Cairngorm Lodges

There's something special about waking up deep in a forest: sleeping in the woods engenders a cosiness that can't quite be replicated anywhere else, and the truth is that staying in a wooden lodge in some of the Cairngorms National Park's deepest, darkest woodland is about as far away from most people's day-to-day existence as it's possible to get. That is perhaps why the enterprising folk up here founded Cairngorm Lodges, which offer the chance to get away from it all in some of the finest natural scenery the UK has to offer. Situated on the 750-acre Blelack Estate in Aberdeenshire, they started with the repair and renovation of just one building, an existing 'Woodcutter's Cabin', and it was such a success they decided to build four more lodges from scratch, each in its own secluded forest location.

It's a real get-away-from-it-all break, with no wifi, no reception building or additional facilities: just the lodges, and the woods. Nonetheless, the lodges are very well equipped. Each has two bedrooms – one double, one twin, so perfect for a family of four; they each have a sitting room/kitchen and bathroom, outside decking with barbecue, and are heated by a wood-burning stove and lit with low-energy lighting, and logs are laid on in generous supply. Everything is done with the environment in mind: the lodges are built from sustainable wood and the forest is sustainably managed; they re-cycle everything, and, perhaps most importantly, they are passionate about preserving and encouraging the local flora and fauna, encouraging dragonflies, running bee-keeping courses and offering lots of advice on where to spot local wildlife – red squirrels are daily visitors to the lodges and there are red deer in the woods and beyond; and among an abundance of birdlife you will be able to spot kestrels, sparrow hawks and pine martens.

The only real difference between each of the lodges is their location. For example, Osprey Lodge overlooks a small loch, while Red Squirrel Lodge is sited deepest into the woods – the ideal location for jaded city folk wanting to immerse themselves in complete peace and quiet. All the lodges are dog-friendly, and the forest has a multitude of marked paths it would take weeks to walk – plus there are plenty of hill and mountain walks beyond, with no less than 24 'Munros' accessible from the site. It's also a fabulous area for horse riding and in particular mountain biking, with some great cycling routes through the forest. It's also not far from the mountain biking centre of Tarland Trails, and you can hire at Cycle Highland in Ballater, a few miles southwest of Cairngorm Lodges.

All in all, we reckon this could be the perfect place for both an active holiday and a peaceful contemplative one – or, even better, a mixture of the two! It's also worth noting the owners have a nearby sister property: Cairngorm Bothies.