One of the best parts of traveling around Scotland as much as I do is staying at the neatest, quirkiest, boltholes you can imagine. Places like the Roulotte Retreat, Ecopods, and the Orkney Crofts have been revelations of comfort and unconventional coolness that have elevated my time in their respective regions (Scottish Borders, Lochaber, and Orkney Islands, if you’re wondering). On each trip I make a habit of trying to find at least 1-2 accommodations in this vein to ratchet up the excitement and anticipation. Traveling doesn’t have to be about constant movement and threadbare beds; sometimes staying put in a wonderful place is exactly what you need. Off in rural Aberdeenshire I found another one: the Boutique Farm Bothies near Huntly.

James and Jane Foad are a pair of enterprising farmers who concocted the idea for upcycled bothies designed with a playful eye for rustic glamor and farm chic styling. Both the Sheep Shed and the Barley Bothy triggered my accommodation radar instantly and I managed to snag a night in the Sheep Shed during my trip around Angus and Aberdeenshire last spring.

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Boutique Farm Bothies are tucked back from the A96 close to Drumblade, and the drive between the rolling gold and green fields feels like a journey into an agricultural Elysium. The instructions Jane provided me were spot on and I soon found the diminutive, corrugated Sheep Shed hidden in a copse of trees. The Sheep Shed is a thing of beauty from both a design and recycling perspective.

Entering the A-frame shed a sheep and strawberry motif (Jane is the local “Strawberry Lady”) decorates the wood-lined interior. It’s such a colorful, cheery space, and upon entering I found the great wood-fired stove roaring — it’s used to heat the Sheep Shed as well as any required hot water. This is a good time to mention that the bothies are mostly off the grid. That means no electricity other than the amount generated by solar panels and water drawn from the farm’s spring and filtered on site. Yes, that means no wifi, either. These details all go hand in hand with the philosophy of the Boutique Farm Bothies: Slow down, get closer to nature, relax, and rejuvenate.

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The kitchen and living area adjoin to face a massive A-frame of windows looking over the Foad’s farm fields. Homey decorations, utensils, accoutrements, and seating make the Sheep Shed feel like the coolest treehouse getaway you can imagine. I found a nice note, some fresh strawberry jam, and a loaf of bread I gratefully dug into on the sideboard. Jane showed up not long after I arrived to give me a tour. I loved her cheery, upbeat personality, and she reassured me that if I needed anything I should just give her or James a call. A warm welcome is second to none.

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed’s bathroom has a vintage toilet and a tin trough-cum-bathtub that can be used as a kind of sponge bath using hot water from the stove and watering can! Amazing.

The bedroom in the Sheep Shed is lofted over the living area with a wonderfully plush king-size bed and skylights that open. This is crucial because the Sheep Shed got quite hot from the day’s endless sun and wood stove, and it was still quite warm by 10pm. Luckily the ventilation is excellent when you open both doors and the skylights.

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

I was spending the night in the Sheep Shed, but the Barley Bothy was uninhabited for the day so I had a chance to traipse over and get a look at the larger of the two bothies. The Barley Bothy has the same attention to detail and design that’s rare in any accommodation. The blue sheet metal and light blue trim make for an eye-catching exterior, and, just like the Sheep Shed, a wood-burning hot tub sits beside the building.

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The interior of the Barley Bothy is loaded with vintage furniture and kitchenware. Two bedrooms hide behind a pair of double doors that form a wall when not in use. This extra space makes the Barley Bothy ideal for a small family or even a pair of couples who aren’t afraid to be in each other’s personal space. Two wood-burning stoves kick out the heat, and in the bathroom I found a full-size bathtub.

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Barley Bothy, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

After a dinner out in Huntly I retired to the Sheep Shed and watched the sun set on this beautiful day from my pleasant deck. Pheasants roamed the farm field just outside my window as I listened to music and soaked in these calming northeastern Scotland vibrations. I took a soak in the wood-fired hot tub and pondered the Boutique Farm Bothies. I love that these bothies are getaways, but I wish it was more attractive to hole up here and be able to explore the countryside. Alas, it’s mostly agricultural and not entirely suited to tramping around. Still, there aren’t any midges in this corner of Scotland, and that’s no small detail for a lot of people. Plus, the bothies’ central location makes them an excellent base from which to explore Aberdeenshire.

Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

The Sheep Shed, Boutique Farm Bothies, near Huntly, Scotland

I loved my night in the Sheep Shed at Boutique Farm Bothies. It was cozy, secluded, and a wonderful mix of vintage and eco design. A lot of love and attention went in to building the Sheep Shed and the Barley Bothy, and if you’re looking for a fascinating place to stay in northeastern Scotland these bothies are a home run.

Disclosure: Boutique Farm Bothies provided me with a discounted rate for my stay at the Sheep Shed. All thoughts and opinions expressed here, as always, are my own.

Article Comments

  1. Claire Marie-Peterson December 13, 2018 at 2:41 pm

    Those farm bothies sound divine! Unfortunately, Aberdeenshire is not on my upcoming itinerary. How does one find such bothies in other areas?

    1. Keith Savage December 14, 2018 at 7:10 am

      Hi Claire. It takes quite a bit of Googling, usually, but Sawday’s Canopy & Stars is sometimes a good shortcut to unique accommodations.

  2. Agness January 8, 2019 at 4:58 am

    Hi Keith, this is so relaxing. Good for soul searching.

    1. Keith Savage January 8, 2019 at 8:25 am

      So good!

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