Inside an Introvert’s Cosy Cottage in Rural Scotland

Some people find this corner of Scotland harsh or bleak, but it has always felt good to us. Warm, in a very human way. Still, we have to admit we have never felt quite as cosy here as we did in Rachel’s home in rural Aberdeenshire.

Rachel Dougherty is an introvert, like half of our team, so talking and sitting in silence felt equally easy. Her home is a restored farmhouse from the 1860s that was once very close to falling apart.

Rachel, born and bred in these parts, returned here after fifteen years living and building a career in London’s fashion world. Life in this secluded doll’s house, in pastoral Scottish countryside, with only deer and Highland cows for neighbours, feels very far from the pace of the capital.

And this is where Rachel is happy now: close to her mum, dad, sister, nieces, and the local community.

We spent just one day with Rachel and her cat Dizzy, but it did not take long to feel part of her world. We joined her Saturday morning class, met her coach, her mum, the café barista, and plenty of friendly locals along the way.

After ten hours of filming, we’d earned Dizzy’s trust, shared quiche for dinner with Rachel while watching an episode of Seinfeld, and felt completely at home.

How Rachel managed to turn her house into such a cloud of cosiness — she’ll tell you herself.

In Their Own Words: Rachel on Coming Home

My name is Rachel Dougherty, and I am a freelance handbag designer.

My house is cosy, colourful, and characterful. All the C’s. I have two bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom, and downstairs a bedroom with my living room, a shower room, and a utility room which serves as my kitchen at the moment.

I bought the cottage when I was still living in London, in 2021. I didn’t move until October 2023. I spent some time ripping it out and getting it ready to start the renovation. This is my second full year living here.

My cottage is from the 1860s, so it’s been around a long time. It’s a traditional granite farmhouse that would have been home to local farmers.

The cladding gives instant character and texture. That’s definitely how it would have been in one of these old cottages back in the day.

I call my cottage Quine and Loon Cottage. In lockdown I had a small little brand making cushions and scrunchies — a way to be creative and express myself. I always wanted to call a brand Quine and Loon. It’s Doric: Quine means girl and Loon means boy.

This cottage was cold and damp, with woodworm and rot, and needed completely redoing. I’ve brought it back to life and made it warm, safe, and habitable again.

The most challenging thing has been the cost. When I started, prices went up and I had to make changes. It means I haven’t been able to do as much as I’d hoped, but it forces you to make different decisions, use different materials, and rethink your plans (which sometimes works out well).

Living here feels like living in an adult doll’s house. When I was younger, I would always draw my dream home — a cottage with two windows at the bottom, two at the top, and a really fun coloured front door. It’s always been a dream to have my own house where I can design freely and add colour and pattern.

I don’t need to be precious about anything. I can do, within reason, whatever I like.

I grew up in this area, in Aberdeenshire. We lived just outside Banchory in a little village called Finzean. It was a really tiny village, and the primary school had about 40 pupils in total.

I knew I wanted to move away and experience new things. I lived in London for about fifteen years. After lockdown, I just had this feeling that I wanted to move home.

My mum and dad are here, my sister and my two nieces are here — they’re super important to me. I just knew it was time for me to come home. So I started looking.

I was a bit worried about moving back to Aberdeenshire, but I’ve not had any second thoughts. It’s perfect. It’s how it was meant to be; I was meant to be back here. It’s quieter, it’s calmer, and that’s what’s right for me now.

I wanted a project. I knew what I would be able to afford, but I also wanted to make it exactly how I want it. This cottage ticked all the boxes.

As soon as I saw this one, I just knew — this was it. My sister viewed a few places for me. Then I came and viewed it myself, and it was perfect.

I was headstrong. Even though the house needed a lot of work, I knew I could do it. I knew I’d do whatever it took to make it what I wanted it to be.

I love having no neighbours. I wanted my house to be quite isolated, with a little bit of land and garden. After living in London, it’s nice to put the music on. I can hoover at whatever hour (not that I do much cleaning). The point is I can do whatever I want.

Being here is my safe space, my sanctuary. Whenever I go away, I’m thinking about when I’m going to come home. I feel really lucky that I have that. It’s truly special.

I’m a morning person. I wake up really early.

My typical day starts with doing something active. It’s important for my brain and my mental health, so I go to the gym or go to my jazzercise class. Then I come back and start work.

In the evenings, I’m usually pottering around in the garden, crafting, or making something. I like having small projects to keep my brain busy, and I love planning the next thing to do in the house.

My days are quiet and slow — just how I want them to be. I value calmness.

When I first moved back, I needed a reason to get out of the house. I’d be spending a lot of time by myself — I’ve never had a problem with being alone, I’m quite solitary. I’d say I’m a bit of a hermit.

I like to relax snuggled up on the sofa watching a film, making something, listening to podcasts, or going for a walk.

I try to make the days feel much longer. You get long winters, so I make the most of the summers and late nights. On summer nights, it’s lovely to walk outside and go and see the cows.

I exercise every day, every morning. It starts the day off really good for me. I usually have a Sunday off. Saturday I’ll do jazzercise in the morning.

I started jazzercise because my mum and sister went and were always raving about it, so I thought I’d give it a go. Classes are easier because there’s accountability: you’ve signed up and you show up. There are lots of really lovely women there, and I’ve made friends. It’s a community I’m genuinely happy to be part of.

Some days it’s me, my mum, and my sister at jazzercise. I really cherish those moments. I was away for so long that even bumping into my parents in the village or in Tesco makes me excited.