Our guide to luxury holidays in Scotland

Each season offers something different in Scotland, but all are rewarding in different ways. In the spring, the highlands are still capped by snow and temperatures don’t move much past 8°C but life is bursting through everywhere; vibrant yellow daffodils begin to sweep the landscape, salmon start leaping from the rivers, and newborn lambs bleat from thawing meadows in the sun. In the summer, temperatures usually peak at 19°C, with wildflower meadows in full bloom, local summer berries ready to forage, and the Highland Games underway.

Come autumn, the temperature floats at around 11°C and explosions of colour line the lochs, red deers rut on the island of Jura, and dark skies tease the Northern Lights. In winter, the temperature bites at approximately 4°C but find warmth in the art of ‘coorie’, the Scottish term for snuggling indoors; then visit cosy pubs that erupt with ceilidh dancing to traditional music, Christmas markets and fire festivals that light up the towns and whisky distilleries which await to help you find the warmth within.

Loch Ness is around 30 minutes’ drive away from Inverness, and an hour and half from Pitlochry. If you’re in search of the Loch Ness Monster from further afield, the easiest way to get there is by air, into Inverness Airport, and then by public transport. Shrouded in mystery and legend, with scientific research ongoing, Loch Ness stretches for 23 miles; plenty large enough to hide prehistoric creatures and all…

Throughout Scotland’s five whisky regions (Highlands, Lowlands, Islay, Speyside, and Campbeltown), there are over 130 whisky distilleries to see. Where a whisky is made can have a profound impact on its taste, from the wind-lashed rocks surrounding Isle of Jura distillery – often giving a salty, savoury flavour reminiscent of the sea – to the fertile valleys and secluded glens of Speyside, offering notes of sweet caramel and fruit. Although all of Scotland’s distilleries are unique in their own ways, these are some of the most popular:

The Macallan, Speyside

Glenfiddich, Speyside 

Laphroaig, Islay 

Lagavulin, Islay

Glenkinchie, Lowland

Auchentoshan, Lowland

Highland Park, Highland 

Old Pulteney, Highland

Talisker, Highland

Springbank, Campbeltown

Glenturret Distillery, Perthshire

Sit tight, Courchevel. Yes, there are five different mountain ski resorts in Scotland, with fresh powder and pillowy off-piste runs throughout winter (although it varies week-to-week with conditions). Each ski resort is different, with some offering terrain parks and mini-shred areas, nordic skiing and ski mountaineering, as well as other backcountry itineraries. Ski and snowboard hire and lessons are available at all five. Cairngorm Mountain and Glencoe Mountain Resort are popular with all abilities, whilst Nevis Range climbs 3,900 feet above sea level onto the mountain of Aonach Mor. Both Leight and Glenshee Ski Centres offer a maze of magical piste runs to explore, Glenshee itself taking its name from the Gaelic for ‘Glen of the Fairies’.

The answer depends on where you’re staying but, generally, the snow is unpredictable. December, January and February are the coldest months and see temperatures on average below 5°C, although generally, the country’s climate is temperate. But conditions in the north can change rapidly, with snow turning glens, lochs, and the highlands into a winter wonderland. On average it snows around 15-20 times per year in Scotland but you’re most likely to see it in the north or on the west coast. And, of course, the mountains are almost always snow-capped throughout winter.