Our Blog

I’ve lived on the island of Mallorca for over seventeen years, arriving from Scotland after falling in love with a Mallorcan. We lived in a rural area known as Es Pla – the fertile plain at the centre of the island - and during my first few years there I learnt the language by immersion, gave birth to three boys and had a crash course in Mallorcan culture including wine making, becoming familiar with the old tales called Rondaies and the folk tunes sung to the traditional drum the ximbomba.  We grew our own fruit and vegetables, had solar panels and water from our own well and I began to develop an English language school using art, music and drama, working only with Mallorcans in the local area.

We write to you from Gavinburn Cottages, five fantastic self-catering country cottages, set high in the Kilpatrick Hills. They all enjoy stunning views of the River Clyde and are only ten minutes from Glasgow and Loch Lomond.

Claudia Bicego is one of the owners of Sovigliano, a wonderful farmhouse conversion in Chianti, Tuscany, which has four B&B rooms and four apartments.  The farmhouse is set on a large piece of land with wonderful views, and guests share use of the swimming pool and grounds, and can get all their meals on site.  A week in an apartment costs from 700 euros.

A recent addition to the One Off Places portfolio, The Invergarry is a brand new luxury retreat in the Scottish Highlands.  Luxurious, private and contemporary, it's an exquisite bolthole, designed just for two, with a private hot tub and surrounded by magical scenery.  Once a gardener`s cottage in the early 1900s, the Invergarry has been imaginatively converted into a sumptuous retreat for two.  Combining original features with modern ones, and offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily love, it's a wonderful escape.

Kate Bissett, author of this week's guest blog, looks after a collection of One Off Places in Andalucia, Spain.  Ranging from little mountain cottages and garden apartments, to stylish villas and village houses, she can offer something for everyone.  Kate is also very knowledgeable about the area, and knows 'all things Estepona', hence this blog post, which is sure to inspire you to visit this lovely part of Spain.