(CNN) -- As the world watched and waited for little Prince George to make his royal way into the world in London, Queen Elizabeth II was among those wishing the baby would hurry up. The reason? "I'm going on holiday," the queen said days before the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to the future king on July 22. Thankfully, Prince George was born just in time for the queen to begin her official holiday last week at the royal family's Scottish retreat, Balmoral Castle. The queen and members of the royal family will spend the next two months at her 50,000-acre estate in the Scottish highlands. The castle was originally built by Queen Victoria and by all accounts of both historians and those who work on the estate, it holds a very special place in the queen's heart. That's likely because it offers her a level of privacy that she cannot find anywhere else.
@highlight
Cottages on the grounds of Balmoral Castle are available to the public for rent
@highlight
The royal estate in the Scottish highlands is a favorite retreat of Queen Elizabeth II
@highlight
Sightings of the royal family are possible for visitors to the estate
@highlight
The cozy cottages are more rustic than the royal digs
It took a minute to realize that the elderly woman walking the dogs was @placeholder