Holiday lodges in Scotland - accommodate your family and friends

The Highlands have for some time been a favorite haunt of holiday makers, and now in the age of the stay-cation, vacation homes in Scotland are truly coming into their own. Find out what attracts UK travellers to rent or even get a 2nd home in Scotland.

When talking of booking your summer holidays - or a winter, Easter or autumn break for that matter - you've got a choice.

You can book a vacation abroad, and queue ( im ) patiently with all the other "sheep " for a plane that might or might not take off, depending on the whim of the cabin crew. Or you can choose to keep your feet firmly on terra firma, and instead hop on a train heading North to another world... An environment in which you can wake in the morning and watch real sheep grazing at the end of the garden or walk for hours hearing only the haunting call of the curlew.

Scotland is characterised by a stunning mix of views, wildlife and history - and the Highlands have the good fortune to be in possession of pretty much every positive feature that Scotland boasts. If you're never happier than when you are clambering up a mountainside, there are Munros aplenty in the Highlands, including Alligan, Schiehallion and Liathach for a start.

And if you're hell-bent on historic research, the Highlands have more than their fair share of eye-catching castles and other engaging buildings - many now ruined - which date back to the times before ruthless owners evicted the farming folks from their Highland homes, ardent to clear the way for "white gold", aka sheep.

One excellent example of a Highland property that has played its own part in Scotland's story is the spotless white Blair Atholl Castle - the stone in North Perthshire's consequential architectural crown.

With its first tower dating back to 1269, Blair Atholl's stunning castle looks back on about 8 centuries of Scottish history. Today it welcomes visitors from all areas of the United Kingdom and the world, who come to like the numerous fascinating artefacts displayed in its inspiring rooms and to find out more about the castle's past, present and future.

Castles despite, barely more modest holiday homes in Scotland offer a perfect base for a great family vacation, being centrally located and giving easy accessibility to a wide range of activities - from white water rafting to whisky tasting and from golf to go-karting.

This cornucopia of leisure pursuits has led on to the recent upswing in appreciation of hideaways in Scotland. And whether you are simply searching for an occasional weekend break, planning a luxury 14 day "escape from it all " holiday or considering purchasing a vacation home that you and your family can enjoy for a long time to come, Scotland is sure to have something to suit.

A fast online search for a perfect Scottish getaway will expose a bunch of holiday accommodation options - from static caravans located amid pretty landscape to old fashioned country cottages ( including romantic but'n'bens - conventional two-roomed dwellings ) situated up remote glens thru to grand country lodges that can accommodate up to twenty people.

So if you'd like to escape the airfield crowds this summer, why don't you make plans to head for Scotland and book ( or maybe buy ) yourself a holiday home from home in the Highlands. With arguably some of the world's most beautiful views on your doorstep, healthy country air filling your lungs and the light warmth of the Scottish sun on your shoulders, you'll be happy that you did.

Holiday houses in Scotland - escape from it all this year, as you behold what this fantastic country has to give.