5
(11 reviews)
£186
avg/night
  • 4 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Sleeps 8
House #1994102
11
Viewed 46 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(37 reviews)
£92
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Separate Toilet
  • Sleeps 8
House #8146207
37
Viewed 25 times in the last 48 hours
Very Good! 4.2/5
(10 reviews)
£120
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cottage #1087426
10
Viewed 30 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(17 reviews)
£107
avg/night
  • 4 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Separate Toilet
  • Sleeps 8
Cottage #870553
17
Viewed 43 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(53 reviews)
£95
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cottage #1511061
53
Viewed 53 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(5 reviews)
£110
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Separate Toilet
  • Sleeps 6
Chalet #74717
5
Viewed 59 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(23 reviews)
£68
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #8145117
23
Viewed 42 times in the last 48 hours
Excellent! 4.7/5
(7 reviews)
£71
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #1037977
7
Viewed 13 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(25 reviews)
£64
avg/night
  • 1 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 3
Cabin #1985041
25
Viewed 61 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(23 reviews)
£69
avg/night
  • 1 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 2
Cottage #8105476
23
Viewed 46 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(43 reviews)
£110
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 6
House #8128161
43
Viewed 16 times in the last 48 hours
£56
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 7
Cottage #1708296
8
Viewed 32 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(5 reviews)
£42
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
House #6523458
5
Viewed 18 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(16 reviews)
£109
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cottage #8161993
16
Viewed 14 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(26 reviews)
£200
avg/night
  • 5 BR
  • 4 BA
  • Separate Toilet
  • Sleeps 9
House #8162672
26
Viewed 30 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(7 reviews)
£46
avg/night
  • 1 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 2
Cottage #8142806
7
Viewed 22 times in the last 48 hours
Excellent! 4.7/5
(18 reviews)
£110
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 5
House #1514578
18
Viewed 19 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(22 reviews)
£106
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Bungalow #1613033
22
Viewed 35 times in the last 48 hours
Exceptional! 5/5
(26 reviews)
£121
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 7
House #1680917
26
Viewed 20 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(10 reviews)
£60
avg/night
  • Studio
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 3
Chalet #830955
10
Viewed 28 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(8 reviews)
£56
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Chalet #1957019
8
Viewed 25 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(8 reviews)
£58
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cabin #8093802
8
Viewed 44 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(5 reviews)
£58
avg/night
  • Studio
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Cottage #1734228
5
Viewed 62 times in the last 48 hours
Good! 3.9/5
(9 reviews)
£50
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 5
#8103933
9
Viewed 31 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(6 reviews)
£99
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 6
Cottage #6023204
6
Viewed 17 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(17 reviews)
£77
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Apartment #8120870
17
Viewed 40 times in the last 48 hours
Excellent! 4.6/5
(26 reviews)
£99
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Separate Toilet
  • Sleeps 5
Cottage #8143737
26
Viewed 11 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(12 reviews)
£64
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 1 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Bungalow #433453
12
Viewed 23 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(23 reviews)
£129
avg/night
  • 2 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 4
Apartment #1664815
23
Viewed 13 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.9/5
(8 reviews)
£86
avg/night
  • 4 BR
  • 3 BA
  • Sleeps 10
House #78657
8
Viewed 25 times in the last 48 hours
Wonderful! 4.8/5
(12 reviews)
£74
avg/night
  • 3 BR
  • 2 BA
  • Sleeps 8
Chalet #8062962
12
Viewed 29 times in the last 48 hours
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Highland Holiday Cottages & Homes (300+)

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Recent Reviews

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Just perfect

5 of 5
Had the most lovely week in this perfect cottage, everything we could need was provided for our stay , the rhubarb that Turan picked for us was just delicious, he was very helpful and responded quickly to any messages , you will not be disappointed if you are lucky to stay here ,, we will definitely be back
... continue reading
  • Review Submitted: Jun 24, 2017
  • Date of Stay: Jun 2017
View property

Simply wonderful

5 of 5
We had a fantastic stay - the house had everything and we would highly recommend and return in the future. Fiona was very helpful and set up everything we needed for our 1 year old. Can't fault a thing!!!!
... continue reading
  • Review Submitted: Jun 23, 2017
  • Date of Stay: Jun 2017