Arbor Bothy

*Brand new*

Surrounded by the breathtaking wild beauty of Cairngorms National Park, this cabin has you perfectly placed to explore snow-capped mountains, ancient pine forests and heather-clad moorland. The owners moved here to raise their family, and found an incredible house with a bothy in the back of the garden, full of old artefacts, newspapers and a note claiming it as the old village cinema. Overrun with moss and pine needles, timbers wearing away, they decided to give it a new life — and as creatives themselves, they had some really unique ideas to make it extra special, such as an enormous OS map of the park, which covers an entire wall.

Foot trails lead straight into nature (you’re 50m from 125km2 of ancient Caledonian woodland), while endless loops of bike trails will take you all the way up to the mountain tops and back without touching a road. In winter you can ski and snowboard; wild swimmers can find their cold-water fix at local lochs (where you can also kayak, paddle board, fish and sail). Between adventures, the cabin is a sanctuary of calm. Mornings can be deliciously slow, lying in bed watching clouds drift past the overhead rooflight, breakfasting out on the patio and watching red squirrels scamper past into the pines. Star-speckled nightfall calls for romantic evenings toasting marshmallows over the chiminea — or stroll to the village pub for a sociable pint or 2.

Getting here: train to Aviemore then taxi (20 mins)