Fife, Scotland’s east coast; It’s awash with postcard fishing villages, the UK’s best fish and chips shops, and seafront saunas. It’s home to the quaint university town of St Andrews and – perhaps more famous – the world’s first and oldest golf course, which draws fans from the world over to play on its hallowed green, and the nearby town of Elie is a summertime favourite for Pimms and cricket on the beach.
In southern Fife, just 45 minutes from Edinburgh, and nestled in the middle of 750 acres of rolling open fields, is Banchory Farm. It’s a working farm, bought by the Cochran family in the 1930s and currently in its third generation of family ownership, with Jane, Jono and their children at the helm. While the farm still produces crops such as malting barley for whisky and grazes animals including Highland Cows (a visitor attraction in itself), the family’s latest venture has involved transforming Banchory farm into a chic holiday destination that invites guests to get off-grid (or at least feel like they are) and disconnect in one of six luxury accommodations.
Banchory Farm is becoming a fast favourite among the Scottish staycation community and the cottages are often fully-booked, so we’re delighted to secure a spot in The Dairy – a cosy cabin-like retreat which, as the name suggests, was where the farm’s dairy production took place in days gone by. These days, it’s a stylish hideaway that’s part ski chalet, part cabin in the woods. Designed for two people, it’s a snug studio-style room, where space is maximised by a pitched wooden beamed ceiling, opening the room to double-height, and a generous private garden overlooking the lush countryside.
The idea at Banchory Farm is to arrive, unpack and unwind. And within the garden sits a feature that truly sets The Dairy apart, and is one of the main draws for visitors: an outdoor jacuzzi bathtub for two. We waste no time preparing the bath, which sits under a wooden awning to ensure it can be used in all seasons.
Scotland in February is not for the faint hearted, but the sight of the steam rising from the bath in the bitter cold is too inviting to resist. As evening draws in, we light the pillar candles surrounding the bath, creating a spa-like ambiance where the only sounds are the wind rolling across the fields and the tweeting of night birds.
Banchory Farm gives the illusion of being in the middle of nowhere, when in actual fact it’s conveniently located just a short drive from several towns and the nearby shops of Kirkcaldy, where you’ll find all of the supplies you need. If you need a night away from self-catering, the towns of Queensferry, Burntisland and Kilconquer are awash with good quality dining options and coffee shops.
We, on the other hand, were in the mood for battening down the hatches and staying put, and the Dairy is well-equipped to facilitate hibernation. There’s a kitchen area with all the basics to prepare meals in-house, and it comes thoughtfully stocked with a welcome package of bread, milk, and eggs fresh from the farm. In addition to tea and coffee, there’s also luxury hot chocolate from Hotel Chocolat, complete with velvetiser machine for the more indulgent moments.
Far from a bare-bones self-catering option, it’s these decadent touches that secure Banchory Farm as a luxury destination:
The candles are Diptyque, the bathroom amenities come from luxury Scottish brand Laura Thomas, and the bed is adorned with linen sheets. Soft blankets are draped over pieces of furniture, and in the bathroom hanging robes are monogrammed with the farm’s initials.
The coffee table book selection promises long walks along the Scottish coast, wild experiences in the remotes of the Highlands, and an all-round sense of ‘coorie’ – a Scottish term akin to hygge, which encourages appreciating those glimmers of cosiness and warmth.
Making time for these moments is most certainly the aim at The Dairy and at Banchory Farm in general. We waste no time lighting the wood-burning stove at the centre of the room and settling down for the evening in front of its warmth (fire wood is provided for two fires, and can be purchased thereafter).
The fire also serves a practical purpose, providing warmth against the backdrop of rain and sleet outside, and it creates the perfect ambience to cook a hearty meal and open a bottle of wine, still rosy-cheeked from the outdoor bath.
As of spring 2025, work is underway on an exciting new development outside The Dairy. Banchory Farm is celebrating its success with expansion to a new wellness garden, which will feature a sauna, yoga area, and cold plunge bath. Scotland may not enjoy the climes of more southerly tourism destinations, so many properties have decided to embrace the opposite and provide a hospitality experience that centres on warmth, wellness, and rejuvenation. Banchory Farm is doing exactly this, and the new garden is sure to be an added draw for guests seeking rest and relaxation.
If winding down isn’t your thing, the Farm provides a personalised list of recommendations and activities to enjoy. This area has some of the finest dining options in Scotland, and a personal welcome pack from the family highlights some of their favourite local eateries. There’s a curated list of hiking and biking options, world-famous golf courses nearby, and whisky tasting within a stone’s throw.
At the time of our visit the farm is almost fully-booked, but we don’t come across another person throughout the entirety of our stay. The accommodations are self managed in terms of check in and check out, and guests are left to their own devices, but in the knowledge that help isn’t far away, with the family also living on the farm’s grounds.
The Dairy is one of the more bijou properties, designed for a romantic break or trip with a friend, but Banchory Farm caters just as well for larger group stays.
Drinkbetween East and West are converted farm workers’ cottages accommodating two and four guests respectively. Both are chic and well-appointed, and East boasts an outdoor Swedish wood-fired bath.
The Grieves Farmhouse is every inch quintessential Cottagecore. It’s a rural idyll in candy cane hues featuring ditsy-print window seats and terracotta herringbone floors. Features such as roll-top baths, wooden panelled walls, and a boot room inspire slow living.
The Drinkbetween Farmhouse offers the ultimate group escape, with large cooking and dining spaces, and a generous private garden to take in the sea air. And Weavers Cottage provides a charming family-sized hideaway with endless fields in one direction and sea views in the other. The cosy garden is a sun trap during the day and a snug patch with a fire pit and draped garland lights in the evening.
After a couple of days at The Dairy we feel quite at home. This is definitely the effect of having a family behind the scenes, leaving their personal touches on every surface. More than this, there’s a sense of stewardship in the running of the place that tells a story spanning generations. Banchory Farm’s proximity to Scotland’s main cities (Edinburgh is 45mins away and Glasgow just 1.5h) makes it easily accessible for a quick weekend trip or get-together. And the development of the new wellness garden brings a new incentive to make a return visit.
For now, though, all that’s left to do is light the candles for a final time and enjoy one last soak in the outdoor bath, sinking below the bitter sting of the east coast wind and into the warmth. The cobalt blue of twilight blurs the line between the horizon and the sky, and the fire faintly crackles inside.
If you’re wondering about the definition of coorie: this is it.
We stayed
for two nights in The Dairy at Banchory Farm, priced from £200 per night on a self-catering basis.
For best rates, make a booking through AirBnB.
This was a press stay – all opinions are our own.
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