It is home to one of the country’s most spectacular walks.
With autumn well and truly here, there is no time like the present to plan a cosy staycation. Scotland features countless charming towns and villages where holidaymakers can enjoy a relaxing weekend getaway surrounded by gorgeous scenery.
One Perth and Kinross town was recently named the most popular Scottish staycation spot for autumn and winter by Sykes Holiday Cottages. The experts analysed booking data to investigate the top picks for an idyllic getaway.
Coming in at number one on Sykes Holiday Cottages’ roundup was Aberfeldy. Situated beside the River Tay, the town is renowned for its wildlife, wooded scenery, and interesting attractions.
Aberfeldy is perhaps most famous for The Birks of Aberfeldy walk, which was made famous by a poem from none other than Robert Burns. The circular walk on the outskirts of Aberfeldy offers magnificent views of the Falls of Moness.
READ MORE: Scotland’s best island cruises named including ‘world class adventure’
READ MORE: Scotland’s best pubs for seaside pint named as inn with ‘excellent seafood’ tops list
Other top attractions in Aberfeldy include Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery and The Birks Cinema. The former is a single malt whisky distillery that offers informative tours, while the state-of-the-art Birks Cinema shows the latest movies in a spacious auditorium.
Aberfeldy also has plenty of choice when it comes to accommodation. From holiday cottages to hotels and resorts, visitors have no shortage of options.
One holiday rental in Aberfeldy that is available to book is 27 Strathtay Lodges, which is priced at £518 for three nights on Sykes Holiday Cottages. The accommodation sleeps up to five guests across three bedrooms.
The property includes an open-plan living space with a kitchen, a dining area, and a sitting area with a balcony and wood-burning stove. It also features a large family bathroom and a private front decking area outside.
On Sykes Holiday Cottages, 27 Strathtay Lodges has an overall customer rating of 4.9 out of five. It has been praised as “beautiful inside and out” and “very modern” in reviews, though one previous guest noted that the “signage to the property could be bigger”.
Another holiday rental in the area is Little Hideaway, which can be booked through holidaycottages.co.uk at a price of £586 for three nights. The property has one bedroom and sleeps two visitors.
Little Hideaway is situated in the heart of Aberfeldy and features a lounge area with a TV, a “well-equipped” kitchen area, and a dining area. There is also a shower room, a balcony off the bedroom, and a private enclosed garden.
In reviews on holidaycottages.co.uk, the accommodation has been described as “wonderful” and “very comfortable”. However, it may be too small for holidaymakers looking to travel with their family.
Aberfeldy is also home to a number of hotels for those looking for more traditional accommodation. These include the Moness Resort and the Schiehallion Hotel.
Elsewhere, Maybole in South Ayrshire was named the second-most popular staycation destination in Scotland for autumn and winter by Sykes Holiday Cottages. Rockcliffe in Dumfries and Galloway placed third on the experts’ list.
Rounding out the top five are Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands and Powfoot in Dumfries and Galloway. Other locations featured on the roundup include Braemar in Aberdeenshire and Feshiebridge in the Scottish Highlands.
See below for the full list of the most popular Scottish staycation spots this autumn and winter. More information can be found on the Sykes Holiday Cottages website.
Top 10 most popular Scottish staycation spots for autumn and winter
- Aberfeldy, Perth and Kinross
- Maybole, South Ayrshire
- Rockcliffe, Dumfries and Galloway
- Kingussie, Scottish Highlands
- Powfoot, Dumfries and Galloway
- Braemar, Aberdeenshire
- Feshiebridge, Scottish Highlands
- Cullen, Moray
- Nairn, Scottish Highlands
- Banff, Aberdeenshire
