Balgedie House & Lodge

Midway between Edinburgh and Perth, on the edge of the Lomond Hills, Balgedie House and Balgedie Lodge overlook Loch Leven, Scotland's largest lowland loch. Balgedie House is a landmark, six-bedroom historic house; the Lodge is a cosy three-bedroom cottage that was originally a gate house; and both have been sensitively refurbished to make two ultra-comfortable holiday homes that make the most of the spectacular views of the loch and the hills beyond, in the midst of some of central Scotland's most stunning countryside.

Balgedie House sleeps 12, the Lodge 5, and although they are usually rented separately you can rent both if you're looking for somewhere to host a large gathering (together they can, if needed, sleep up to 22 people). Well-behaved pets are welcome as well.

Balgedie House has six bedrooms (3 double, 3 twin) and four bathrooms, a large and well-equipped kitchen-diner (with Nespresso machine and slow cooker among the usual mod cons), a dual-aspect living room and a separate TV and playroom out the back. The Lodge has three bedrooms, a sitting room with open fire, an equally well-equipped kitchen, a sunroom with views over the loch, and a garden with patio and barbecue. Wifi is available in both properties and the owners are happy to lay on anything from a food delivery to sourcing a babysitter or dog-watcher.

Both properties are perfect places to hunker down and do nothing much, though they also make excellent walking holiday cottages. There are more nearby routes and hikes than you could ever possibly do (the Michael Bruce Way, named after the local poet, starts nearby, and there's a heritage trail around the loch), as well as bike rides, fishing and lots of golf courses. You're also within driving distance of the Fife coastline and its beaches and fishing villages, and there are castles, palaces and historic sites galore  – the ruins of the island castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned are accessible on the loch, as is her favourite country seat, Falkland Palace – while Perth, St Andrews and even Edinburgh and Stirling are all easily seen on day trips.

There is a good local pub just half a mile away, plus a village shop and deli, and it's only 4 miles to the pleasant local market town of Kinross. All in all, it's the perfect location for enjoying one of Scotland's most beautiful regions, and an unusually accessible one too.