There are literally thousands of reasons to visit Scotland and discover its breathtaking mountains, mysterious lochs, enchanting towns and bustling cities. While these elements remain all year round, they truly come to life at Christmas. Below are a few of our favourite reasons to visit Scotland around the festive season:

Christmas Markets

What is more magical than visiting a Christmas market? The lights, the smell of mulled wine and the general feeling of festive cheer as well as the chance to pick up some special gifts. Scotland has a wealth of exciting Christmas markets to attend and, as there are multiple events happening around the country, no one has to miss out. If you’re staying in Fife near Aberdeen, you will not want to miss Aberdeen’s wonderful Christmas village. After a successful run in 2018, the Christmas event is back again this year by popular demand. You will find an open-air ice rink, a selection of fairground rides and attractions, festive food and drink and even Santa’s Grotto!

If you are looking to visit a Christmas market, but are also keen to visit some historical landmarks, Glamis Christmas market at Glamis Castle has the whole package. Located in the village of Glamis in Angus, the castle is a magical location to visit at Christmastime. With 80 different stalls selling food, drink and festive gifts, and winter walks around the historic castle, there is something exciting to do for visitors of all ages.

There’s a higher chance of snow!

Bing Cosby’s famous song ‘White Christmas’ has really got our hopes up for some snow at Christmas. It is such a magical feeling to pull back the curtains on Christmas morning and see a blanket of snow on the ground. If you choose to spend your Christmas in a cottage in Scotland you are far more likely to have a white Christmas, especially if you choose one in the more northerly parts of the country.

Picture this – a cottage with an open fire, Christmas films on the TV and a bright white blanket of snow covering the ground outside as you cosy up to your loved ones on the sofa. If this sounds perfect to you, Unique Cottages offers many cosy cottages that would suit your festive needs. Glen Affric View is particularly lovely and is also pet friendly!

Visit real reindeer in the Cairngorms National Park

If you are a fan of nature and are feeling particularly festive, a visit to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre is an absolute must. Located in Glenmore in the Scottish Highlands, the centre is open from February half-term through the year and into early January. Enjoy a guided trip up a mountainside to view the impressive reindeer herd or, if you are not feeling up to the walk, you can visit the reindeer paddocks which are easily accessible.

In the run up to Christmas the centre runs various festive events including craft activities and there is even a visit from Santa that will definitely appeal to the kids! Set just a 20 minute drive away from the centre is one of our delightful cottages, Tayvulin. Wake up with a view of the Cairngorm mountains in this peaceful and quiet cottage and spend Christmas in the serenity of the Scottish Highlands.

Make this Christmas one to remember by booking your stay in a unique cottage. With hundreds of properties to choose from, you will be sure to find the perfect location for you. Visit our website or call our friendly Booking Team on 01835 822277.

From 18 to 24 November it is Book Week Scotland! This annual event is a celebration of Scottish literature with different events that are held across the country. Scotland’s abundance of incredible landscapes and intriguing locations has inspired authors for centuries. From modern crime writers to eighteenth-century novelists, many authors have been enchanted by Scotland and the country features heavily in numerous famous novels.

Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus books, set in Edinburgh

Rankin was born in Cardenden in Fife, which is 25 miles from Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh. His Inspector Rebus novels are mostly set in Edinburgh and are considered by many as integral contributions to the tartan noir genre that has grown in popularity over recent years. The genre has its roots in traditional Scottish fiction but borrows from twentieth-century American crime writing.

The author has published 23 Inspector Rebus novels over 31 years and they are based in various locations across southern Scotland. The main focus of the books is the criminal underworld in various locations across Edinburgh, but the books do also include various small villages, business districts and nightclubs. Rankin fans should definitely explore Edinburgh!

Have a look at our range of cottages in Edinburgh and The Lothians to find the right fit for you.

Val McDermid’s The Distant Echo, set in St Andrews

Crime novelist Val McDermid grew up in Kirkcaldy, a town and former royal burgh in eastern Scotland. Her novel The Distant Echo is set in St Andrews, 24 miles from where McDermid grew up. The book centres on the relationship between four students who stumble across a dead body in the town.

The author explained that she set the crime thriller in St Andrews because she was familiar with the area, and she needed a small community to make the plot of the book believable. McDermid has used specific locations and landmarks to her advantage, saying ‘I knew I could use the particular features of the place to great effect. The Pictish cemetery, the Bottle Dungeon, the Castle Cliffs… irresistible, really.’ We can’t resist Scotland either, so we know exactly how she feels.

To find a cottage in the St Andrews area, view our selection.

Walter Scott’s Waverley, set in the Scottish Highlands

Walter Scott’s Waverley has been regarded as one of the first historical novels in the Western literary tradition. The book, which was published in 1814, sees an English soldier travel from the south of England, first to the Scottish Lowlands and then into the Highlands to experience the aftermath of the Jacobite uprising of 1745.

The book features numerous Scottish locations as the protagonist travels further north as the book progresses. Walter Scott created a romantic vision of Scotland in the book that was characterised by tartan, tradition and nobility.

Experience the beauty of northern Scotland for yourself by staying in one of our many cottages in the Highlands.

Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, set in Edinburgh

Born in Leith, Irvine Welsh is one of the best-known Scottish authors due to the success of his 1993 novel Trainspotting. Trainspotting isn’t the only one of Welsh’s books that is set in Edinburgh; Filth, the story of an indulgent and cruel detective sergeant, is also set in Scotland’s vibrant capital. Trainspotting and its sequel feature prominent Edinburgh landmarks such as Arthurs Seat, Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street, the main shopping street in Edinburgh.

While Edinburgh is a cultural capital and a tourist favourite, Welsh paints a darker picture of the city in the 1990s and the underworld that existed at the time. You’ll be delighted to know that you can learn all about the area AND stay in a beautiful cottage in the Lothians, while still being in easy reach of Edinburgh – it really is the best of both worlds!

To view our cottages in the Lothians, visit the website.

Why not celebrate Scotland’s literary masterpieces by visiting Scotland in person? We have hundreds of cottages for you to choose from. Visit our website to find your perfect match.