Callie Bothy

2
1

Moray, Scotland

A super-special romantic cabin with wood-fired sauna, secluded in native Scottish woodland

1 Bedroom

1 Bathroom

Alfresco tub

Eco conscious

Parking

Private garden

Sauna

WiFi

Woodburner

Space & setting.

This peaceful woodland, where pine martens scamper and roe deer wander, is quintessentially Scottish in its beauty. And right it the middle of it, fairytale-esque, is a handcrafted timber cabin, the ultimate romantic hideaway. Endless windows fill it with light and look onto trees and the wildlife pond so you’re always connected to nature while you’re here. But the interior views are perhaps even more lovely: Scandi-style furnishings offset by beautiful small details including artisan pottery and textiles from a local woolmill.

The kitchen was handbuilt from sustainable wood and sliding doors open the living room onto wraparound decking, where there’s a wood-fired hot tub and fire pit. Just the thing for for summer evenings when it’s light late into the night or to watch the sunrise over coffee; on colder winter nights, warm up in the brand new wood-fired sauna. Though it feels thrillingly remote, it’s actually an ideal location to explore this spectacular part of Scotland – not too far from the epic Moray coast and close to Elgin, Inverness, and the wild Cairngorms National Park. Come to rejuve.

Getting here: drive, or train to Elgin and taxi (6 miles)

“Phil and I moved to Moray after visiting it on holiday and feeling like it was an undiscovered gem. One of the sunniest and driest parts of the UK and not too badly affected by the dreaded Scottish midges! I’ve always been inspired by the lodges of Namibia and Botswana and their connection to the wilderness, and wanted to create something similar for guests here: a simple building offering indoor/outdoor living in a natural landscape. We have triple glazing rather than canvas sides but the idea is the same. Our opening was delayed by the pandemic and we feel what we offer is more important than ever now. This is somewhere for couples or single people to spend time in nature; somewhere to switch off a busy mind and slow down.” Owners, Allie and Phil

My Kip favourites

They love
“Sitting by the firepit with a drink, watching the sun set over the wildlife pond.”

We love
The sheer amount of space you get to yourself and all of the thoughtfully chosen furnishings and objets, many of them made by small local independent businesses. The textiles from local woolmill Knockando are particularly beautiful.

You may not love
Min 3 nights. Access via a rough and steep track, not suitable for low cars. You’re 6 miles from the nearest town and need to drive to pubs/restaurants. Mobile signal is patchy but there is WiFi. Sorry, no dogs allowed.

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  • "I had a really fabulous few days staying at Callie Bothy. It's very secluded and the outdoors hot tub and sauna make it such a unique property. The owners were very helpful and I left feeling extremely relaxed. Thankyou so much!"

    Katie, Oct 2024
  • "The whole layout, the natural surroundings and of course the outside facilities were all fantastic. I loved that there was no TV and it felt like a place to switch off and fully submerge into the relaxing of it all. It was simplistic but all in the detail. I found the commitment you have gone to reach a green gold award inspiring. I really couldn't think of anything I would of changed! I have travelled the world and been lucky to stay in many levels of accommodation but your cabin left me in a dreamy bubble for quite a few days. It is certainly top of the charts for me! Thank you again for a magical stay."

    Kirsteen, Aug 2024
  • "Wonderful stay. It is better than the pictures, bathroom is stunning. Lovely large windows showing off the surrounding countryside. Finished to a high standard. Very clean. Hot tub was great, they also now have a sauna but we didn’t use it. Entry was easy and all of the little extra touches were nice. Road up to the Bothy could be a problem, we had a 4x4 and it was dry. Just take it slowly. Overall would definitely recommend 10/10 for a couple."

    Caroline, Aug 2024
  • "I can't speak highly enough about this place It is a stunning place with so much care and attention to detail going into everything from the design, to the luxurious touches and the quality of the furnishings and utensils etc. Allie and Phil were wonderful hosts (although we never met them other than over email) and they have crafted the most cosy, secluded and private escape for us lucky enough to stay here. Bravo!"

    Camille

Sustainability.

Green tourism gold! The cabin was constructed with Scottish larch cladding, local wood flooring and sheeps’ wool insulation. Hot water is solar powered and the electricity is from 100% renewable energy provider. There’s a private water supply and Biorock waste water treatment so all water used is cleaned and returned to the woodland. The owners planted 1200 trees and 100m of native hedgerow over the last 10 years, and have created areas of wildflower meadows all around the cabin.

Surrounds.

  • Wander along the farm track and through the valley to Pluscarden Abbey. This stunning 13th-century priory is still home to Benedictine monks, and if you’re lucky you’ll hear the bells ring.
  • Elgin (20 mins’ drive) has a beautiful cathedral. You can also shop for cashmere, stock up on food from Johnston’s of Elgin, and visit one of the world’s finest whisky shops, Gordon and Macphail.
  • Take a boat trip out into the Moray Firth, then lunch on lobster rolls and monkfish scampi at the quirky Bootleggers Bothy in Hopeman.
  • Explore Culbin Forest on foot or 2 wheels; hire bikes in Findhorn and take a water taxi across the bay. Stock up on picnic supplies from the Bakehouse Cafe before you set sail.
  • The stunning sandy beaches of the Moray Coast are a 30-minute drive away, or in an hour you can be walking through the spectacular wilderness of Cairngorms National Park.

Specifics.

  • Handcrafted cabin in a woodland clearing
  • Bedroom with kingsize bed
  • Bathroom with tub and indoor/outdoor shower, underfloor heating; Laura Thomas Co toiletries and organic bathrobes
  • Well-equipped kitchen with basics
  • Open-plan living/dining area warmed by wood-burner (and electric radiators)
  • Books, board games, binoculars
  • Boot room with washing machine/tumble drier
  • Outdoor area with firepit and hot tub
  • Wood-fired sauna (a booking extra, charged at £85 for exclusive use during any length of stay)
  • Morso Forno outdoor oven with Tuscan grill
  • The owners live nearby, available by phone if you need them
  • Sorry, no children or dogs allowed
  • Booking conditions: min 3 nights
  • Remember to pack: walking boots, slippers and beach towels

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30% deposit on booking, with the balance due 12 weeks prior to stay.
Cancellations permitted 12+ weeks prior to stay, with deposit refunded minus a £30 processing fee.
No refunds if booking cancelled within 12 weeks of stay.

FAQs.

Yes, however mobile reception is generally limited to outside.

Inverness airport is less than an hour away and Aberdeen Airport is just over an hour and a half. There are train stations at Forres and Elgin. However the easiest way to visit and enjoy all that the area has to offer is by car. We are located at the end of a long and fairly steep, rough farm track and there is no public transport serving Pluscarden.

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