EASTER holidays are just around the corner, so now’s the time to get booking and what better than a great Scottish staycation.
If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands who have decided to stay put this year and enjoy the best of British, then the hardest decision will be where to go?
And it seems one of the most wanted places to holiday in the UK this Easter is right here in Scotland, in beautiful Fort Augustus.
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Self-catering rental experts Airbnb revealed the village on the shores of Loch Ness is the second most popular UK destination for holidaymakers this year and it’s easy to see why.
The historic hamlet offers fabulous family walks and cycling routes, scenic hiking and even the promise of the chance to catch a glimpse of Nessie if you stay there.
If the weather is good, take a picnic trip to nearby Urquhart Castle, a romantic ruin jutting out into the loch.
You’ll never be bored holidaying here. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, and Fort William, ‘the Outdoor Capital of the UK’, are less than an hour’s drive away.
Then you can head west to the magnificent Eilean Donan Castle, take in picturesque Plockton and head over the bridge to Skye.
Back at base why not visit the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre which tells the history of the canal and watch the boats navigating the famous locks and explore the nearby Clansmen Centre.
Fort Augustus is one of only two Scottish locations to make the in-demand staycation wishlist – along with atmospheric Glencoe, which came in at number 15 of 15.
From Penrith in Cumbria (at number 1 on the list) to Caernarfon in Wales, Filey in Yorkshire to glorious Glencoe, Airbnb has seen a 17 per cent increase in rural bookings in Britain over the Easter weekend, compared to last year.
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And when it comes to actual rental properties, a unique AirShip in Drimnin, on Scotland’s Morven peninsula is right up there as one of the most wanted, alongside Blackcraig Tower Apartment in Blackcraig Castle in Ballintuim, Strathardle, Perthshire.
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The Beekeeper’s Bothy is also proving a hit with holidaymakers. The tiny cabin home is in Newburgh on the Aberdeenshire coast and is on Airbnb’s most wishlisted cabin stays in the UK.
Amanda Cupples, General Manager of Northern Europe at Airbnb, said: “Easter is the perfect moment to take some time with your loved ones, and there’s no better way to spend the long weekend than in the hidden gems of beautiful, rural destinations around the UK.”
