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