Breathtaking views from every direction. The sounds of the River Tay running through the backyard. An ecologically progressive set of cottages that let you live in nature, whilst being close to many activities...Nestled in between mountains and river, the Glencoe Cottages (click for rates and availability) are an extraordinary place to stay. From the welcome bouquet from owner Victoria Sutherland to the conversations with other guests (who were all repeat guests, which is telling), we LOVED this place. It felt like home.

view from the patio

welcome bouquet

An extremely popular location for all kinds of outdoor activities, Glencoe is a destination not to be missed. However, we loved our cottage so much that we didn't want to leave - we wanted to sit on the patio and grill our dinner, and enjoy the scenes (and sounds) of nature. Glencoe Cottages is not a just a roof over your head or a rest stop from sightseeing - it's a place to experience, to enjoy, to stay. Many people come there for hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, sailing, skiing, and other outdoor activities. You could spend time there with friends and family, enjoying the sounds of the river Tay flowing over the rocks, or head out and know that you have a home to come to after your exertions.

view from the front door

From the moment we drove in, we were impressed. Glencoe Cottages has 3 cottages and a bed and breakfast. Owner Victoria Sutherland was one of the most gracious and interesting people we'd met on our travels. She was full of great stories, from tales of the Harry Potter films (the scenes from Hagrid's Hut were filmed at Loch Torren, at Glencoe Cottages) to mountain rescue and committed locals, to her commitment to the environment (she has won awards for the environmentally friendly cottages). You can read our interview with Victoria here.

Loch Torren - hill location of Hagrid's Hut in the Harry Potter movies

Front door

River Tay

About every fifteen minutes, we exclaimed at how incredible it was here - such views! And, it felt like home. Our daughter had enough room to run and play (inside and out), and the bunk beds were calling her name. The back yard encouraged play (and bird watching). We went down the yard to the River Tay and she clambered on the rocks. There's a waterfall (with swimming hole) up and around the bend, although we didn't get there. It's a paradise for kids, who will never lack for things to explore.

River Tay

View from the kitchen window

Even though the cottages are small, the layout was very roomy, comfortable, and well-designed. The kitchen had all the accoutrements you'd need - high quality pans, dishes, and utensils. The underfloor heating was wonderful! There are comfortable accommodations for up to eight people, and an extremely fast wifi connection. The views from the huge windows were unsurpassed in all of our travels. We'll be back...

View from the kitchen window

For more information, please see: http://www.glencoe-cottages.co.uk/

Photos courtesy and copyright Dr. Jessie Voigts

Note: Homeaway Holiday Rentals sponsored part of our stay at Glencoe Cottages - thank you!