Valentine's Breaks in Scotland

Roseisle Beach, Moray Coast 

Roses are red, violets are blue,

A Scottish Valentine's break is waiting for you!

Scotland's breathtaking scenery provides a truly romantic setting for a Valentine's break.  Why not spend quality time together with a beautiful backdrop of loch and glen, coast or castle?  From luxury city apartments and Highland hideaways to idyllic island escapes and beach retreats, Scotland offers a wide range of possibilities for unique Valentine's holidays.

Valentine's breaks in Scotland

Self-catering is ideal for a romantic getaway, giving you all the privacy and freedom you need to make the most of your time away together.  Do your own thing in your own time, and relax together in your home from home.  Valentine's accommodation can be special without being expensive - self-catering is a great value way to have a romantic trip for two.

There are a range of properties on EmbraceScotland with tempting Valentine's offers - some are even offering a complimentary bottle of bubbly for you to enjoy!   Whether you're looking for an elegant city apartment, a lodge with a hot tub, or a cosy cottage with a wood burning stove, you're sure to find the perfect place to spend Valentine's in Scotland.  Curl up by the fire, take long walks in the countryside or go sightseeing in the city - make your Valentine's your own.

If you're thinking about a longer holiday, take a look at our cottages for couples and romantic cottages in Scotland for inspiration for your next break.

Scottish Highlands

Find your perfect Valentine's break with EmbraceScotland - quality assured self-catering accommodation across Scotland.

Where would you love to spend Valentine's in Scotland?  Leave your comments below.

Jazz up your February in the Kingdom of Fife

St Andrews

The Kingdom of Fife, tucked into Scotland's east coast, is a scenic, historic area with ancient towns,  picturesque fishing villages, fantastic golf courses and award-winning beaches - the perfect place for a relaxing holiday.    If you're thinking about a February break in Fife, here are some events and activities to jazz up your days.

Events

Fife Jazz Festival, locations across Fife, 3rd - 5th February

Kyle Eastwood

Fife's annual Jazz Festival features a range of jazz styles and concerts all across the region, from concert halls to village halls, with performances by:

• Kyle Eastwood
• Fionna Duncan
• Dan Nimmer 
• Joe Temperley and the Fife Jazz Orchestra
• and many more!

It's a great opportunity to embrace both the beautiful region of Fife and Scottish jazz.  

Snowdrops by Starlight, Cambo Estate, 11th - 19th February

Thousands of visitors head to Cambo Estate in Fife each February to walk through the 70 acres of beautiful snowdrop woods.  For something truly special, why not visit at night to experience Snowdrops by Starlight.  The woods are transformed by light effects to create an enchanting wonderland that the whole family can enjoy.

Activities

Pittenweem

With 45 golf courses in the Kingdom of Fife, it's an ideal retreat for golf enthusiasts.   St Andrews is regarded as the Home of Golf and alongside the historic Old Course, there are six sister courses, all run by the St Andrews Links Trust.  Along the coast there are also great links courses in Elie, Crail and Anstruther - click here for more information on golfing in Fife.

If you want to stay somewhere with great walks nearby, head to the coast.  The Fife Coastal Path is part of Scotland's Great Trails, and offers stunning coastal views along the 150km path from the Forth Estuary in the south to the Tay Estuary in the north.   Whether you're looking for a leisurely stroll or something a bit more challenging, the Coastal Path is a great way to discover Fife's hidden gems.

With so much coastline around the Kingdom of Fife, it's ideal for wildlife watching.  The Isle of May, a National Nature Reserve at the mouth of the Firth of Forth, is home to seals and a wide variety of sea birds, including puffins (from April), guillemots and razorbills.

Why not stay in a local holiday cottage to really get to know Fife?  Visit EmbraceScotland for a selection of quality assured self catering Fife.

Have you been on a self-catering holiday in Fife?  Do you have recommendations on things to do or see?  Leave your comments or questions below.

Reasons to take a golfing holiday in Scotland...

Golfing in Aberdeenshire

Why should you come to Scotland to golf?   With over 550 golf courses, stunning scenery and world-famous courses, Scotland is the perfect place for a golfing holiday.  Whether you're an experienced golfer looking for a challenge or you just want to enjoy a leisurely 9 holes, there are courses across the country to suit a range of handicaps and abilities.

Home of Golf
Golf originated in Scotland and has been played here for centuries, earning it the 'Home of Golf' title.   The sport's history is rooted in the historic courses and club houses across Scotland - what better place to play golf than its birthplace?

Links Courses
Blow away the cobwebs with a round at one of Scotland's traditional links courses.  There are over 100 coastal courses in Scotland - from the world-famous to the hidden gems - with sea views to soothe the soul.  If you're looking for the next challenge, try a championship links course - Carnoustie in Angus, Ayrshire's Royal Troon and the historic Old Course at St Andrews have all been hosts of The Open Championship.

Why not combine a golf break in Scotland with the chance to watch some championship golf?  Play a round at Castle Stuart and then watch the professionals tackle the course during the Scottish Open (July 12-15th).  While visiting the Moray Coast, you can also discover the delights of Nairn and Royal Dornach, both fantastic links courses.

Spectacular Scenery
From river to loch, coast to hill, Scotland's golf courses are renowned for having beautiful backdrops.

Take a look at this video for footage of Scotland's breathtaking scenery.

To really make the most of a golf break in Scotland, choose accommodation that offers flexibility to come and go as you please, allows you to eat at times that suit you and has plenty of space for your clubs - for quality assured accommodation near golf courses, browse a selection of self-catering for golf holidays Scotland.

Embrace Scottish golf with EmbraceScotland!

Are you thinking about a golf holiday in Scotland?  Have you played some of Scotland's best-loved courses?  Leave your comments or questions below.

Stay a while in Mid Argyll!

Craobh

Mid Argyll is a beautiful and often-overlooked area of Scotland well worth visiting.  Because most people head to Oban and north towards Skye, or to Lochgilphead and south to the Mull of Kintyre, it is a quiet and almost hidden gem.  And yet it contains walks, wildlife, and the ancient seat of the Kingdom of the Scots.  There are many historic and prehistoric sites in and around the village of Kilmartin, and a stop at the Kilmartin Museum is a must.

But what makes Mid Argyll really special is the coast.  Nowhere else has quite the scattering of islands just offshore that make for amazing views and even more amazing sunsets.  Standing in Craobh Haven, for example, you can see the islands of Jura and Scarba in the south, sweep north taking in Shuna, Luing and Seil, and see right over to Ben More on Mull.  The interplay of light, land and sea quickens the heart and soothes the soul.

And self catering is definitely the way to see it.  Stay somewhere like the four-star Craobh Haven Cottages and not only do you get uninterrupted views of the sunsets from the living room windows, but you’re ideally located to explore the area, walk the hills around Loch Awe or take a wildlife-packed boat trip from Craobh Marina.  You get the freedom and independence of your own holiday home, with the sea on your doorstep and just a short walk to the pub.

Have you visited this area of Scotland?  Leave your comments or questions below.

3 reasons to start planning your Scottish summer holiday...

Applecross, West Coast

So here we are in January - the festive season behind us and a shiny new year rolled out in front.  Why should you be thinking about your summer holiday now?  Here are three good reasons!

1. Summer is a wonderful time to visit Scotland.  Make the most of the long days (when the light is stretched out until 11pm in some parts of the country) - the lochs and rivers, hills and glens, miles of coastline and secluded beaches provide the perfect setting for a range of outdoor activities, including golfing, fishing, hill walking, mountain biking and water sports.  You can also pack your days with events such as folk and arts festivals or simply spend time relaxing and whiling away the day with a good book.  With self-catering accommodation you have the freedom and flexibility to enjoy your holiday however you wish.
   
   
2. The summer months of June, July and August are the busiest time of year for tourists and accommodation gets booked up quickly.  The Edinburgh Festival runs through the whole of August so if you're planning a trip to Scotland's capital, you will need to organise your accommodation early.  As well as self-catering for the Festival, EmbraceScotland has a wide range of properties perfect for a summer break, whether you're thinking about a cosy coastal cottage for two, a large holiday home for all the family or a luxury lodge for a weekend break.
   
   
3. According to a recent study, most of our 'holiday happiness' comes from the anticipation of a trip and the pre-holiday build up.  So for a big dose of happiness why not start planning your Scottish summer holiday now with EmbraceScotland!

Click here to read more about summer activities and summer holidays in Scotland.

Do you believe that most of your holiday happiness comes from the holiday planning?  Are you thinking about a summer holiday in Scotland this year?   Leave your comments or questions below.

Rooms with a View: Coastal Cottages in Scotland

'For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

It's always ourself we find in the sea.'

~ E. E Cummings

There is something so soothing about being by the sea.  The dragging inhale and rolling exhale of the waves, (and that suspended pause between the two), the blues and greys that colour the days, the unmistakeable mix of crashing waves and screeching seagulls which becomes the soundtrack to long walks, the heady lung-fulls of salty air...

I always feel completely relaxed after a stay by the sea - as if my worries have been sucked in and swept under a withdrawing wave, lost to the waters.

If you're looking for a relaxing retreat to start the new year, why not browse the selection of Beach Cottages Scotland and combine your 'me' time with some 'sea' time?

Coastal Cottages in Scotland

Scotland is the ideal place for a beach holiday with over 8,000 miles of coastline.  The beaches in the Hebrides and Scottish Isles are some of the most spectacular in the country - idyllic stretches of white sand lapped by turquoise waters.  Explore the Scottish coastline from rugged Argyll to the magnificent West Coast beaches, from the Northern tip to the picturesque Moray Firth and charming East Coast villages.  Click here for more information on Scotland's beaches.

Rooms with a View

Whether you're looking for a cottage near the shore, somewhere with inspiring views or to spend time by the waterside, these holiday homes across Scotland all offer something special.

• Curlew Cottage, Burghead, Moray
• Springwell Holiday Cottages, near Fort William
• Ach na skia Croft, near Mallaig, West Highlands
• Traigh Holiday Cottage, near Mallaig, West Highlands
• Traigh Lodges, near Mallaig, West Highlands
• Lagnakeil Highland Cottages, near Oban 
• Kinlochaich House, near Oban 
• The Melfort Club, near Oban
• Orroland Holiday Cottages, near Kirkcudbright
• Orroland Lodge, near Kirkcudbright
• Lochend Chalets, near Callander

Start the new year with a relaxing retreat by the sea - embrace beach cottages with EmbraceScotland.