I’ll never forget the drive up to Loch Ness – we’d packed the car with enough snacks to feed a Highland army, but about 20 miles out, the satnav decided to throw a wobbly and sent us down a single-track road that felt like it hadn’t seen daylight since the Jacobites. There I was, white-knuckling the wheel, while my other half chuckled and munched on crisps, insisting it was all part of the adventure. We emerged unscathed, hearts racing a bit, but buzzing with that proper holiday anticipation. As we crested the hill towards Glen Strathfarrar, the views hit us like a cold pint on a hot day – misty hills rolling out forever, and there was our little semi-detached haven, perched with panoramic vistas that made you want to pinch yourself.

Stepping through the door was pure magic. It’s one of those luxury cottages built for couples or families to properly unwind, with a cracking open-plan living space that flows from squishy sofas and a smart TV to a dining area and kitchen that’s got everything you need without the faff. The cosy bedrooms wrapped us up like a hug, and that fabulous decking area out back? Blimey, with the enclosed garden and optional wood-fired hot tub overlooking the glen, it was begging for lazy evenings. First impressions? Spot on – we dumped the bags and cracked open a bottle of fizz right there on the deck, watching the light fade over the hills.

The next few days melted into proper cottage bliss, the kind that reminds you why you ditched the daily grind. Mornings started with brekkie on the deck – bacon butties and fresh coffee, with the odd curious sheep eyeing us up from the field below. We wandered easy trails along the glen, spotting red deer ambling about and breathing in that crisp Scottish air that clears your head like nothing else. No massive hikes for us; it was all about the gentle stuff, like paddling in the pebbly burns nearby or just sitting with a book while the wood-fired tub heated up. One afternoon, chaos ensued when we tried firing it up – smoke billowed everywhere, and I ended up looking like a soot-covered chimney sweep, laughing till my sides hurt as we finally sank into the bubbles, Loch Ness shimmering in the distance.

Evenings were for simple pleasures: hearty stews bubbling on the hob, board games on those comfy sofas, and stargazing from the garden under skies so clear you’d swear you could touch the Milky Way. There was this quiet moment one night, hot tub steaming, when I caught myself reflecting – life’s mad rush back home feels miles away here. Us two, a bit older, a bit wiser (or so we tell ourselves), just soaking it all in. No phones beeping, no schedules. Just the cottage rhythm: a splash of rain on the roof, the crackle of the fire, and that deep contentment from doing sweet nothing brilliantly.

If you’re after a relaxed family-couple break amid Loch Ness magic, this spot’s a gem. We left fuller in every way, already plotting a return.