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➙ Although nestled at the bottom of a garden, there is a definite sense of privacy here, with your very own BBQ decking and a table and chairs hidden away from the view of the house. And it’s the small touches that make Rambleshack work. A wet room-cum-WC is compact but effective, while the marble slate effect of the wash basin is nicely decked with surrounding cups, wine glasses and plates to make your stay as easy as possible. BYO rates allow you to play ‘camper’, bringing your own sleeping bag and towels, while the Snug, at £20 a night more, includes all your creature comforts (fluffy towels, toiletries and crisp bed linen) and a breakfast hamper complete with bacon roll, muesli, yogurt, fresh juice and a flask of tea or coffee (tasty enough to justify the price alone). The surrounding area is the real star here, with Coldingham Bay just a ten-minute walk – and even when it’s pouring down (as it was during our visit), you can see what brings flocks of visitors to the area. Coldingham Sands is the largest beach on the bay, its Blue Flag status making it a popular go-to for body boarders and surfers. And nearby St Abbs is also a must (and not just because the Scottish sun made an appearance for us). There’s a great four- or-so mile walk from the Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve, along the 90m cliffs, formed millions of years ago by active volcanoes, to St Abb’s Head lighthouse. The views are incredible, the walks manageable, and even those so-so about nature watching will be impressed by the seabird colony and its offerings, from guillemots, and kittiwakes to puffins and shearwaters. (Anna Millar) The Rambleshack, Coldingham, therambleshack.com Prices start from £55. per night.
BEST OF THE REST
and grill should you want to DIY. and washing machine. Borewell
Sure, you have to walk to the main Farm, Scremerston, near Berwick
house for loos and showers and upon Tweed, 01289 307107,
people, and each kitted out with it is a bit pricey, but this unique
northumbrianwigwams.com Prices
a small fridge, heater and kettle.
little spot makes it worth the effort. start at £15 per person per night.
Anna Millar finds four more unusual places to ‘camp’ in Scotland, from a 1950s showman’s wagon to a shepherd hut on Skye
CAMPING PODS BRODICK CASTLE, ARRAN With its great location, just
a 55-minute
We like muchly. Brodick Castle & Monachyle Mhor, Balquhidder,
Country Park, Arran. Prices for Lochearnhead, 01877 384622,
the pods range from £35–£45 per mhor.net. Prices start from £125 a
night. See nts.org.uk/holidays for night. Bookings are for a two-night
bookings. minimum.
THE PILOT PANTHER BALQUHIDDER POT-A-DOODLE-DO BERWICK-UPON-TWEED
ferry ride from We can’t lie, since The List stayed
Glasgow’s west in Monachyle Mhor’s Lovestruck
coast, there’s last year, we’ve had a serious soft
Handily situated
on the
SHEPHERD HUTS SKYE
Rescue donkeys
Gilbert and
George happily
reside
nearby in their
little you can’t spot for the Mhor enterprise, and
Northumbrian boutique stables, somewhat
do in Arran – from water
this latest gem from their camp should certainly raise a smile. Set
coastline, the cutely
setting the scene for what Janet and Cecil Ward’s Shepherd Huts
sports, biking close to the foodie restaurant haven
named Pot- glamping venture is all about.
and walking to eating, drinking for which Mhor is best known, the
A-Doodle Opened in April of this year, two
and historic discoveries. So it
Pilot Panther is a 1950s showman’s Do, with its dozen or so
beautiful bijou huts sit on their
goes without saying that the very
wagon-cum-self-catering hideaway wigwams, is cheap, cheerful
croft in the village of Heaste, on
recent additions of three rather
with stunning views over Loch Voil. and in a great location. This is a
the Isle of Skye. Inside, things are
cute hobbit-style pods in Brodick Each of the windows in this uber-
happy camp for all ages, where
done to a high spec with wood-
Castle Gardens have tickled our cool space offer fantastic vistas,
pals, couples and kiddies happily burning stove and great insulation,
camping fancy. Set at the bottom
with just enough distance from the
co-exist, making use of the beach as well as all the crockery you’d
of a pretty windy pass is Shore
main house to make you feel like nearby for picnics (Scottish
expect from a decent self-catering
Lodge – a 14-bed self-catering
you’re home alone. Off the main
weather allowing) and the crafts pad. There’s even a gas BBQ at
accommodation space, just across
the road from the beach – where pod campers are free to use all
the amenities (toilets and washing,
cooking and laundry facilities etc). Next door you’ll find three
carpeted pods, sleeping from 2–5
28 THE LIST 11 Jul–22 Aug 2013
living and
on offer in the main building, from your disposal next to a fire pit
sleeping
space is a decent
painting plates to designing trinket should you fancy some alfresco
boxes. The wigwams sleep up dining. Heaste, Isle of Skye,
to five and come complete with facebook.com/SkyeShepherdHuts
bunk area,
electricity, small fridge and table, To book call Janet on 07580
and there is while the communal building
559745 or email janet@tlachd.com
even an oven contains a lounge room, cooker
Prices start at £70 per night.