Montrose Accommodation with a Hot Tub

Why choose self catering in Montrose over a hotel?

Search for places to stay in Montrose and you'll mostly find hotels, guest houses and town flats. They put you within a stroll of the High Street and a restaurant, which is handy for one night. For a longer break, a self catering cottage gives you a kitchen, your own front door and a hot tub to sink into when you're back from the sand or the golf course, with the kettle on and the wet boots by the door.

One thing to know before you book: you'll want a car.

The nearest of these are a short drive out of Montrose, so the trade is simple. You give up strolling home after dinner and you get peace, parking and a dark sky over the tub. It also suits a family or a group of friends far better than several hotel rooms.

What to look for in a stay

• Sleeps and bedrooms: set these first, as the range is wide and the small places suit couples far better than families.
• Dogs: welcome throughout and some places take two. Check the fee and the house rules on the booking page.
• Close to the sea: tick Near a beach in the filters, then look at the road time in the table below, as near can still mean a drive.
• Garden and view: few listings promise a private garden, so read the details if the view from the tub matters to you.
• Luxury: there's a filter for this too, handy for an anniversary or a big birthday.
• Wi-Fi and a woodburner: both are filters too. A stove is well worth having on a winter break.
• The tub itself: the card says what the listing says, whether that's private, wood-fired or shared with a bookable slot.

Where is the best Montrose accommodation for you?

That comes down to whether you want the sea, the shops or the quiet, as each area gives you something different.

Just outside Montrose

On the north side of the basin, you're about ten minutes from the wide High Street, the working harbour and the links, which makes this the easy pick for a first visit.

Lunan Bay and Inverkeilor

Head south towards Inverkeilor and you're close to Lunan Bay, a long curve of sand below the ruined Red Castle. There's very little else out here. That's the appeal and also the catch, so stock up at a local shop on the way.

Inland around Brechin and Aberlemno

Here the sea gives way to farmland. These places feel more remote and they're the better base for the glens, though the coast becomes a proper outing. Further down the shore, our Arbroath guide covers the red cliffs, the harbour and the smokies, while the Forfar guide looks at the county town.

Road times are from the middle of Montrose to the middle of each place. Some places sit further out, so check the distance on the card and allow extra on summer weekends.

Montrose Basin and the geese

This tidal nature reserve fills and empties twice a day and the Scottish Wildlife Trust visitor centre on the south shore looks right across it. Come in autumn and you'll hear the pink-footed geese before you see them, as they fly in from Iceland and Greenland from September onwards. The Trust says about one in five of the world's pink-footed geese spend the winter here, which is why the view from the centre is so popular with visitors.

Golf on the Montrose links

Golfers have an easy decision. The links here include the 1562 Course, named after the year golf was first recorded in Montrose and one of the oldest courses in the world.

Days out from your cottage

About ten minutes west, House of Dun is an eighteenth-century house with a walled garden and woodland walks, run by the National Trust for Scotland. You can only see inside on a guided tour, so check the days before you set off, though the garden is an easy visit on its own. Back in Montrose, the Air Station Heritage Centre tells the story of Scotland's first military airfield.

If you're planning a trip around the Pictish stones in the village of Aberlemno, go in summer, as they're boxed up from the end of September to early April to protect them from frost.

Dundee is about 50 minutes south by road and Aberdeen is just under an hour north, with trains to both from Montrose station, while our Angus accommodation guide covers the wider county.

When's the best time to book a hot tub break here?

Summer is the busy stretch, with long light evenings and a crowd on the sand. Our pick is late September into November, when the geese are in, the evenings are cold and sitting out in hot water under the stars makes the most sense. Spring is quieter and usually easier to book.

Which hot tub type should you pick?

A private tub is the simplest, as it's yours whenever you fancy it. Wood-fired tubs take longer to heat, so light one well before you want it. Our wood fired hot tub cottages page has more on those. Shared tubs need booking in a slot, which is worth knowing if you're picturing a midnight soak.

Where a card doesn't state the type, ask before you pay.

What to book ahead

The school holidays go first, so settle your dates early and book a tee time or a house tour at the same time. Coming with a pet? Our dog friendly hot tub cottages page goes through the rest of the county.

What to pack for the tub and the coast

Tick these off before you leave:

The cards show a guide price a night, which is handy for comparing stays. Your own dates and the final total are on the booking page, so check the minimum stay there too.

Questions guests ask