Mother’s Day is next Sunday, and whilst it’s relatively straightforward to pick up a thoughtful gift from a shopping centre or an online giant, it’s equally possible to purchase a hand-crafted creation, a slice of luxury, a piece of artwork, or support a small producer, artist or business, with a gift that truly stands out. For those who savour life in the country, the items below are a breath of fresh air. 

HOMEWARES - To make the house a stylish home, Cath Waters’ escapist creations capture the landscape of Scotland in beautifully practical pieces. Cushions, coasters, mugs and placemats that celebrate crisp winter days, rain storms, and Scotland’s more 'colourful' weather. They also successfully capture the solitude and calm of isolated, rugged locations. Cath got much of her inspiration from camper van travels around the west coast. Now she designs homewares out of her studio and workshop in Grangemouth. Products are available online at cathwaters.scot or in Scottish gift shops such as Teasel & Tweed in Aberdeen. Coasters retail at £12, table mats for £12, mugs at £12, and cushions (duck feather filled with washable covers) are £45.

JEWELLERY - For bespoke jewellery and unique pieces, head to the Isle of Islay, the inspirational home of artist Sarah Brown. After studying at the Glasgow School of Art, and achieving a first class honours in Jewellery and Silversmithing, Sarah moved to the Inner Hebrides. “All my work is based on the Scottish coastline so living right by the sea is the perfect location for my work”, she says. The Tidal Treasures collection is a name given to all pieces Sarah can imagine being plucked from the deep blue sea: tiny dot details cover a lot of the jewellery, reminiscent of the sea foam seen atop waves or washed up on the beach on wild days. Other collections are inspired by the sinuous forms of seaweed and kelp. Order online at sarahbrownjewellery.com, with prices starting at £42. 

BEAUTY PRODUCTS - For toiletries we’re heading to Heather Hills Honey Farm in Perthshire, specialists in this sweet field since 1945. The honey is collected using traditional methods to ensure that the enzymes, protein and natural goodness of the product are preserved. Honey is known for its richly nourishing, restorative and soothing properties, making it ideal for lotions and body products. In terms of scent, the products have top notes of bergamot and orange blossom, heart notes of jasmine and neroli, and base notes of sandalwood and amber. The Hand Wash is priced at £18 and the Hand Lotion is £20, both available at nobleisle.com.

CERAMICS - Inspiration for Jo Walker’s work almost always comes from nature. She describes herself as an avid collector of ‘stuff’; with pockets bulging after a walk on the beach, full of nuggets and gems to draw inspiration from. Her ceramics are decorated using a technique called sgraffito: the clay body of the piece is coated in a contrasting coloured layer of clay that is scratched through to reveal the clay body beneath. Scottish snowdrops, thistles and dandelions decorate jugs, vases, planters, bowls, mugs and beakers. Jo works from a small pottery studio in Fife, and her creations are available at her Etsy shop, etsy.com/shop/jowalkerceramics, with prices starting at £16.

FOOD & DRINK - For a taste of the countryside visit Gordon Castle in Morayshire. Known widely for its gin, it also produces sought after gin liqueurs, rich with plums and raspberries fresh from its historic Walled Garden. The raspberry liqueur is described as possessing a ‘delicate sweetness, crisp acidity and floral lavender from the natural fruit infusion’, and works well over ice or to spice up a glass of prosecco. The plum liqueur, meanwhile, ‘is a voluptuous and herbaceous liqueur with a bittersweet finale’. Available at gordoncastlescotland.com, the liqueurs retail at £30.25.

CLOTHING - Dubarry Longford waterproof leather country boots offer an urban look that works for the country set. Made with water-resistant DryFast-DrySoft leathers and Gore-Tex liner, they are practical for rural life, yet sophisticated and modern enough for stepping out in the heart of the city. Looking equally at home with jeans and a sloppy t-shirt, or smart tweeds, they suit a day at the office or a day hunting, moving between rural and metropolitan scenes with ease. Longford boots retail at £379.00 from dubarryboots.com.

RURAL ESCAPE - Scottish Island Hotel for the past two years, Skeabost House on the Isle of Skye is the perfect place to treat mum to a break away from it all. The eighteen bedroom hotel near Portree is offering bed, breakfast and a Mother’s Day carvery lunch with a glass of prosecco or non-alcoholic cocktail on Saturday 10 or Sunday 11 March for £160 per room, subject to availability. The current building began life as a hunting lodge in 1871, and it’s situated in 23 acres of woodland, with views out to sea and towards crofting hamlets. Its Pier Rooms offer loch views, each with their own deck area and outdoor seating. Let mum cosy up by the fire in the drawing room, relax in the bright morning room, or indulge in a cocktail in the whisky bar. ‘The Misty Isle’ is easily reached by ferry from Mallaig or a short drive across the Skye Bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh. Book at skeabosthotel.com.

PERSONAL TOUCH - For a personalised, luxurious gift Johnstons of Elgin make the softest cashmere accessories, and for an extra £5 per letter, it’s possible to embroider mum’s initials, with up to three monogrammed characters available online. Products available range from gloves and scarves, to socks and hats, with prices starting at £35. johnstonscashmere.com

It’s time to thank mum for all the meals prepared, grazed knees cleaned, tears wiped away and sleepless nights endured. And for any Mums reading this, if you sense this message may not filter through to your loving offspring, then perhaps it’s time to simply treat yourself.