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Christmas and New Year getaways

A grand dining room with a large table covered in a white tablecloth and ten dark wood chairs with red seats. A tartan carpet covers the floor.
Discover some of the Trust’s best holiday properties to celebrate the festive season with your loved ones.

Experience unforgettable celebrations with family and friends this Christmas and New Year. From cosy coastal cottages to grand castles, our unique holiday properties offer a stay to remember!

Harmony House

  • Sleeps: 15
  • Shop and pub 0.2 miles

Check availability and book now

An eclectic mix of period details and contemporary comfort, Harmony House is a 19th-century eight-bedroom dwelling situated within the peaceful setting of Harmony Garden in Melrose.

This elegant holiday property is perfect for bringing everyone together for a trip to the Scottish Borders, with plenty of country walks, riverside rambles and local history to enjoy.

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“The two beautifully decorated Christmas trees and welcome gifts of mulled wine and mince pies set the mood for our stay. It was a privilege to stay in such a beautiful example of Georgian architecture and the perfect setting for our family to be under the same roof at such a special time of the year. We highly recommend Harmony House and the charming town of Melrose to anyone seeking a special family holiday.”
Granton
December 2023
Expand image 1: A three-storey grand Georgian house stands at the head of a large garden. A grass lawn lies in front, framed by tall trees. Expand image 2: A large living room with large grey sofas, floor-to-ceiling windows and red curtains. Expand image 3: A dining room with a large dining table with ten chairs. a fireplace sits to the right of the room with a portrait hanging above it and a window is at the back of the room.

Auchenvhin

  • Sleeps: 8
  • Shop 1.5 miles and pub 4.3 miles

Check availability and book now

Situated within an extensive private garden with direct beach access, in the beautiful coastal village of Rockcliffe, Dumfries and Galloway.

Benefitting from its close proximity to the coast, en-suite bedrooms and off-road parking, Auchenvhin welcomes eight guests, making it ideal for large families or groups of friends looking for a memorable retreat in Scotland.

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“It was very well appointed and had a happy family vibe. I have never made Christmas dinner in such a fabulous kitchen. The views, of course, are to die for, and we were very lucky on Christmas Eve to witness the rare Nacreous Cloud (naturally caused by Santa’s sleigh!).”
Derek
December 2023
Expand image 1: A grey flagstone path leads to a small grey stone cottage with a white front door and two bay windows on either side. Expand image 2: A green bedroom with a wooden bed, two bedside tables with side lights, a sofa at the end of the bed and a dark wooden wardrobe. Expand image 3: A dining room with a large dining table and ten chairs.

Preston Tower

  • Sleeps: 12
  • Shop 1.1 miles, pub 4.5 miles

Check availability and book now

Stretching across Fyvie Castle’s Preston and Seton Towers, providing stunning accommodation for 12 guests, this is the ultimate choice for a memorable escape to Scotland.

Discover four floors of winding nooks and mezzanines, a spiral staircase, and even a bedroom within one of the traditional turrets – a truly magical stay awaits in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire.

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“It was magical in the snow. We had the whole place to ourselves after the grounds were closed to the public – we really did feel like Kings and Queens of the castle then! The living and dining rooms were especially Christmassy with a decorated tree and 'presents' underneath. The dining room table was beautifully laid with Christmas centrepieces, a tablecloth, a tartan runner and even crackers!”
Elaine
December 2023
Expand image 1: A view of the almost salmon-pink exterior walls of the Preston Tower at Fyvie Castle. Branches of autumn trees frame the shot. Expand image 2: A double bed in a tower bedroom at Fyvie Castle Expand image 3: A grand dining room with high ceilings and a tartan carpet.

Bynack at Mar Lodge Estate

  • Sleeps: 17
  • Shop and pub 4.1 miles

Check availability and book now

This beautiful eight-bedroom apartment, Bynack, is found within 29,000 hectares of Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve, and is perfect for a large family celebration, surrounded by striking landscapes of rugged moorland, 15 Munros and a Caledonian pinewood forest.

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“A truly wonderful apartment in an amazing location. The service provided by Louise and her team was second to none. She was quick to respond to email queries before the visit and provided a friendly welcome as well as being on hand during the week to ensure that we had a wonderful holiday at Mar Lodge.”
Carol
February 2024
Expand image 1: A view of the main entrance to Mar Lodge with a decorative porch. Expand image 2: A large entrance hall with a huge rug and wood panelling. Expand image 3: The lounge area in a large holiday apartment. Red and buff-coloured sofas are arranged around the room. The carpet is a blue and red tartan. Large windows look out over the entrance drive. A green-tiled fireplace stands at the end of the room, with a large oval mirror hanging above.

North Wing at Pitmedden Garden

  • Sleeps: 7
  • Shop 0.8 miles, pub 0.7 miles

Check availability and book now

Resting at the heart of the Trust’s Pitmedden Garden is the North Wing, a beautiful section of the large manor house that lies within these scenic grounds.

Providing a fabulous holiday base in Aberdeenshire, North Wing is suitable for a group of seven guests seeking the delights of rural north-east Scotland, whilst still being within easy reach of both the city and the coast.

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“We had a lovely stay over Christmas, and a lit Christmas tree was already set up to greet us. We even found another Christmas tree and lights, so we had two in the lounge and dining room.
We had a large gathering over Christmas and managed to find extra chairs, so we could extend the table to seat 18 people, which was great. We would highly recommend it.”
Richard
December 2024
Expand image 1: An ivy-covered wing of a grand house, with a garden and neatly shaped topiary hedges in front of it. Expand image 2: The dining room in a holiday property with a square table in the centre of the room. A large empty wooden dresser stands on the left. Expand image 3: A lounge in a holiday wing of a manor house. Floral armchairs all face a grand fireplace at the far end of the room.

Holidays

Take a well-earned break with us, and enjoy Scotland at its glorious, vibrant and tranquil best!

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Featured Places

The sea at Rockcliffe seen at dusk, with the moon in the sky. Rocks run into the still, almost purple-blue water.
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Rockcliffe

See nature in all its glory along the trails of one of Scotland’s prettiest stretches of coastline

Dumfries & Galloway
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Fyvie Castle

An imposing 800-year-old fortress, with Raeburn portraits on the walls and wildfowl in the loch

Aberdeen City & Shire
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Mar Lodge Estate

Britain’s largest National Nature Reserve – a wildlife wonderland in the heart of the Cairngorms

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Purple crocuses grow in the foreground at Harmony Garden, with the Georgian house seen in the background.
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Harmony Garden

Discover peace among manicured lawns and scented borders with views across Melrose Abbey

Scottish Borders
A bird's eye view of the great garden at Pitmedden. A large lawn is split into sections, with manicured hedges and trees surrounding designed beds of flowers and plants.
Place

Pitmedden Garden

Re-created Scottish Renaissance walled garden with vibrant floral designs and Museum of Farming Life

Aberdeen City & Shire

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