Coldingham, a pretty conservation village on southeast Scotland’s coastline, has long been a favourite with surfers and beach-lovers alike. Situated just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, this sleepy little village has much to offer, namely one of its newest arrivals – and our home for the night – the ironically-titled Rambleshack. Catchy it may be, but the ‘shack’ in the title belies a high-end glamping pad, situated at the bottom of Katie and Richard’s garden.

The new-age pod-cum-upturned boat design is as slick on the outside as it is within. Carefully crafted, the Rambleshack has all the comforts of home in its relatively small, marginally bigger than a wigwam, space, with a TV (with Sky), DVD player, iPod dock and Wi-Fi. The aim here is to create the intimacy of a B&B with the privacy of a holiday let – a feat the Rambleshack easily achieves. A table and two-couch formation, complete with pretty scatter cushions, transforms into either two singles or a double, and while the non-DIY inclined (such as this useless List-er) took a moment to piece it together, the end result is a comfy space to lay your head.

Although nestled at the bottom of a garden, there is a definite sense of privacy here, with your very own BBQ decking and a table and chairs hidden away from the view of the house. And it’s the small touches that make Rambleshack work. A wet room-cum-WC is compact but effective, while the marble slate effect of the wash basin is nicely decked with surrounding cups, wine glasses and plates to make your stay as easy as possible. BYO rates allow you to play ‘camper’, bringing your own sleeping bag and towels, while the Snug, at £20 a night more, includes all your creature comforts (fluffy towels, toiletries and crisp bed linen) and a breakfast hamper complete with bacon roll, muesli, yogurt, fresh juice and a flask of tea or coffee (tasty enough to justify the price alone).

The surrounding area is the real star here, with Coldingham Bay just a ten-minute walk – and even when it’s pouring down (as it was during our visit), you can see what brings flocks of visitors to the area. Coldingham Sands is the largest beach on the bay, its Blue Flag status making it a popular go-to for body boarders and surfers. And nearby St Abbs is also a must (and not just because the Scottish sun made an appearance for us). There’s a great four-or-so mile walk from the Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve, along the 90m cliffs, formed millions of years ago by active volcanoes, to St Abb’s Head lighthouse. The views are incredible, the walks manageable, and even those so-so about nature watching will be impressed by the seabird colony and its offerings, from guillemots, and kittiwakes to puffins and shearwaters.

The Rambleshack, Coldingham, www.therambleshack.com Prices start from £55 per night.