Scottish Country House With Designer InteriorsN°001
Aberfeldy, United Kingdom
Hot tub
From $6,679 per night
Scotland is a land of lochs, glens and big northern skies in the United Kingdom, ideal for travellers seeking wild beauty with refined comfort. Renting one of our luxury villas in Scotland places you amid heather hills and historic castles, with concierge support and the freedom of a private home base.
- Private estates and homes near lochs, glens and historic castles
- Edinburgh and Glasgow culture paired with wild Highland escapes
- World-renowned whisky distilleries offering tours and tastings
- Access to fishing, golf, hiking and the islands of Skye, Orkney and the Hebrides
- Concierge service and direct booking on every Smiling House stay
Known forLochs, castles, whisky distilleries and dramatic Highland and island landscapes
Best time to visitMay to September for long daylight, mild weather and festival season
Nearest airportEdinburgh (EDI) and Glasgow (GLA) international airports
Ideal forCouples, families, golf and whisky enthusiasts, nature lovers and multi-generational groups
Indulgent Scottish Estate With Panoramic ViewsN°002
Scotland, United Kingdom
From $4,455 per night
Countryside Gregorian Mansion in Luxury and StyleN°003
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
From $4,221 per night
Exclusive Highland Retreat With Stunning ViewsN°004
Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
GardenFireplace
From $1,636 per night
Beautiful House With Gardens Close To River TayN°005
Scottish Highlands, United Kingdom
From $1,563 per night
Beautiful Lavish Property With World Class FacilitiesN°006
St Andrews & Fife, United Kingdom
From $1,489 per night
12homes available
3–15bedrooms
up to 30guests
Scotland in pictures
Where to stay in Scotland
Events not to miss in Scotland
- August
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The world's largest arts festival takes over Edinburgh with thousands of shows across the city, running alongside the Edinburgh International Festival. Base yourself outside the centre and dip in by day.
- August
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Massed pipes, drums and military display on the Castle Esplanade each August evening, one of Scotland's most stirring spectacles. Tickets sell out months ahead.
- First Saturday of September
Braemar Gathering
The most famous of the Highland Games, held in Royal Deeside and traditionally attended by the royal family, with caber tossing, piping and Highland dancing.
- 31 December
Hogmanay
Scotland's legendary New Year celebrations, from Edinburgh's street party and fireworks to the fire festivals of Stonehaven. A country-house stay makes a memorable festive base.
- Late January
Celtic Connections
Glasgow's winter festival of folk, roots and world music brings hundreds of concerts to venues across the city. A warm cultural heart to the coldest month.
Scotland through the seasons
- Spring (March – May)
Lambing season and lengthening days
The glens turn green, daffodils and bluebells carpet the estates and the midges have yet to arrive. A lovely, quiet season for castles, gardens and coastal walks.
- Summer (June – August)
Long northern light and festival season
Daylight stretches past ten at night in the Highlands, ideal for lochs, islands and links golf, while Edinburgh's festivals peak in August. Book estate houses early.
- Autumn (September – November)
Stag rut, whisky and golden glens
Red deer roar across the hills, the birch and larch woods turn gold and distilleries welcome visitors after the harvest. Prime season for Highland lodges with roaring fires.
- Winter (December – February)
Hogmanay and cosy estate living
Short, crisp days built for log fires, whisky tastings and snow-dusted munros, with Hogmanay the highlight. Some years bring skiing at Cairngorm and Glencoe.
The Area
Scotland occupies the northern third of the United Kingdom, where rolling Borders countryside gives way to the dramatic Highlands and a scatter of roughly 790 islands. Edinburgh, the capital, layers medieval closes and Georgian elegance beneath its castle. Glasgow brings a contemporary, creative energy, while Stirling guards the gateway to the Highlands with its commanding fortress. Beyond the cities lie Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and endless heather moorland. For wilder, close-to-nature stays, the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland offer windswept coastlines and ancient history. A luxury villa here lets you settle into a single landscape and explore at your own pace, whether that means city galleries or remote sea lochs.
Where to Stay
Smiling House offers a curated collection of luxury villas and country homes across Scotland, each chosen for character, comfort and setting. Around Edinburgh and the Borders, elegant townhouses and estates sit within easy reach of culture and castles such as Thirlestane near Lauder. In Perthshire and the Highlands, properties open onto glens, rivers and private grounds, ideal for fishing, golf or simply watching the light change. Island and west-coast homes near Skye and the Hebrides suit travellers chasing solitude and sea views. Whichever region you choose, expect generous space for families and groups, and a concierge ready to arrange transfers, chefs and bespoke days out.
Things to Do
Scotland's greatest draw is its landscape, but the activities are just as rich. Anglers find world-class salmon and trout fishing on rivers and lochs, with many fisheries welcoming all abilities and children too. Golfers reach legendary links courses, while hikers tackle Munros and coastal trails. Castle visits are essential, from Edinburgh and Stirling to the Borders' Thirlestane, with its intricate seventeenth-century plasterwork. Whisky lovers tour distilleries across Speyside and the islands for tours and tastings. In summer, Edinburgh's festivals fill the city with performers from around the world, creating an electric celebration of arts, theatre and music across hundreds of stages.
Dining & Whisky
You eat exceptionally well in Scotland, where farmers' markets and small producers supply seafood, game, artisan cheeses and organic meat. Most kitchens build seasonal menus around the day's best local ingredients. Edinburgh and Glasgow offer everything from accomplished fine dining to relaxed, health-conscious cafes, while Highland inns serve hearty regional fare beside open fires. No visit is complete without whisky: distilleries across the country welcome guests for tours and tastings that trace each dram to its glen. Our concierge can book private chefs to cook in your villa, secure tables at sought-after restaurants and arrange tastings tailored to your group.
When to Visit
Late spring through early autumn, from May to September, is the most rewarding time to visit Scotland. Long daylight hours, mild temperatures and blooming heather make the Highlands and islands especially beautiful, and the calendar fills with events, culminating in Edinburgh's summer festivals. Spring brings fresh greenery and quieter trails, while autumn turns the glens copper and gold. Winter is atmospheric and ideal for cosy villa stays, with crackling fires, snow-dusted peaks and Hogmanay celebrations, though daylight is short and some island routes are weather-dependent. Pack for changeable conditions whenever you come.
Getting There
Scotland is well connected by air, road and rail. Edinburgh and Glasgow international airports handle most long-haul and European arrivals, with onward flights to Inverness, Aberdeen and the islands for travellers heading north or to the Hebrides. Frequent trains link London and other UK cities to Edinburgh and Glasgow in a few hours, with the scenic West Highland Line reaching Fort William and Mallaig. Once here, a private car is the best way to explore the glens, lochs and coast at leisure. Our concierge arranges airport transfers, chauffeurs and car hire so your arrival and onward journeys are seamless.