There are few places that do cosy quite like Scotland, and the proof is in the pudding at Guardswell Farm. Perched on a hillside in Perthshire, this family-run assortment of hand-crafted huts, cottages, and farmhouse is all roaring fires, misty mornings, and views that tumble across the River Tay. It’s a refreshingly off-grid sort of stay where time slows, WiFi fades, and the soundtrack is hens clucking, livestock grazing, and a kettle boiling on the Aga. So, if your idea of fall bliss is swapping screen time for starry skies and replacing rush-hour noise with the soft bleats of Hebridean sheep, don your chunkiest cable-knit and point your 4x4’s bonnet in this unplugged bolthole’s rural direction.
Snuggled between the villages of Abernyte and Kinnaird, Guardswell’s 170-acre farm feels especially magical once the colder months roll in. Autumn brings copper leaves skittering across the slopes, while winter mornings cloak the farm in a veil of silver frost. Sheep graze quietly in the half-light, their breath rising in little cloud-like puffs—a scene best savoured while bundled up in a wool blanket and glugging a glass of Guardswell’s own Diggers Cider.
The Lamotte family have been the custodians of this special patch of land since 2011, and their passion for farming, food, and design shows in every corner. Anna and Digby lead the charge: she brings the eco-conscious, style and substance vision, while he bottles natural cider from the orchards and steers the regenerative farming that keeps the land humming with life. Hebridean sheep, Shetland cattle, Angora goats, donkeys, and a flock of free-range hens are all part of the cast here—each playing a role in Guardswell’s mission to actively restore, not just sustain, this wild patch. Their fleece and mohair get spun into the farm’s own yarn, while eggs and hogget often make their way into the well-stocked provisions store.
Since all the accommodation here is self-catering, you’ll want to put in some pre-orders and raid said store on arrival. Firewood bundles are stacked high for long nights by the log-burning stove; jars of homemade seasonal jam and marmalade are ripe for the picking; and skeins of freshly spun wool are ready to be knit into something cosy. If you’d rather have your treats waiting, request a breakfast basket: homemade sourdough with preserves, farm-fresh eggs, granola, Scottish yoghurt with compote, and apple juice pressed onsite. Basically, everything you need for a slow, lazy morning—preferably devoured while you watch the frost glitter across the fields, still in your slippers.
Couples can hide away in one of the just-for-two huts which meld Scandi-Scot chic with far-reaching views: The Pendicle is set high above the fields with its own wood-fired soaking tub beneath an ancient apple tree; The Infield is an off-grid escape where a glass gable and stargazing window above the bed frame the night sky; and The Kailyard is a shepherd’s hut squirreled away down a woodland trail with a wood stove and friendly sheep for neighbours.
Bringing the whole crew (dogs included, at no extra charge), Guardswell Cottage sleeps four across two sheepskin-strewn bedrooms, with a wraparound deck and soaring front windows overlooking the Carse of Gowrie, all the way down to the River Tay and Fife. The deceptively spacious four-bedroom Cotterhouse takes its name from the old Scots word for farm tenant, and is fronted by a fire-pit (ideal for sipping drams after supper under the night’s sky without freezing to death). The Farmhouse is Guardswell’s more-the-merrier option: ten beds, stacks of firewood, and all the makings of a relaxed Perthshire party house—kept nice and toasty by a red Aga at its heart.
Ultimately, short days and long nights feel like a gift in these parts—an invitation to light the fire, simmer something low, slow, and comforting on the stove, and lean into the stillness of these bonnie Scottish hills, whatever the weather.
Fast Facts
Location: Perthshire, Scotland
Address: Kinnaird, By Inchture, Perthshire, PH14 9QZ
The vibe: WiFi down, kettle on. Here, your out-of-office reads: “Gone to feed the goats.”
Room Count: Up to 30 guests across three huts and three houses.
Starting Rate: Huts start from £110 per night.
Dining: It’s all self-catering, and don’t let the Scottish elements stop you from eating outside. Think firepit marshmallows, feasts whipped up on the Big Green Egg, and Diggers Cider chilling in the fridge. Forgotten something? The Provisions store and Farmstand (an old horse trailer turned honesty shop) keeps you topped up with hyperlocal treats, including veggies grown across the very ground you’re treading, or at the Lamotte grandparents’ farm down the road.
Amenities: Log burners, fire-pits, Big Green Egg BBQs, wood-fired outdoor tubs, provisions store, farmstand, fully equipped kitchens, wellies and board games to borrow, and tech-free (no TVs or WiFi).
Our favourite part of the hotel: The family’s endless knack for getting guests stuck into the good stuff—from spoon carving and felted fleece rug workshops to cheesemaking, yoga, and seasonal supper clubs that turn the farm into a countryside gathering place.
What’s nearby? Highland Perthshire is right on Guardswell’s doorstep, with Dundee (and its V&A) just 20 minutes away by road, and everything from gentle wanders through Corrie Fee to bucket-list Munros like Schiehallion or Ben Lawers within striking distance—though in winter, only the well-trained should tackle the big climbs.
Any personal neighbourhood recs? Sprawling antiques centres at Rait and Abernyte make for the perfect rainy-day rummage, ARAN Bakery in Dunkeld bakes pastries that are basically hugs in food form, and The Taybank’s riverside Braan Sauna will thaw you out after all those windswept walks.
Closest airport: Dundee Airport is 20 minutes’ drive, while Edinburgh and Glasgow are both around 90 minutes by car. Rent a study set of wheels, if you can.
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