For an energetic Christmas, why not walk the Fife Coastal Path from Edinburgh? Running through Dunfermline District between North Queensferry close to the Forth Road Bridge and Aberdour, the walk is around eight miles long and follows an easy path.

You’ll stay for two nights in hotel accommodation in the city of Edinburgh, close to the old town. On your walking day you will be provided with a rail ticket from Edinburgh Waverley rail station to North Queensferry. You then start the walk in the shadow of the famous Forth Bridges. 

The walk meanders around the Fife coastline passing through the villages of Jamestown and past grand houses such as Donibristle House built in the 17th century and St Bridget’s Kirk constructed in the 12th or 13th century. You’ll also have great views out to Inchcolm Island with its Augustinian monastery abandoned after the reformation in 1560. You finish the walk at Aberdour, with its ruined castle, where you catch the train to return you to Edinburgh city centre.

Arrive any day and stay for two nights, although it’s possible to alter the number of nights to fit your schedule. The package includes accommodation and breakfast, and rail travel. Single occupancy from £211; shared per person from £125. This can also be organised as a cycle ride.

  For more info visit www.xplorebritain.com/vacdata.asp?code=ES02 

The Roxburghe, situated in Kelso in the Scottish Borders, has just introduced a golf and spa break specifically for women.

The package includes a round of golf on the Championship Course followed by a leisurely lunch by the fire in the library before a luxurious treatment in the hotel’s own spa. Round your day off with dinner prepared by the hotel’s award-winning chef.

If you have time before heading home, enjoy a complimentary tour of nearby Floors Castle.

Prices start from £154, based on two people sharing a twin/double room, with complimentary early morning tea delivered to your room.

  For more info call 01573 450 331

For a train journey with a difference, take a trip with Great Rail Journeys’ new seven-day Caledonian Christmas tour, departing on December 22. 

After an overnight stay in Edinburgh, you’ll set off to Crieff and the Glenturret Distillery, where there’ll be a demonstration on the production of Famous Grouse and the chance to taste some of the distillery’s best malts. The tour then continues to Inverness for a four-night stay.

Highlights include a Christmas Eve journey on the famous Kyle Line, followed by a coach tour of the Isle of Skye; free time on Christmas Day to explore the local surroundings; a Boxing Day trip along the shores of Loch Ness with a visit to the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, and live evening entertainment on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The tour returns to Edinburgh on a journey through the Cairngorms via Aviemore and Kingussie. A free afternoon and an overnight stay mean you can get to know the Scottish capital.

The tour costs £895 per person, twin-share, inclusive of six nights’ hotel accommodation, transfers, excursions, plus the services of a tour manager.

  For more info call 01904 527 180 or visit www.GreatRail.com 

Cottages4You provides over 9000 holiday cottages across the UK and has a range of properties to suit every size of family from two to 30! The portfolio of unique cottages ranges from farmhouses and converted barns to schoolhouses and castles. There are hundreds of gorgeous properties in Scotland — perfect for a Christmas break.
Prices start at £264 for seven nights.

  For more info visit www.cottages4you.co.uk

If you really want to treat yourself, Unique Home Stays offers luxury breaks and will find you the perfect holiday home for parties up to 18. Prestigious properties in Scotland include private country houses, castles and coastal holiday homes. Prices start at £350 per person per night.

  For more info visit www.uniquehomestays.com or call 01637 881942.

The National Trust for Scotland offers unusual and beautiful self-catering holiday accommodation, which will also support their conservation work in Scotland — all proceeds return to the estate where you stay. 
Choose from castles or crofts, lodges or lighthouses, country cottages or city apartments. If your holiday activities include hillwalking, beachcombing, sightseeing, walking the dog or just reading by an open fire, The National Trust for Scotland has something for you. Perfect for a festive getaway, prices start at around £500 for a week.

  For more info visit www.nts.org.uk/Holidays/ 

Ardanaiseig Hotel, a 19th century baronial manor overlooking Loch Awe, is the perfect place to make Christmas something special, offering a four-day Christmas experience to remember, beginning on December 23 with a champagne and canapé reception and dinner. 

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a candlelight carol service at Kilchrenan Kirk, before a glass of mulled wine and a special Christmas Eve dinner. Guests can attend church again on Christmas morning or sit in front of the fire with a glass of champagne, before a traditional six-course Christmas lunch. A Scottish tea follows in the late afternoon, and the day ends with a seafood buffet for dinner. 

Boxing Day is traditionally the time to get outdoors and work off the Christmas dinner, and Ardanaiseig offers a great range of ways to do just that. With a treasure hunt through the beautiful grounds, the chance to walk through the tree-lined Victorian gardens and organised clay pigeon shooting, there is something for everyone. For those who want to stay inside, the games room is perfect for a snooker game or family board games. There will be a light lunch in the drawing room, followed later by another black tie dinner in the dining-room. 

Christmas packages range from £886-£1041 per person. 

  For more info visit www.ardanaiseig.com 

The 450-year-old Fernie Castle Hotel in Fife is situated in 17 acres of woodland and has its own loch. The Treehouse Suite, perched in sycamores in the hotel grounds, is a fairytale place to stay at any time of the year but especially magical at Christmas. 

The bedroom has a huge elm king-size bed and other handmade furniture, flat screen TV, DVD, CD player and coffee maker, plus a fridge full of champagne, chocolates and other goodies.

Climbing up what appears to be the inside of a hollow tree, you emerge into an octagonal bathroom with walls painted twilight blue and a frieze of fairies who flit among trees overhanging pools of water. In the centre sits a huge slipper bath under a chandelier of leaves and flowers.

There are three balconies, one of which even has a swing.

Prices start from £475 per night for two persons including five-course dinner at the castle, continental breakfast served in the treehouse, champagne, cheese platter, soft drinks, biscuits and chocolate. 

  For more info visit www.ferniecastle.demon.co.uk 

Ballathie House Hotel in Perthshire offers a choice of a two or three-night festive break. 

On Christmas Eve enjoy an afternoon tea buffet by the fireside, pre-dinner cocktails and a special Christmas Eve dinner, followed by a watch night service at nearby Kinclaven Church.

On Christmas Day, wake up to a Christmas morning breakfast, relax and enjoy the day, until 3.30 pm when afternoon tea is later followed by Christmas dinner.

On Boxing Day, after breakfast spend the day at leisure until afternoon tea and dinner.

Two nights start from £360 per person, three nights from £460. Prices include dinner, room, breakfast and afternoon tea.

  For more info visit www.ballathiehousehotel.com  or call 01250 883268.

Details of all breaks correct at time of going to press and subject to availability.