The Ferry Cottage

This self-catering cottage in Perthshire sits in four acres of riverside gardens with its own sauna and hot tub. Positioned on the banks of Scotland’s longest river, the Tay, you can spend your days fishing and your evenings soaking in the hot tub under the stars. And if the weather’s not playing ball, head inside for a game of pool or curl up by the fire with a good book. This traditional stone cottage has facilities you might expect at a large property – yet it’s just a two-bedroomed bolthole and feels all the more indulgent for it.

Sleeping up to four plus an infant and/or a dog, the cottage and its garden are a lovely place to spend time in. There’s space for everyone to spread out, whether you come as a family or with friends. Alternatively, the hot tub, riverside setting and fire all lend this place a rather romantic appeal making it just as good for couples, with a pricing structure that makes that feasible too.

Stone walls on the outside and oak flooring inside give the cottage a traditional feel. Walls are mostly whitewashed but the place is warmed by colour in the kitchen and bedrooms. The use of natural wood throughout and artwork on the walls helps too. Overall the effect is homely but contemporary and clean. It’s certainly well equipped: dishwasher, double oven, filter coffee machine and more – there’s everything you need to self-cater. Meanwhile, entertainment is taken care of thanks to an iPod dock, Smart TV and a dining table that turns into a pool table. It’s always nice to find a hairdryer in the bedroom, but here there’s a good pair of straighteners too. The family behind this cottage seem to have thought of everything; evidence of 20 years' experience in hotels and more than 10 years here on the Tay.

The Ferry is a lovely place to spend time and also a good base from which to explore. Its location just off the A827 (which does mean a little road noise in the garden), means it’s only 10 minutes to Aberfeldy. This small town, made famous by a Robert Burns poem, is a useful centre for visitors, with shops, restaurants, information on local adventures and a whiskey distillery. It’s not far to Loch Tay, the surrounding mountains, Glen Lyon or the Tay Forest Park. In short – all those things you might be hoping to find in The Highlands!