Grand country houses in Scotland for Christmas

Scottish cottage agency, Unique Cottages, is highlighting a selection of large properties, ideal for families – or groups of friends – planning a Christmas getaway in sumptuous style.

Featured properties include Torloisk House, a large Georgian country house on the Isle of Mull, which combines old world grandeur with 21st century comfort. It sleeps up to 14 in eight bedrooms (the master bedroom having a four-poster bed) and highlights include an impressive grand hall, a kitchen with a traditional four oven Aga, a spacious breakfast room, a library, an elegant sitting room with an open fire, along with a formal dining room. 

There are also five bathrooms, a playroom with toys and games and a conservatory. Guests enjoy the services of a housekeeper and a cook can also be arranged on request.  Seven nights from 20 December cost £2695.

In Inverness-shire, Glen Dessary Lodge is a stone-built country house nestling into the hillside in a remote, secluded location within the 15,000-acre Glen Dessary Estate in the wild, mountainous area known as Garbh Criochan (26 miles from Fort William).   It sleeps up to 14 in seven bedrooms (five en suite) and also has an elegant drawing room, a spacious kitchen - with Aga-style oven and hob and Range master cookers - utility room and boot room.  At the centre of the lodge is the dramatic dining room furnished in traditional highland grandeur.  

Guests are welcome to explore the estate and quad biking, clay pigeon shooting, guided hill walks, stalking and mountain biking can be arranged.  A week from 20 December is priced at £2995.

Overlooking Loch Tay in Perthshire is Loch Tay House, a luxurious, detached house (sleeping 10) with stunning views from its balconies and glassed walled rooms upstairs.   Highlights include a fabulous first floor sitting room – which runs the entire length of the house and with an open fire - a sauna, a dining room, a kitchen, a snug and five bedrooms (four en suite).  A path leads down through the gardens to the loch and the pretty village of Killin is close by. Seven nights from 20 December cost £2195.

For more information, visit unique-cottages.co.uk.