There’s loads of kindness and generosity from many sectors across Scotland. That’s why Respitality in Scotland in partnership with the hospitality industry have joined forces and are offering a number of free activities and short breaks all over Scotland to unpaid carers.
In order to qualify for them, you must be registered as an unpaid carer. If any of the below sparks your interest, get in touch with us by emailing shortbreaks@anguscarers.org.uk and letting us know which activity you are interested in.
Due to high interest, we cannot guarantee availability.
We currently have the following short breaks available:
Accepting bookings from end of January.
One table, maximum of 6 persons, for lunch, on the available days they are open. Bookings have to be made in advance, no walk ins are accepted.
Please check the website for days they are open and availability before making your booking.
Food is all included, only pay for any drinks consumed.
Street level access, parking can be an issue. No car park available.
Dewars Aberfeldy Distillery would like to offer an unpaid carer and a companion a Complimentary Cask Tasting Tours with lunch in their café. Dewars have advised this offer is unlimited and ongoing so please take advantage where you can!
Terms & Conditions
Break off excludes travel and accommodation.
Strictly over 18s only. Children can accompany on the tour.
Subject to availability. Ideally mornings in summer season.
Arrival Times: April to October (Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday 12noon to 2pm) November to March: (Monday to Saturday 10am to 2pm, Sunday closed.)
Some rooms in the distillery don’t have wheelchair access. Lots of walking. Adjustments available. Full access statement available.
For bookings, please contact the team on vcarruther@bacardi.com or 01887 822010
Howe of Torbeg would like to offer one or two nights mid week stay (Sunday to Thursday) in their Juniper Shepherd’s Hut.
It can sleep 2 adults in a bespoke built platform raised Double bed with sprung mattress, and up to 2 children up to the age of 15 on Jay-Be fold away camp beds.
With a classic split opening stable door, you can make the most of the views even when you don’t feel like getting out of bed!
The Hut is different than the Pods as it is completely off-grid, for the full unplugged experience. Really switch off and get some downtime….
Super insulated, with a small but perfectly formed Hobbit wood burning stove; once the fire’s going it’s toasty warm! The Hut also has excellent solar lighting.
Diageo have offered Respitality tickets to their Glenkinchie Distillery Journey Flavour tour at their premises in Tranent.
To Book: request a code from Donald (one code is for 2 people), visit the site, select the date you want and add in the promo code provided. You can enquire through the link below with any questions you have: https://www.malts.com/en-row/distilleries/glenkinchie/tours#id=flavour-journey-march-april
Join us on a journey through Glenkinchie’s storied landscape and rich heritage, filled with passionate people and a quest to capture the essence of East Lothian through our flavourful field-to-glass whisky process.
Your full-sensory tour* culminates in a tutored whisky tasting of 3 drams and a wee cocktail in our Tasting Room – a delicious ending to a wonderful adventure at the Lowland Home of Johnnie Walker.
Please note that children under the age of 8 are not permitted on tours due to health & safety reasons. Children over the age of eight are welcome with a valid ticket.
For any guests wishing to drive ,we are pleased to offer a take-away pack for your tastings so you can safely enjoy these later.
*Note this tour is highly immersive and uses a combination of light, media, music, sensory moments and special effects that may not be suitable for all audiences. For information on accessibility at Glenkinchie please see our accessibility page for details to plan your visit. All wheelchair users are welcome to join us for a tour and your guide will offer an alternative to the elements of the tour which are not accessible. Please note that due to health and safety risk assessments, unfortunately we cannot accommodate motorised wheelchairs in certain working areas of the distillery during production Monday – Friday. For a fuller experience, we would recommend that motorised wheelchair users book for a tour on Saturday or Sunday when production does not take place to access more areas. Please note not all areas are accessible due to some stairs however we do have an alternative for the sections not accessible. If you have any queries or would like to discuss your visit please email glenkinchie@malts.com and a member of the team will be in touch.
Historic Environment Scotland are working in collaboration with Respitality on their Historic Sundays campaign, which offers Scottish residents free visits to all of their properties on the first Sunday of each month between October 2024 and March 2025.
All the below sites are participating:
Aberdour Castle
Arbroath Abbey
Blackness Castle
Bothwell Castle
Caerlaverock Castle
Craigmillar Castle
Dirleton Castle
Doune Castle
Dryburgh Abbey
Duff House
Dumbarton Castle
Dunstaffnage Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Elgin Cathedral
Fort George
Huntingtower Castle
Huntly Castle
Inchmahome Priory (October only)
Jedburgh Abbey
Linlithgow Palace
Lochleven Castle (October only)
Maeshowe
Melrose Abbey
Rothesay Castle
Skara Brae
St Andrews Castle
Stirling Castle
Tantallon Castle
Urquhart Castle
Pre booking on the site is essential, and tickets will be subject to availability.
How to book: Firstly, claim on the portal how many you plan to book. Secondly, book the tickets for Sunday 1st December on their webpage www.historicsundays.scot (please note bookings will not be live until Monday 18th November 2024).
Bookings can be taken for 2 adults and 6 children. Group bookings can be also be considered (drop us an email if this is something you would like to explore). As always, subject to availability and no restriction on what location you choose to visit or amount of breaks you claim, first come first serve.
Hostelling Scotland are delighted to offer 10 x2 nights stays for unpaid carers, see full details below:
• 10 x 2 nights stays with breakfast for up to 4 people
• At a hostel of the carers choice (see locations on website)
• Bookings subject to availability
• Bookings can be made at any location, subject to availability except during the festive and New Year
period when there is no availability
• Ideally bookings to be made before 31st January 2025
• https://www.hostellingscotland.org.uk/
1week stay in Oban (Jan-Mar 25) for up to 4 people
A week’s stay at the Hameart Holiday Flat run by Oban Charitable Trust has been donated to Respitality between January to March 2025 (subject to availability).
The maximum occupancy is 4 persons, in one twin room and a sofabed. Check in Fridays 3pm and check out Friday 10am.
Bookings are taken for a full week, but guests are not obligated to stay a full week – they can choose to stay for a shorter period within the booked dates.
T&Cs/ACCESS INFO:
They do not accept pets other than Registered Service Dogs
Although the flat is ground floor and has some aids such as grab rails, it is not fully accessible. The main difficulties presented to those with mobility issues are the external flight of steps between the parking area and the ground floor, and the narrow hallway.
