Halloween is always a great occasion for families across the land. Where the children (and adults) enter in the spirit by dressing up, get their pumpkins carved out, enjoy sparklers and either have a party or go out guising. Trick or Treat – may be the phrase, but the origins of this are becoming lost in the mist of time. Whilst this tradition has pagan origins, which has been developed into a Christian tradition, it is a festival for remembering your dead. Nowadays it is more about dressing up and looking scary.

If you want to be scared – what about scary ghosts and haunted castles. A few years back a major multinational drinks company offered as a prize, a chance to spend the night in a haunted house in Scotland. Scotts Castle Holidays provided the venue to the lucky prize-winners and promptly scared them witless. So much so that one of them refused to spend the night in the haunted bedroom as they were terrified, stayed up all night in the sitting room, and got the first available taxi in the morning!

There are many haunted houses and castles in Scotland and the tales are legendary. Glamis Castle has many, including a servant girl with no tongue who haunts the grounds and Earl Beardie who still plays dice with the devil – with the rattle of dice and raised voices still heard today. Fyvie Castle has the green lady who has appeared throughout the castle over the last 250 years. Scotts Castle Holidays offers a great selection of large houses and castles in Scotland to choose from for self-catering holidays – which may or may not be haunted. Why not check out the selection of large holiday houses and castles in Scotland today at Scotts Castle Holidays.

According to the recent survey by “You and Your Wedding”, the costs for a wedding held in the UK in 2012 have risen 14% since 2009. The average total wedding bill now comes to a sum between £17,000 and £22,000. With figures like these it is no surprise that there has been a significant rise in choosing self-catering venues for so called “DIY Weddings”. Whilst hotels and exclusive use wedding venues offer attractive packages – it seems brides are looking for something different as well as looking at the cost saving aspect.

The “DIY Wedding”, where a self-catering castle or large house is booked and then the bride organises the wedding themselves continues to rise in popularity. However, not all self-catering venues will allow this and it is advised that you consult on venue selection beforehand. One such property that is ideal for weddings is this Baronial Castle (see image above) in Argyllshire. This self-catering castle sleeps up to 13 people, with a further holiday house, which sleeps 8 people, only two miles away. It can host religious or civil ceremonies within the castle for up to 40 people, with the dining capacity within the castle being able to cater for 13 people, with the maximum numbers for a reception being 40 people and for a buffet. For numbers above this size, then a marquee can be arranged, and can cater for numbers up to 150 people. The Scottish actress Kelly MacDonald and the bass player for Travis, Dougie Payne, are among previous happy couples that have chosen this option with Scotts Castle Holidays and we were happy to help with their castle selection and booking.

Scotts Castle Holidays offers a great selection of large houses and castles in Scotland to choose from for self-catering holidays. All potential wedding booking enquiries should be discussed in advance as some are more suitable than others. Most are ideal for the smaller more intimate wedding compared to the larger wedding. For the specifics on how to get married in Scotland, please check with the General Register Office for Scotland. Why not check out the selection of large holiday houses and castles in Scotland today at Scotts Castle Holidays.

When inspecting holiday houses for inclusion within Scotts Castle Holidays, it is best to get an all round picture of what is in the area as well as the property. The North West is one of the most picturesque parts of the Highlands of Scotland, but one of the least visited. The reason for the lack of tourists is simply a matter of geography, with Durness being 105 miles north of Inverness, which is seen as a long way. Well it is a long way, but you are rewarded with great scenery on the way and at your destination.

At Durness, if you head to Keoldale, there is the stunning Holiday House by the Beach, which is a former 5 star hotel, sleeping up to 16 people, that has been stylishly renovated. When estate agents talk about “location, location, location” – well with this large holiday house – it is “breathtaking location, location, location”. The bay is at the front of the house with a selection of golden sand beaches beyond – which is beautiful on clear days and dramatic in wild days. Two days were spent here in late September 2013, with both days mild, still and with clear blue sky.

This gave plenty of scope and time to chat to the local farmers, discuss Durness in detail with the helpful people at the local Visitor Centre and chat away to happy tourists who loved the beauty and serenity of the surroundings. What drew them up here? The fact that it is away from the rest of Scotland and is quiet in comparison; the amazing coastal walks, as well as the Munro’s to climb for the more serious walker; fishing in hill lochs, rivers and sea fishing; the secluded beaches and caves to discover; and the most north westerly golf course on the mainland is at Durness, for golfers. It is like the brochure of Scotland with its hills and glens – but for you only.

Those that make the effort to travel to the North West of Scotland are rewarded with some of the most beautiful areas of Scotland to discover. From mountain to sea, there is a majesty of scenery, where red deer roam and otters can be seen on a daily basis. It is ideal for families or friends wishing to spend a shared holiday together and getting away from the rat race. With activities for all the family and a stunning house and location to be in – experience some of the best of what Scotland has to offer. Why not find out more today at Scotts Castle Holidays.

The hugely successful TV programme “Downton Abbey” is being shown on Christmas Day this year and will feature the family going to their Scottish Castle for the summer break. The castle being used is Inveraray Castle near Loch Fyne, which was built in 1770, and is the home to the Duke of Argyll. In the late Victorian and Edwardian eras, it was very fashionable for the English to travel up to their Scottish retreats for months on end in the summer. Whilst this tradition is past, going on a Scottish holiday is still very popular.

You too can come and stay at your own castle for the summer. On the other side of Loch Fyne is the Baronial Castle which is on offer on a self-catering basis for up to 13 people, starting at £2,350 per week. Why not contact Scotts Castle Holidays today to live like a lord with a castle holiday in Scotland?

Didn’t London do well with hosting the 2012 Olympics! From the impressive creative opening ceremony on, all the way through to the party-like closing ceremony . In between, there was an impressive haul of medals for Team GB, which gave the whole country a feel-good factor, with a reminder of the real value of Olympic spirit from all around the world. Congratulations to all those who took part and won medals, and a special mention to the Scots who won medals.

•    Sir Chris Hoy (track cycling), two golds
•    Andy Murray (tennis), one gold, one silver
•    Katherine Grainger (rowing), gold
•    Heather Stanning (rowing), gold
•    Scott Brash (team showjumping), gold
•    Tim Baillie (C2 canoe slalom), gold
•    David Florence (C2 canoe slalom), silver
•    Luke Patience (470 sailing), silver
•    Michael Jamieson (swimming), silver
•    Daniel Purvis (team gymnastics), bronze
•    Laura Bartlett & Emily Maguire (team hockey), bronze

For anyone inspired by what they saw of the UK and wish to travel for a Scottish vacation, then self-catering accommodation in a large holiday house in Scotland can be found at Scotts Castle Holidays.

Wedding tourism in Scotland is thriving and people can get married in their own way by a celebrant at the location of their choosing. Of all marriages registered in Scotland in 2011, nearly 25% were for couples where neither the bride nor groom lived in Scotland.  Not only that, over 50% are now civil and humanist ceremonies compared to traditional religious services. Scotland is one of only six countries in the world where Humanist marriage ceremonies are legally conducted. They are recognised as legal in all countries in the world in the same way as other weddings are. Humanist weddings have the same legal status as civil and religious weddings as long as they are conducted by a Humanist Society Scotland celebrant, who has been authorised by the Registrar General of Scotland, and can take place anywhere ‘safe and dignified’.

Large Holiday Houses in Scotland are becoming a great venue to host your celebrations. Most can be booked as they are (whilst notifying the agency) if guest numbers do not exceed the accommodation number. Above this and consultation is required. Check out the great selection at Scotts Castle Holidays today.

Daniel Craig and Dame Judi Dench are the stars in the James Bond film “Skyfall” part of which is filmed in the Glencoe area in Scotland. Skyfall was the third Bond film to shoot in Scotland.  Roger Moore’s third James Bond, “The Spy Who Loved Me”, filmed a scene at the Faslane naval base, whilst Eilean Donan Castle was a secret MI6 base in “The World is Not Enough”. Land in the Glencoe/Glen Etive area has traditionally been owned by the Fleming family and it could be said that the filming is a nod to Ian Fleming and his Scottish roots.

The 10 mile road that was closed-off for filming in February 2012 is the single track Glen Etive road, where the stunt driver was spotted driving an Aston Martin DB5. With steep glens on either side, it is a dramatic twisty road, which looked spectacular with the James Bond treatment. Near the end of this road is the Traditional Shooting Lodge, which is available for comfortable self-catering for up to 10 adults. For movie fans, a stay at this Scottish Holiday home can now be linked with “Skyfall”, which debuted in October 2012. For more large holiday homes in Scotland, check the Scotts Castle Holidays website today.

Did you know that the most popular sport in the UK is fishing? Fishing in a new location is all part of the fun and there are plenty of wonderful places in Scotland where you can fish. For more information on booking rods on Scottish rivers, take a look at Fishpal, where you can book your salmon fishing in advance. For example, on the river Dee in Aberdeenshire, the 2011 season saw over 7,373 salmon and grilse being caught. Whilst there are a range of different styles of fishing including coarse fishing, sea fishing, as well as salmon fishing, it is possible to book a Scotts Castle Holidays property and have fishing included within the rental. The luxury holiday lodge near Dalwhinnie, which can sleep up to 8 people, sits on the bank of Loch Ericht and fishing for wild brown trout from the banks is included within the holiday rental.

Alternatively, the riverside country house, near Huntly, which can sleep up to 13 people, sits on the bank of the river Deveron. Here there is salmon and sea trout fishing that can be taken on one mile of river, which is for both banks, and can be for up to four rods, which is by separate arrangement and charged as extra. Why not find out more about fishing holiday houses in Scotland today?

For 2011, the event arena at the Edinburgh Castle esplanade has had a £16 million make-over and been brought up to a standard more appropriate for the enjoyment of the world class entertainment provided. Amongst the improvements, the capacity has increased to a maximum of 8,700 people, whilst the size of the seat space has increased by 35%. The structure remains a temporary one and the dates of the Tattoo for 2011 continues for one month only, between the 5th – 27th August 2011.

The musical programme, as ever, will feature exciting contributions from the Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Highland Dancing, the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the stirring music of the world-famous Massed Pipes and Drums, plus International acts.

Whilst the Tattoo is one of the highlights of a stay in Scotland, choosing the right accommodation will be paramount. Why not check out the selection of Scottish holiday houses available at Scotts Castle Holidays today?

The Cornish Pastie has recently had a ruling by the European Union that this product can only be known by this name if it is produced in the geographical region of Cornwall. Beyond this boundary, they are banned from claiming to be the real article. It joins a growing list of products, which also includes the Arbroath Smokie.

Arbroath Smokies originated in Auchmithie, a few miles north of Arbroath in Angus, in the North East of Scotland. The fishwives originally smoked the fish in halved barrels, trapping the smoke under hessian sacking. At the start of the 20th century these fisher-folk began moving to Arbroath, and the process became known as the Arbroath Smokie. Only haddock can be used to produce an authentic ‘Arbroath Smokie’ within this region only.

If you’re looking to sample an authentic Arbroath Smokie and visit the North East of Scotland, you and 27 of your favourite people can stay in this Majestic Country Home near the village of Brechin, set in beautiful landscaped grounds. Set within an impressive and imposing castle built in the 1790’s it’s deal for family groups of up to 10 people who want a self-catering holiday house in the Arbroath area.

With 125 large holiday homes in Scotland, including more than 30 castles, there’s plenty of choice for your group to enjoy an extraordinary Scottish experience together.