Old Smiddy

The smell of old stone and wood lingers around this converted smithy, a place where metal once rang and now walkers swap stories by the fire.

Old Smiddy offers camping pods alongside guest house rooms, making it a good fit for groups with mixed camping appetites or anyone after a roof and a bed with a bit more character than the usual B&B. It's tucked into rural Scotland where the pace drops and the hills begin, the kind of spot where you're here for the quiet or the walking, not the nightlife. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, so worth asking ahead if you're bringing one.

Facilities aren't spelled out in detail, so best to check what's onsite when you book. Campfires are allowed but confirm the rules on arrival — conditions and seasons vary. It's open year-round, which means midges in summer and proper cold in winter, but also means you can have the place nearly to yourself off-season. Anglers might appreciate Kercock water less than three kilometres away if you fancy an evening with a rod. Honest, unpretentious, and properly Scottish.