Balvatin Cottages

The scent of pine carries down from the Monadhliath Mountains as you wake in your pod or chalet, that particular Highland morning quiet broken only by birdsong and the occasional bleat from a distant hillside.

This is a spot for couples wanting a snug base in the Cairngorms National Park, or small families keen to explore Newtonmore and the Strathspey trails without the full tent-and-groundsheet commitment. The pods and chalets give you four walls and a proper door after a day on the hills or cycling the Speyside Way, and you're well-placed for Laggan Wolftrax or a mooch around the Highland Folk Museum if the weather turns.

Facilities aren't detailed, so it's worth asking what's provided when you book—same goes for bringing the dog and whether you can light a fire once you arrive. Expect a quiet, tucked-away feel rather than a bustling campsite vibe, somewhere you'll hear the wind in the trees and fall asleep properly tired from all that good mountain air.