Best UK Christmas breaks

Festive Highland fling, Aberdeenshire

Take the extended family and even the dog to this six-bedroom Victorian house in the Scottish Highlands. Glenbardie House in Ballater, Aberdeenshire has a large well-equipped kitchen and spacious lounge with open fire. After opening presents, send the kids on a treasure hunt through the walled garden and small tower room, or to play pool in the games room. If the snow hits, you're not far from the Scottish ski resorts, and the Cairngorns, Balmoral Castle and the Whisky and Heritage Trails are nearby, too. Seven nights from 21 December, £2,000, sleeps 12 (£166pp), self-catering.

Find out more

Click here for details of Glenbardie House. Hoseasons, 0844 847 1100, www.hoseasons.co.uk, has more than 12,000 self-catering properties in Britain, Ireland and Europe.