Family escape to the woods: our log cabin adventure in Strathyre

Some holidays feel like they’re plucked from a lifestyle magazine. Others are a touch more… real. Our recent family getaway to Forest Holidays Strathyre in Scotland firmly fell into the latter. Think loch views, laughter, a few wasps too many, and the occasional glass of red wine to keep things in perspective.

A log cabin tucked among the trees

There’s something wildly romantic about arriving at a wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere. The Strathyre site, Ben Ledi, doesn’t disappoint. The air feels cleaner, the trees taller, and the signal weaker, which, for once, is exactly what I needed.

Our lodge was warm and surprisingly modern inside, all Scandi-style oak wood and big windows that made you feel as though nature was leaning in. The hot tub on the deck sealed the deal. Of course, within minutes, the kids had taken full ownership of it while the rest of us worked out which bedroom had the best view.

On arrival, the hunter-gatherer dads made a tactical 30-minute retreat to Callandar to pick up the shopping for our short stay. Bags of basics, snacks, and a few indulgent extras arrived just in time to stock the cabin kitchen, leaving the rest of us free to settle in. 

For our first night, we went the easy route and pre-ordered pizzas – and the timing couldn’t have been better. They arrived, piping hot, with garlic bread and raspberry ripple ice cream right on cue, as we were too tired to cook. There’s something deliciously satisfying about sitting in a cabin, forest all around, and eating pizza. 

The reality of woodland life

Now, it was beautiful. But not entirely peaceful. The forest came alive with wasps at the smell of our Persian BBQ. Hundreds of them. And while I understand they’re part of the ecosystem, they’re not ideal when you have small children trying to enjoy their mirza ghasemi in peace without becoming a moving target. 

Every time we fired up the grill for our jujeh (chicken) kebabs, the wasps appeared, buzzing around the skewers, they seemed to rate the saffron marinade with particular gusto. Sidesteping them while we tried to turn the chicken without attracting an aerial assault became its own kind of entertainment, frustrating and funny. 

Still, there’s something about being in the woods with your friends that makes you accept nature’s imperfections. You light the barbecue, and just pour the wine.

Adventures on the loch

One of the highlights of our stay was canoeing on Loch Lubnaig. Our friend, bless her, bravely joined Cyrus and me on the water despite not being able to swim. As I paddled (badly) and tried to look confident with my oar, I was silently calculating how fast I could grab her if we capsized. It turns out it wasn’t just us who struggled, one poor soul actually fell in and had to be rescued. It was all very dramatic, but thankfully everyone lived to tell the tale, albeit he was a bit soggier than before.

It’s fair to say canoeing on a Scottish loch is not quite as effortless as it looks on Instagram. The water glistens, the views are breathtaking, but your sense of direction will vanish the moment you drift from shore. Still, that sense of shared adventure, and mild peril is what makes family trips so memorable.

So many activities to try

Cyrus and his friends quickly discovered the pottery café and how to order hot chocolate piled high with cream. While swirling brushes through metallic paints, Cyrus and his friend Termeh chatted, laughed, and debated which colours made the perfect squirrel or the quirkiest cat. By the end of our stay, we had amassed quite the motley collection of little painted critters, each one a testament to cocoa-fuelled creativity, and a very happy little gang. Clearly, the café was a huge success. We would have loved to try archery too, but we just didn’t have time for everything.

The day Cyrus learned to ride a bike

We did hire bicycles, which sounded idyllic in theory. In practice, my heart was in my mouth watching Cyrus wobble along the gravel path for the first time. But within minutes, thanks to our Persian friend Sadegh, who loves a spin class – he was cycling like he’d been born in the saddle. 

After that, he rode through dappled sunlight, stopped for ice creams (see: wasps), and soaked up the kind of scenery that makes you forget deadlines, inboxes and school runs exist.

Rain, rocks and painted hands

In true Scottish fashion, the sunshine didn’t last. So when the drizzle arrived, we made our own fun. Down by the loch, we collected smooth, pretty stones to paint later. The kids painted their hands too, of course, because no art session is complete without someone smearing purple across their palms. Indoors, they built elaborate dens using sofa cushions, while the dads, unsurprisingly, returned to the hot tub.

It was that kind of trip, a blend of calm, laughter and mess, and those quiet moments in between where you remember why you came.

Evenings in the forest

After the little ones went to bed, we’d sit downstairs wrapped in blankets, listening to the whisper of the trees and the occasional distant splash from the loch. There was wine, of course. A lot of it. The kind that tastes better in the woods, when you’ve earned it with a day of wrangling oars and bikes and wasps.

By the end of the weekend, I felt that strange mix of exhaustion and peace that only comes from time well spent in nature. Forest Holidays may not promise five-star glamour, but what it delivers is space to breathe, connect, and be unapologetically offline.

Would we go back?

Absolutely. Maybe armed with a better canoeing technique and a few extra citronella candles. Strathyre reminds you that family life is about the shared stories, the muddy shoes, and those perfectly imperfect moments that become your favourites.

What to pack for a Strathyre cabin break

Here’s my personal packing list for a family weekend at Strathyre:

• • • A few dishwasher tablets
    • Extra toilet rolls
    • Paper towels & sponge
    • Coffee
    • Waterproofs – essential in Scotland
    • Fishing nets
    • Bubbles
    • Water balloons
    • Shampoo & conditioner (I bring my favourites)
    • Games
    • Books to read
    • Swimsuit for the hot tub
    • Gloves for canoeing
    • Torches
    • Umbrella
    • Wellies

Pack smart, and you’ll spend less time worrying and more time paddling, cycling, or sipping wine under the stars.

For more of my travel tips, head to my For You page.