A holiday in Scotland is wonderful way to escape the rat race and get back to nature. This does not have to mean nights under canvas or foraging for food – you can still get close to nature by a well chosen cottage in Scotland or even a lodge. Many of these come with modern luxuries but their location let you get away from it all.

An excellent example is not a Scottish cottage but a loch side lodge. Bracken Lodge at Kilfinnan, five miles from Invergary, sits on a five acre lochside setting. In the heart of the Great Glen, this small group of south-facing Scandinavian pine log lodges all have superb panoramic views of Loch Lochy and the mountain range beyond. The location is designed to be out of door. Mountains ideal for climbing and walking lie on your doorstep. The Great Glen long distance trail passes the entrance to the chalet park and is very popular with walkers, cyclists and mountaineers. Free fishing is available on Loch Lochy and the use of a boat with ghillie can be arranged at extra cost. There are water sports at the centre 3 miles and in the winter months, skiing and snow-boarding can be enjoyed at Nevis Range. For those interested in natural history, the area abounds with wildlife - deer, osprey, pine martens, golden eagles and buzzards, to name a few. The pine martens resident near the lodges regularly visit the verandas to be fed their favourite titbits of a jam or peanut butter piece. In fact the whole area is like a giant out of doors theme park.

Poolewe is a Scottish cottage stone built it is situated in a quiet position surrounded by croft land and open countryside, just a few minutes’ walk from the shoreline of Loch Ewe, by a quiet minor road. Poolewe is an ideal base for touring the scenic West Coast, the world famous Inverewe Gardens are within a short walk and there are some lovely unspoilt sandy beaches within easy reach. This is a very good bird-watching area and other activities include fishing, walking, sailing and boat hire. This is a long way north but the scenery make up for the drive.

Carrbridge is easier to reach but is in a quiet wooded residential lane on the edge of the village, this charming timber lodge is the ideal base for touring the Central Highlands and Speyside. Carrbridge lies within the Cairngorm National Park which offers a wealth of outdoor activities including walking, climbing, bird-watching, winter sports, water sports, golf, off road driving and horse riding. The village is home to the famous Landmark Heritage Centre, which offers entertainment for all ages all year round. Carrbridge also has a shop, cafe and pub while Inverness is a half hour drive with all the facilities of a major city. This is another excellent chance to get away from it all.

Mackays has a wide range of cottages in Scotland. To see all the Scottish cottages visit www.mackays-self-catering.co.uk