Glenshee Accommodation With Hot Tubs

What Kind of Glenshee Accommodation Suits Your Trip?

Glenshee is a long Perthshire glen on the A93 between Blairgowrie and Braemar with the ski centre near its head, just over the top from the Spittal of Glenshee. There's no single village to base yourself in. Places to stay are strung out along the road and its side glens, so location matters more here than in most Scottish holiday areas.

The stays on this page are self catering, each with a hot tub and a wood burner or open fire. You'll find snug two bedroom cottages that work for a couple or two friends sharing, up to a big family lodge with a games room. Several have an enclosed garden with decking around the tub, which is handy with children or pets. Views vary a lot, so look at the photos.

Which Part of the Glen Should You Stay In?

Glenshee Ski Centre is 25 miles north of Blairgowrie and 9 miles south of Braemar. Your location along that road decides almost everything else, from how early you leave to how far it is to a pint of milk. Choose it first.

Blacklunans is the closest of our bases and looks out to Mount Blair, while Bridge of Cally trades a longer drive for a pub on the doorstep. Stay near Rattray if shops and restaurants matter more than the snow.

Our drive times are rounded estimates for a clear day. Allow longer after snow or at peak weekends, when queues build on the A93.

Is a Hot Tub Cottage a Good Ski Base?

For a group, yes. You'll drive further than from a hotel at the top of the road. In return you get your own hot tub for tired legs, a proper kitchen and somewhere to spread out wet kit. Scotland's largest ski area runs across both sides of the Cairnwell Pass and caters for beginners through to experienced skiers. The season runs from December to March or April depending on snow, so don't book a late trip on the strength of the calendar alone.

What Happens When the Snowgates Close?

The councils run snowgates on the A93 at the Spittal of Glenshee and at Braemar. After heavy snow they can stay shut while the road is cleared and it's the highest public road in the UK, topping out at about 670 metres at the Cairnwell Pass.

Delays are common after a big fall.

Here's the useful part. Our stays all sit south of the Spittal gate, so a closure normally costs you a ski day rather than your way to the shops or home. Check the road webcams on the Glenshee Ski Centre site before you set off.

Cottages Near Glenshee Outside the Ski Season

Plenty of people come here without skis.

The Cairngorms National Park takes in the upper glen and the Cateran Trail, a long distance walk, loops through Bridge of Cally, Kirkmichael and the Spittal. Pick up a section of the trail for the day and you can be back in the hot tub by teatime.

Castle lovers can reach Braemar Castle over the pass or Blair Castle beyond Pitlochry. Pitlochry itself is about half an hour from Blacklunans and has its festival theatre and distilleries. If you'd rather be nearer town, see where to stay near Pitlochry.

• Spring and autumn are quiet with good walking weather
• Summer brings long light evenings in the tub, though midges can bite when the air is still
• October is the time to listen for red deer on the hills
• January and February give the best chance of snow and the hardest driving

Family Holidays and Dog Friendly Stays

A large family lodge earns its keep here. The biggest stay near Bridge of Cally has a private hot tub, a games room and a fully enclosed garden, so two families can share without getting under each other's feet. Near Rattray you can ask the owners about salmon fishing on a private stretch of the River Ericht or a private chef for a night.

Travelling with pets is easy here. Dogs are welcome across these stays and each card shows its limit, though the owners set the rules on pets so read them before you book. Want more choice? Try our dog friendly hot tub cottages, the wider Perthshire hot tub lodges or, for a smoky soak, wood fired hot tub cottages.

Nearby Towns and Villages

Blairgowrie is the nearest proper town for supermarkets and restaurants. Our guide to staying in town has more. Kirkmichael has a community shop with a coffee shop plus a village hotel with a bar. For a quieter alternative over the hill, look at the Angus glens.

Booking Tips

Hot tub stays are spread thinly across this part of Perthshire, so don't leave it late. Popular weeks go first.

• Book early for February half term and Easter
• Go for a large lodge if two families are sharing
• Ask about drying space if you ski
• Check the minimum stay, as school holidays often mean a full week

Questions guests ask