A two-bedroom lodge in the Scottish Highlands has been announced as Britain’s Best Holiday Let property.
The nationwide awards, run by Sykes Holiday Cottages, saw holiday home owners from across the UK competing for the title which comes with a £100,000 prize.
Despite only being up and running for six months, Martin Matheson, owner of The Sheiling, near the village of Plockton, was awarded the top prize. His two-bedroom holiday let was also recognised as the winner in the Best View category.
The Sheiling is a luxury wooden lodge in a secluded location on the edge of its own loch. It has been carefully designed to seamlessly fit into its surroundings, with a circular grass-topped roof and a modern contemporary theme throughout.
The luxury holiday let boasts a lochside hot tub, a large wrap-around deck, and a private pier where guests have access to a small rowing boat.
Martin, who also owns a building company, purchased Loch Lundie in 2017 alongside his wife Mairi, finally opening its doors to holidaymakers in May of this year.
As well as Britain’s Best Holiday Let, smaller cash prizes were up for grabs for other categories including Best Renovation, Best Quirky Holiday Let, Best Sustainable Holiday Let and Best Interior Design.
View the full list of winners here .
Winners of the other categories included a converted 1880’s railway carriage in Essex, a rustic barn in Anglesey, and an eco-property in Perthshire, Scotland.
Properties were judged on a number of factors, including customer reviews, location and facilities on offer. Judges were also asked to consider if each property would be the first choice for holidaymakers looking for a staycation.
Martin said: “Taking on the project to purchase and build on Loch Lundie was a big decision, but we are so proud of what we’ve achieved. Winning an award like this, alongside lovely feedback from our guests, also helps to make it all so worth it."
Graham Donoghue, chief executive at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “These awards don’t just showcase the very best holiday lets, they also highlight the hard work that goes into holiday letting across the UK to make Britain’s staycation market the success it is today."
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