In Scotland, there are nine unusual places to stay for a memorable trip
A land of lochs and munros, castles and craggy coastlines, Scotland brings breathtaking beauty to any trip. With cliff-hugging lighthouses and grand castles to admire, there is plenty to explore. Even better though, did you know you can even stay in these unique attractions?
Scotland is a country with lakes and Munros, castles and precipitous coastline, bringing amazing beauty to any trip. The lighthouse and magnificent castle on the cliff are worth appreciating, and there are many places worth exploring. Even better, do you know that you can even live in these unique scenic spots?
Yes, there are a lot of unusual accommodation in Scotland, which will help you make your trip more special.
So forget those chain hotels and typical accommodation ideas, and choose some different places.
Living in a lighthouse on the southwest coast 300
When it comes to road travel in Scotland, islands and highlands tend to get the most attention, but the border areas and areas below Edinburgh and Glasgow are more worthy of their own travel.
The 300 Highway on the southwest coast is a route to celebrate this. It includes a lot of beautiful things in Scotland — from castle to fortress, from woodland to coast.
One of the most striking historical attractions along the way is the Hall of Galloway Lighthouse, a 200-year-old building located in the southernmost tip of Scotland. As an unusual place to stay in Scotland, you can actually book a night or two here, sleep in a hut in the yard, and sleep in a historical environment.
Shake to sleep on the canal boat
The Canal Boat Holiday in Scotland provides another unusual place to stay, which you can do in both cities and villages.
There are some boat houses that you can rent in Edinburgh, or you want to live on the famous Loch Ness to find mythical monsters — this can also be achieved on the Scotia W boat house.
Canal boat travel and tourism are also very popular. The route from Falkirk to Kelpis is always a winner, because you sail in the lake and follow the beautiful natural waterway of the country. As more and more people decide to buy canal boats as a substitute for camping cars, it is not surprising that these unique accommodation options become more and more popular on websites such as Air BnB.
Living in a legal castle
Although it is impossible to spend the night at the famous Edinburgh Castle, Scotland is luckily a castle country, so there are many options for those who seek more dignified accommodation.
Nationwide, you have many choices, depending on which region of Scotland you plan to visit.
Popular castles include the 12th century castle of Tulloch, not far from Inverness. There are striking plateau scenery, or lovely Kilmartin Castle, which is a beautiful building with a history of 500 years. Accommodation and breakfast options are available in Argyle.
Escape from urban life and live in rural farms
The lush hills and green open spaces are the symbols of Scotland, and the wool sweater of Scotland is the main product of the countryside. It is not surprising that farm accommodation is becoming more and more popular.
If you want to find an unusual place to stay in Scotland, and nature is calling your name, it is a good idea to live in a working farm in the highlands or coastal areas, especially for families.
Enjoy the opportunity to breathe fresh air, watch farm animals in the natural environment, and enjoy fresh farm food through homestay or self-cooking.
Move into landmark heritage to add historical flavor
There are a large number of accommodation options with a long history throughout Scotland. It is meaningful to spend at least one or two nights in cultural relics during road travel in Scotland.
The Landmark Trust Fund provides a huge database of accommodation options, all of which are historical buildings.
You can choose a strange house built in the shape of pineapple in the 18th century to get an unusual accommodation experience, or you can choose a more traditional house, such as the master’s house (the master is equivalent to the British Lord).
Traditional Scottish island villa resort
It is never wrong to live in a villa in Scotland, which is a warm and comfortable main content of the British holiday. This is especially the case on the island, where the self-cooking option that is really far away from everything may become more attractive.
Although you will find many choices on Vrbo and other websites, there are also special websites to book such accommodation, such as the independent villa portal.
Compared with hotels, traditional stone cabins are usually set in beautiful places with open fireplaces and spacious gardens, which can meet the needs of large groups or families, and can also meet the needs of smaller and more primitive cabins.
Sleeping in the round house of the Iron Age
If you want to get something really special and feel that you have been taken to the Middle Earth, the Broch of Koigatch is waiting for you.
These iron age round houses are located on the northwest coast — looking toward the “Summer Islands” — and are almost hidden in the surrounding green plants. After comprehensive renovation, these historic houses are now equipped with luxury furniture, and the stone exterior hides the modern style interior.
Provide a truly unusual holiday in a gorgeous environment, where the voice of nature dominates, and Broch is a happy place to escape from reality.
Stay comfortably in the camp cabin of the castle
Given Scotland’s epic beauty and stunning natural scenery, camping here is not surprising. Although camping is legal in some parts of Scotland, some areas have their own rules and regulations, so it is worthwhile to plan accommodation in advance.
In any case, if the weather is not suitable for you, or you just want to take a bath, it is always welcome to live in a formal camp occasionally.
In Scotland, there is a special camping spot, which is the camping cabin of Brodick Castle. These cabins are located in the garden of the castle of Isle of Arran, and some have fireplaces, providing more camping options suitable for rainy days in an amazing place.
Choose an affordable accommodation in the auditorium of Edinburgh University
I leave this choice to those who want to visit Edinburgh during the festival, because accommodation during the festival is not only scarce but also the price is soaring.
I often work in Edinburgh in August. I don’t want to spend all my salary on accommodation, so I booked a university accommodation, where there are many accommodations.
When students are in class, which covers most of the holiday season, the dormitory will be rented at a reasonable price, which is an ideal choice for long-term accommodation. You can find more tips for saving money in my Edinburgh Festival Budget Travel Guide.