A beautiful airbnb in Scotland

Hello from the first quiet moment I’ve had in a while! It’s been a BUSY summer already and whilst there have definitely been some low moments in between, I’m feeling v grateful for lots happening —including two trips to Scotland, seeing live music and time with friends. As always, I have a backlog of posts that I’m excited to share with you and will do so over the next few weeks.

At the end of the June, I spent a few days in a quiet, peaceful part of the Scottish Highlands. I’m a Londoner through and through but it was genuinely the first time I came back to the city (King’s Cross to be exact) and felt an immediate urge to escape to the quiet again.

We spent a few nights in a lush 4-bedroom house and woke up to views of beautiful Loch Tay, providing us a morning boost of serotonin each day. Loch Tay is a serene and enchanting freshwater loch, stretching for over 14 miles.

How do you get there?

The airbnb is in Kenmore on the shore of Loch Tay. Because of its location, it’s definitely best to drive, if possible. You could also get the train to Edinburgh or Perth and rent a car from these locations. Driving also means that you can stop by a supermarket on your way to stock up on all the essentials for your stay. It’s approximately 2 hours from Edinburgh or 1 hour from Perth.

Having said that, you could just about manage without a car. There is a train (including a sleeper train from London) that runs to Dunkeld and Birnam (a historic town in Perthshire which is also worth visiting nearby!) which is a c.40 min drive from the house. So, you could book a taxi to and from the house, rent bikes and rely on the limited public transport if you really needed to.

A little bit more about the airbnb…

• There is a 3-night minimum stay (trust me - you’ll want to stay for longer!)

• The airbnb sleeps up to 8 people in total so it’s perfect for larger groups of friends or family - there is 1 master bedroom with an ensuite and balcony (with a view of the loch!), 2 double bedrooms and 1 twin bedroom that could be converted into a double. Overall, the house is super spacious with a large lounge/kitchen area too.

• You have your own private beach area where you can enjoy some water sports, boating or even wild swimming in the soothing loch waters.

• There is also a large kitchen/dining space which has been newly refurbished kitchen so you can expect high quality kitchen facilities (including an American-style fridge/freezer with an ice-maker). My favourite part of this space was the window seat with views across the loch and mountains, where I sat and had my morning coffee.

• There is outdoor furniture provided, a BBQ and fire-pit for evenings outside. We were VERY lucky to have mostly dry and sunny evenings but the weather in Scotland can be unpredictable so be prepared for the rain!

What is there to do nearby?

Overall, it’s a quiet spot so once we arrived, we spent most of our time making the most of the beautiful location and didn’t feel the need to go too far beyond it. We completed a couple of local walks (that started from the house), swam in the loch, played golf at the nearby course and also sheltered from the rain at times.

You will only find a very small number of shops or restaurants within walking distance so it’s best to do a grocery shop beforehand to make sure you’re not short on food.

We also walked c.15 mins to Taymouth Marina (a loch side spa resort) for dinner one evening — the pizzas were delicious. They also have a spa and water activities if you fancy it.

What shall I pack?

I would pack on the assumption that you’re spending most of your time around and near the house! We visited at the end of June but still got caught in some rain so make sure you’re prepared for all types of weather. Below are some things you might want to take including smidge (an absolute essential for Scotland), swimming shoes if you’re planning to go in the loch, a waterproof jacket and a good pair of walking shoes.

And finally… I very rarely get to use my drone but I was super happy with the beautiful light I managed to capture on our last evening.

Book your stay via airbnb.

Thanks for reading,

T.

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