Most northerly of the United Kingdom’s four parts, Scotland is one of the few countries that codified universal access to all private land for recreational and educational purposes into law, also known as the Right to Roam. And thankfully they did, given the fact that the country has an impressive amount of protected land including two national parks, 43 national nature reserves, and two UNESCO biospheres with billions-year-old geology; a good reason why this pristine landscape feels so wildly ancient.
One of the best ways to explore Scotland is to camp, but if roughing it isn't your speed, glamping offers a popular way to spend time among the landscape in more comfort. Not familiar with the concept? A blend of "glamorous" and "camping," glamping is a global travel trend that combines outdoor adventure travel with resort-style accommodations. In Scotland, glamping accommodations range from camping pods and bothies, to converted shepherd’s huts—not to mention the odd castle or two.
Then there are the bothies, which are unique to Scotland. Bothies are barebones shelters formerly used by gardeners or other groundskeepers that are left unlocked for wayward travelers and hikers looking for refuge—they're an enduring part of Scotland’s timeless outdoor culture that have been maintained and updated for modern times. Typically found in remote, mountainous regions like the famed Scottish Highlands, bothies offer shelter on glamping holidays everywhere from the Outer Hebrides to the bucolic glens right outside Edinburgh.
In a place as spectacularly wild and rugged as Scotland, a little bit of good design, indoor plumbing, and a wood-burning stove goes a long way when you’re trying to enjoy yourself, rain or shine. Glen to glen, we scoured the web for the country’s best bothies, glamping pods, shepherd’s huts, glamping tents, wigwams and more. So pack up your kilts and bring your whiskey, here are the 14 best places to go glamping in Scotland.
