Here’s How To Go On Holiday To Scotland For Free
1. Kearvaig Bothy, Isle of Skye.
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This stunning bothy beside Kearvaig Bay in Cape Wrath is owned by the Ministry of Defence, has an open fire, and it’s completely free to use. More info here.
2. Black Isle Brewery, Munlochy, Inverness-shire.
This friendly organic brewery always needs extra helpers for light bottling, labelling, and capping duties. And if you help out, you get free lodging and beer.
3. Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, Shetland.
The owners of this beautiful sanctuary in the grounds of a 400-year-old house care for hundreds of injured wild animals every year, including seal pups, turtles, and abandoned baby otters, and provide free accommodation to volunteers.
4. Cream o’Galloway Farm, Kircudbright.
This dairy farm has a visitor centre and restaurant, and they offer free meals, free accommodation, and free ice cream(!) in return for a hand with the cows.
5. Corrour Mountain Bothy, Aberdeenshire.
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This renovated bothy is run by a UK outdoor charity, and it’s right beside the majestic Coire Odhar. It’s free to stay in, but pretty basic. More info here.
6. Corrary Farm, Glenelg.
This beautiful little farm is situated in a quiet glen. They grow organic vegetables, as well as selling coffee and snacks from a vintage Showman’s wagon. Visitors take turns running the wee coffee shop in return for free accommodation.
7. Blair Castle, Perthshire.
Keeping a huge country estate running isn’t easy, so the owners of this amazing 12th-century castle offer free bed and board to anyone who’s willing to help out with various tasks, like repairing fences or marshalling at their horse events.
8. Scalpay Private Island, Isle of Skye.
This amazing, tiny family-owned island is home to the historic Scalpay House, and four holiday cottages like the one pictured. You can stay for free, more info here.
9. Transition Turriefield, Sandness, Shetland.
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The owners of this organic business run Britain’s most northerly veg box scheme from a 50-acre croft situated in the far west mainland of Shetland. They need helpers to pack the boxes and help with their 90 hens in return for a free bed.
10. Camasunary Bothy, Isle of Skye.
Camasunary is one of the most popular bothies in Scotland, and with a setting like this you can see why. It’s recently been upgraded, too. More info here.
11. Royal Mile Backpackers Hostel, Edinburgh.
In return for 14 hours of cleaning per week, the owners of this well-reviewed, extremely central hostel in Edinburgh will let you stay in a staff room for free. Bargain.
12. Chisholme House, Hawick.
This amazing 187-acre estate and stately home in the Scottish Borders is home to an organic garden and is run as a retreat and education centre. Visitors can stay for freein return for help with cooking, dry stone walling, and tree planting.
13. Attadale House and Gardens, Wester Ross.
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This gorgeous house and country estate has a huge garden that’s open to the public, plus four holiday cottages. If you help the owners with various tasks, you get a cottage of your own, lifts to the local shops, and a free bike to use.
14. Cullen Harbour Hostel, Cullen, Moray.
You can stay at this beautiful and popular wee 14-bed hostel in the north of Scotland for free if you help the owners with their organic garden. More info here.
15. Balcraggie House, Glenelg.
This old manse has been converted into a B&B, and the owners Donna and Eddie need help with various tasks in return for accommodation. Find out more here.
16. Dalreoch Farm Estate, Amulree, South Ayrshire.
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Irish entrepreneur Tam O’Braan set up Scotland’s very first ever tea plantation, and now the tea is sold in Fortnum and Mason. Tam is happy to let people stay on the Estate for free in a cottage if they lend a hand with tea-related tasks.
17. The Green House, Glenelg.
The owners of this adorable holiday cottage need help with its upkeep, and in return you can stay with them. It’s built on a hill overlooking the sea to the Isle of Skye, and also looks down the Sound of Sleat to Ardnamurchan Point.
18. Earshader Croft on the Isle of Lewis.
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The couple who run this 21-acre croft on the east coast of the Isle of Lewis need some help with tree planting. In return, you can stay there for free. More info here.
19. The Lookout Bothy, Rubha Hunish, Isle of Skye.
This truly fantastic wooden bothy is a former coastguard watch station with 360° views. Sure, it might be a wee bit draughty, but with a view like this you’ll never, ever want to leave. And as it’s free, you don’t really need to.
Hilary Mitchell is the Scotland editor and is based in Edinburgh.
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