EVERY holiday home I stay at from now on is going to be boring, uninspiring and dreary.
Whether a hotel in Edinburgh, an apartment in Manchester or a cottage in Cumbria — none of them will be able to compare to Barley Bothy in Aberdeenshire.
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This fantastically individual tin-clad holiday home puts a smile on your face from the moment you pull up, till long after you leave.
My wife Louise and I had wanted to spend a relaxing long weekend getting away from it all, but it had to be something interesting, fun and unique.
Using the Canopy & Stars website we had a huge choice of inspiring places to stay across the UK. They range from treehouses, to converted horse boxes or luxury cabins. One thing’s for sure, you won’t be staying anywhere dull.
Which is exactly what we thought as we unpacked the car and got settled in.
The bothy’s interior is colourful and quirky, with a vintage wood burner in the corner to keep you cosy, no matter the weather.
The kitchen has a farmhouse feel with the huge deep sink and a log burning range cooker.
But our favourite feature was the kingsized beds, hidden behind cupboard doors complete with star-gazing ceiling windows. Our welcome hamper included fudge, a freshly baked loaf and home made jam from our host’s farm, nice touch.
You can order various goodies for your stay, be it a huge hamper from the local butcher, home baked puddings or a pizza kit for the outdoor pizza oven. We opted for the Afternoon Tea Treat of sausage rolls, scones and yummy cakes.
Out on the huge porch, we poured drinks and relaxed in the warm evening sun while enjoying the view.
Barley Bothy, part of Boutique Farm Bothys, is tucked away in the middle of a 100-acre working farm which grows malting barley for the Glenlivet distillery and is run by Jane and James.
Jane popped over to see how we were settling in, but apart from that you’ll be lucky to see another human all weekend. You’ve more chance of seeing one of the farm’s sheep dogs that may pay you a visit for a game of fetch.
As the sun was setting, we fired up the pizza oven and got busy making tea.
Afterwards we caught a glimpse of the stunning Northern Lights, which was very cool. Next day, after getting the fire going on the wood burner to make a morning coffee and cook breakfast, we drove to Bennachie hill for a stroll up to the summit.
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t as good as the previous day, so the view from the top was the clouds.
Deciding against a visit to nearby distilleries, we headed back and got the log burning hot tub up and running. Not hard at all since as all the fires are pre-built for you on arrival.
As the water got up to temperature we got stuck into the selection of games in the bothy and finished off our treats as we waited.
Louise loves a hot tub and this one got top rating due to its size — nice and deep — with cracking views across the fields. And to prove how happy she was, she stayed submerged for the next three hours!
GO: ABERDEENSHIRE
STAYS at Barley Bothy start at £120 per night.
Pets welcome. Boutique Farm Bothy’s also have the Sheep Shed and The Dairy at Denend.
See canopyandstars.co.uk for a huge choice of places to stay UK.
The pizza oven was back in operation for dinner and as we enjoyed another al fresco meal, we noticed we were being stalked by an inquisitive pheasant, keeping an eye on us as he strutted about the field.
But it wasn’t long before ‘Phil the Pheasant’, lost interest in us, so we headed inside for one last night in front of the fire before climbing into our bed.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Packing up the car on Sunday morning bird song filled the air, interrupted only by the occasional bleat of a sheep.
We said goodbye to the Barley Bothy, our oasis of tranquillity, feeling relaxed and recharged and headed home, grinning from Barley ear to ear.
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