Sandhaven

Walk through the front door of Sandhaven and you're in a first-floor apartment carved from a converted school building in the village of Culross. The living room looks out towards the water and the National Trust palace; the kitchen and dining space flow from it. Upstairs you'll find the main bedroom with a king bed, bathroom with bath and shower, and a second bedroom with two single beds. Everything for a self-catering break is here—the kitchen is properly equipped, heating and hot water are covered, and Wi-Fi runs throughout.

Culross itself is a coastal village of cobbled streets, painted townhouses and medieval red-tiled roofs that has stood for centuries. The Fife Coastal Path runs through it, offering walks along the shoreline to nature reserves and other villages; the beach is three miles away. A pub is within a mile. One dog stays free. The property has a shared garden with seating, and on-street parking plus free public car parks nearby. You're half an hour from Stirling by car, and Edinburgh Airport is accessible via park and ride. No smoking inside.