Wild and Green Escapes

Bluebell Croft, Strontian, Ardnamurchan, Highlands, PH36 4JA
www.bluebellcroft.co.uk
sukie@bluebellcroft.co.uk
Bluebell Croft offers luxury 5 star self catering in Scotland with Honeysuckle House sleeping up to 8, Rose Cottage sleeping 2-4, or as the whole house sleeping 12 in great comfort. It is separated by a huge conservatory, normally used by Honeysuckle, which leads out to the giant hot tub, described by the Sunday Times as 'the best sited hot tub in Europe', a marvellous place to relax with a wonderful mountain view or under the stars. They also said 'the cottage and food are heavenly', and 'stunningly lovely fare'.
Bill and Sukie are keen to share their life on a working croft with you and are almost self sufficient including milking a Jersey cow, keeping two pigs and lots of chooks, ducks and geese for meat and eggs. The veggie garden and poly-tunnel provide masses of fruit and vegetables in season which you can buy to produce fabulous meals with no food miles.
If you feel like a night off Sukie can leave a casserole in the Aga or supper/dinner of up to 4 courses using all the wonderful ingredients from the croft and smokehouse. She is a former Rural Chef of the Year.
Both houses share a spectacular, elevated West Coast location on Ardnamurchan, with stunning views of mountains across the Strontian glen in the West Highlands of Scotland. Well behaved dogs are welcome with care.
Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts and outdoor experiences being on the doorstep of the Ariundle Oakwoods a National Nature reserve. A wind turbine provides electricity and a wood burning boiler and solar array for hot water and heat.

Sukie and Bill have recently been runners up in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards in the Green Category, come and find out why!

Ferry Cottage & Craggan Cottage, Balmacara Estate & Woodland Walks, Lochalsh House, Balmacara, Kyle, Ross-shire IV40 8DN
www.ntsholidays.com
lmackay@nts.org.uk
The National Trust for Scotland has two self-catering properties on the Balmacara Estate near Kyle of Lochalsh. Both properties sleep up to four people and offer high quality accommodation with the added bonus of magnificent coastal views of Skye and Applecross. Guests also have full access to the many lovely areas within the Lochalsh Woodland throughout their stay. Our cottages have been awarded Gold and Silver Green Tourism awards and a 3 star rating under VisitScotland’s Quality Grading Scheme. Both cottages have open fires/multi-fuel stoves so perfect whatever time of the year you wish to visit this beautiful part of Scotland. For further details visit our website www.ntsholidays.com or telephone 0844 493 2108.

Airdeny Chalets, Glen Lonan, Taynuilt, Argyll PA351HY
www.airdenychalets.co.uk
jenifer@airdenychalets.co.uk
1 mile from Taynuilt and 12 miles from Oban, Airdeny Chalets is situated in 3.5 acres of peaceful natural habitat, which has its own bluebell wood and a myriad of wildlife. The chalets are set in a quiet glen and have spectacular views of Ben Cruachan and Glen Etive.
Airdeny Chalets is committed to providing good quality service to its guests while also minimising the environmental impact of its activities. As a symbol of this commitment we have been awarded silver status by the Green Tourism Business Scheme. We believe in encouraging sustainable practises to ensure the continued enjoyment of the environment for future generations.
There are 7 chalets which are furnished to a very high standard and immaculately maintained by the resident owner.
It's a perfect venue for walking, cycling, fishing, bird watching, touring the Western Highlands & Islands or just relaxing.
Children and dogs welcome. Short breaks available. Disability category 2. Tel: 01866.822648

The Hideaway Experience, Balkello Farm, Auchterhouse, By Dundee, DD3 0RA
www.thehideawayexperience.co.uk
romance@thehideawayexperience.co.uk
The Hideaway Experience offers three luxury private eco Hideaways for couples ideal for lazy holidays and romantic breaks, located just north of Dundee in Scotland. The Hideaway Experience proves you can combine 5 star luxury with sustainability. The newly built eco Hideaways are heated by an air source heat pump, have solar thermal panels for hot water, and with one side of the property entirely constructed of south facing glass, not only do guests enjoy amazing views and plenty light but the properties are heated naturally by the sun.
The Lovers’ Hideaway and the Honeymooners’ Hideaway are believed to be the only purpose-built 5 star lovers’ retreats in the UK. Built well apart and hidden from each other to allow for privacy, they are luxury sanctuaries for two, each with its own spa, crackling log fire, gigantic bed, state of the art kitchen and cocktail bar. In your private garden you will also find a hot tub where you can both sit naked sipping champagne without a soul seeing.
This calm, peaceful place, which also includes The Old Romantics Hideaway, is for couples only, so there’s no chance of being disturbed by rowdy stag parties or families, who can often spoil a break elsewhere.
Caroline and Ross Millar provide a high level of personal service to guests while respecting couples wish to be on their own! Passionate about their own farm and other local produce, Caroline bakes bread for guests and arranges hampers of local food to be ready for your arrival. Bikes are provided to guests for use during their stay. Complementary pick up from Dundee train station and Dundee airport 5 miles away ensures guests who wish to can enjoy a car free holiday only 6 hours by train from London.

Fearnag Lodge, Milton of Farr, Farr, Strathnairn, Inverness, IV2 6XB
www.fearnag.co.uk
info@fearnag.co.uk
Substantial eco-friendly 3-bedroom log cabin (sleeps 5) nestling in the foothills of the beautiful Monadhliath Mountains. Close to many of the best tourist attractions in the Scottish Highlands.
Peaceful location on a hill farm 9 miles south of Inverness - only a short distance from Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield and the Cairngorms. Ideally located for walking, touring, mountain biking with tremendous opportunities to explore this fascinating part of Northern Scotland. You can even bring your own horse (paddock and stable provided) to explore the extensive network of forest tracks nearby.
Recently built to a high standard, with the guests' enjoyment and comfort a priority, this modern holiday lodge is heated by renewable energy systems and is fitted with free wi-fi and internet enabled TV systems.
"4 Star" grading by VisitScotland.
Green Tourism Business Scheme (Silver at present - working towards Gold)

Coillabus Cottage, Mull of Oa, near Port Ellen, Isle of Islay
www.islay-cottage.co.uk
holiday@islay-cottage.co.uk
This very special cottage is situated in a beautiful secluded spot at the heart of a working hill farm four miles from the village of Port Ellen. Coillabus has three bedrooms and sleeps 6 but is also perfect for couples and is growing in popularity as a 'get away from it all' honeymoon destination.
With ever-changing views over grass, heather and sea to Kintyre and Ireland, no wonder many of our guests just stay put and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, enjoying a game of Coillabus croquet or trying to spot the Oa's resident Golden Eagles from the garden. From Coillabus you can walk undisturbed for miles in any direction, discovering hidden bays, lochs and cliff-top paths. And we are only a short drive away from Islay's famous whisky distillleries, golf course, award-winning restaurants and miles of sandy beaches.
Coillabus cottage is the ideal base to experience the wildlife of the Oa as seen on BBC 2's recent springwatch series.
We are commited to providing environmentaly friendly holidays.

Stonehill Cottage, Stonehill Farm, Crawfordjohn, Biggar, ML12 6SU
www.stonehillcottage.co.uk
Our self catering holiday Cottage is on our working hill farm in the Duneaton Valley, near Biggar and Lanark. We are within a designated Environmentally Sensitive Area with areas of Special Scientific Interest, which sustains a wealth of bird and wildlife habitats. We have a silver award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme and are committed to sustainability.
From the south facing conservatory there are panoramic views of the open countryside. You can spot a fantastic variety of birds at different times throughout the year without leaving your armchair.
If you want a more active holiday, Stonehill is a walker's paradise, with seven miles of walking track around the farm and for a greater challenge climb nearby Tinto (1,870 feet/569 m), or walk part of the Southern Upland Way.
There are lots of other activities such as golf, fishing and cycling available locally, see our website for more details and availability, www.stonehillcottage.co.uk

Burnbank B & B, 79 Muirs, Kinross, Perth and Kinross.KY13 8AZ
www.burnbank-kinross.co.uk
A welcoming, luxurious B&B, situated in the charming small town of Kinross, close to Loch Leven and the beautiful Perth and Kinross countryside.
We are proud to hold the Green Tourism Gold award and be Cittaslow supporters. We try to implement simple, practical ideas to reduce our carbon footprint and help the environment, without compromising on comfort and quality.
We harvest rainwater to water our indoor plants, garden and greenhouse; have installed additional insulation so that the property requires less heating; and the en-suites all have water saving devices installed.
We provide an extensive breakfast menu, using the finest local, seasonal produce wherever possible, including eggs from our own free range chickens. All our bread and preserves are home made. Dinners, following the same criteria can be provided on request, if pre ordered.
Attention to detail makes your visit to Burnbank a special experience - we look forward to welcoming you.

Burnbrae Holidays, Burnbrae Mill, Nenthorn, Kelso , Scottish Borders. TD5 7RY
www.burnbraehol.co.uk
We offer eco friendly cottages in a peaceful spot in the heart of the Scottish Borders. The site is surrounded by agricultural land but is no longer a working farm. We have 3, four star cottages which were converted from a stone barn. The south facing conservatory in each cottage has views across the secluded garden, Eden Water and across the border between Scotland and England to the Cheviot Hills. It is perfect for wildlife enthusiasts to relax and view a wide variety of native wildlife. The fields and banks of the Eden Water can be explored directly from your cottage. Cycling is a particular pleasure on the network of quiet lanes around Burnbrae and for mountain bikers the world renowned Glen Tress is short drive away. At Burnbrae, we have a lockable cycle store and we can provide you with a key for the duration of your stay. Each cottage has a heated drying cupboard. A washing machine and a tumble-drier are available on-site. Each light and airy one bedroomed cottage is generously equipped for 2-4 people for self-catering. The cottages are on one level and have level access from the car park The proprietors' time and other resources are devoted to ensuring that guests have an idyllic experience in the Scottish Borders. They live on the site and are pleased to help guests with information and other assistance.
PV solar panels on site provide electricity. We grow our own wood for the wood burning stove in each living room. We aim to ensure that the overall effect of our business activities enhances the local environment, and has minimal detrimental impact on the wider environment, including impact on the availability of resources in the future. As evidence of our success in this we hold the gold award under the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Huntingtower Lodge, Druimarbin, Fort William, PH33 6RP
www.huntingtowerlodge.com
Chris and Jackie Clifford would like to welcome you into our West Highland home. Come to relax and enjoy 21st Century comfort at Huntingtower Lodge, a contemporary boutique B&B offering a "haven of tranquillity" overlooking Loch Linnhe.
The Lodge, with its stunning and ever changing views of Loch Linnhe, is 2 miles south west of Fort William, the 'Outdoor Capital of the UK.' All our accommodation has extensive views across the loch towards the Ardgour peninsula and offers the opportunity to spot some of the varied wildlife around the Lodge.
Our home is light, bright and modern with double glazing and central heating throughout and is run as a green establishment (GTBS Gold Award). We provide free wi-fi access and the use of a lap-top if required. There is ample off-road parking, a secure garage for bikes and drying facilities for outdoor gear. We are happy to collect guests arriving in Fort William by public transport; we can also transport guests who are walking the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way or travelling on the Jacobite Express. All lifts are by prior arrangement - a donation for this service to our preferred charity, The John Muir Trust, is always appreciated.