Eight Top Scottish Getaways to Celebrate Burns Night

There are few national folk heroes that stir the heart quitelike Robert Burns. Scotland‘s famed poet is immortalised each year on 25January with Burns Night – when the nation comes together to celebrate one ofits greatest literary and cultural figures with haggis, neeps, tatties …  and a wee dram or two.
To mark the occasion, we’ve chosen eight of our mostspectacular rural retreats north of the border for the perfect Burns Nightgetaway. You don’t have to be Scottish to appreciate this unique selection ofhand-picked properties, and the truly sensational scenery the country has tooffer.
So take a look at our picks below and start planning awinter break to remember today.
Downon the Farm: Fraserburgh/Aberdeenshire

Switch off your smartphone and get away from it all at oneof three cliff-top properties overlooking the beautiful Moray Firth. Choosefrom a converted vintage train carriage, a pair of cosy wooden glamping pods orthe quirky Harvest Hut, which comes complete with wood burning stove. Dramaticcastles, whisky tours and dolphin watching in the Forth complete the picturefor a Burns Night break with a difference at this off-grid, eco-friendlyhideaway.
RoulotteRetreat: Melrose/Scottish Borders

If the spirit of the great outdoors has always been in yourblood, you couldn’t do better than one of these superb French Romany woodencaravans made from sustainable timber. Each with their own unique style andsome featuring eco hot tubs, they’re arranged around a secluded lochan near thetriple-peaked Eildon hills. With deer, badgers, foxes, hares, voles, moles,moorhens and more on your doorstep you couldn’t be closer to nature, andthere’s a communal firepit should you wish to toast the haggis under the nightsky. For larger groups or those after more privacy, Horseshoe Cottage andlittle Ruby, a beautiful 1930s gypsy bowtop caravan, lie hidden in their owngarden next door.
Soundof Harris: Isle of Harris

Panoramic coastal views in a spectacular location?Award-winning accommodation? Superb fresh local seafood sourced by your hosts?This property has it all. Burns Night getaways don’t get much moreawe-inspiring than this retreat on the stunning Isle of Harris. All mod consinclude Japanese-style bathtub, fully equipped kitchen and satellite TV. Andwith triple-glazed windows, solar thermal hot water and the latest inenergy-efficient ventilation, your stay will be as eco-friendly as they come.
TorsaHouse and Island: Oban/Argyle and Bute

For a Burns Night break away from it all – and we do mean all – how about staying on your ownprivate island? Torsa House is reached by a short ferry crossing from therugged West Coast of Scotland but sheltered from the weather. Settle in forcosy nights on the sofa in front of the wood burning stove and during the dayexplore the outstanding local scenery and wildlife on your mile-long island. Yourown private motorboat will be waiting to whisk you around the coast to explorethe other remote islands.
LochTay Highland Lodges: Loch Tay/Perthshire

If glamping is your thing then Loch Tay is your place. VotedBest Scottish Glamping Site at theScottish Outdoor Leisure Awards 2016, it features a choice of glamping domes, wigwamsor a newly converted Stable Bothy for larger groups. All effortlessly blendcreature comforts with the great outdoors. And for those wanting somethingdifferent still, there’s the option of Highland Lodges, Woodland Cabins and thefive-bedroom Loch Tay House. All are nestled on the banks of the picturesqueLoch Tay, with outdoor activities including archery, Canadian canoe hire,kayaking, sailing, fishing, and mountain biking right on your doorstep.
TheStonehouses: Ullapool/Wester Ross

What better way to toast the health of Scotland’s greatestpoet than by escaping the hustle and bustle to one of these luxuryself-catering retreats nestled amid the stunning scenery of the North WestHighlands? Curved Stone House comes with its own log burner and floor-to-ceilingwindows, while Treetop House affords guests a near-360 degree view ofmountains, sea and forest. Both feature their own sauna for added luxury. Trulya getaway to remember.
EshanessLighthouse: Shetland Isles

It might be located on Mainland Shetland, but thisspectacular lighthouse retreat is an hour from Lerwick, offering unrivalledpeace and seclusion. The six-person tower and adjoining cottage offer a cosyretreat from the crashing waves below. Look outside and the inspiring scenerymay well move you to poetry: in fact, renowned American author Sharma Krauskopfwrote her novel The Last Light Househere. Geologists will be fascinated by the volcanic remains that remindvisitors of the islands’ origins, and sights such as the Holes o’ Scrada andGrind o’ da Navir.
Tree Howf:Dunblane, Perthshire

Ever wanted to stay in your very own luxury tree house? Thisquirky Perthshire gem is perfect for those who want to get away from it allthis Burns Night. So put a log on the wood burning stove, pour yourself a dramand gaze through the large skylight window above the bed. Perfect. For thosefeeling more adventurous there’s also a fire pit and terrace outside.