The 1 to 5 star range is awarded to Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Guest Houses, Inns, Lodges, Restaurants with Rooms, and Self Catering Cottages & Apartments.  

VS recognise a range of different type of accommodation 
A guest house normally has at least 4 letting bedrooms, some with ensuite or private facilities. It is usually run as a commercial business. Breakfast is available and evening meals may be provided. 
B&B (Bed and Breakfast) provides bed and breakfast, normally in a private house. They usually have no more than 6 guests, and may or may not serve an evening meal.
Farmhouse is bed and breakfast / guest house accommodation on a working farm or small holding.
A Hotel normally has at min. of 20 letting bedrooms, of which most have ensuite (meaning within the confines of the room area) or private facilities (external to the room but for your sole use. shared facilities normally mean that you will be sharing a bath / toilet /shower room with at least one other party). They serve breakfast, dinner and, normally, lunch, and usually have a drinks licence (although it may be a restricted one). 
A Small Hotel normally has a min. of 6 letting bedrooms and a max. of 20. Most have ensuite or private facilities. Small hotels serve breakfast, dinner and, normally, lunch, and they have a drinks licence (although it may be a restricted one). They are normally run by the owner(s) and reflect their own personal style. 
A Country House Hotel is a hotel with ample grounds or gardens, in a rural or semi-rural situation with an emphasis on peace and quiet.
A Lodge provides overnight accommodation, usually purpose-built and situated close to a major road or in a city centre. Reception hours may be restricted and payment may be required on check-in. There may be associated restaurant facilities. 
A Budget Hotel is always part of a large 'branded' hotel group offering clean and comfortable ensuite facilities, 24-hour reservations and a consistent level of facilities.
An Inn is a bed and breakfast accommodation within a traditional inn or pub. The bar and restaurant is open to non-residents, and provides food at lunchtime and in the evening. 
A Restaurant with Rooms is an establishment where the restaurant is the most significant part of the business, and is usually open to non-residents as well as those staying there. Breakfast is usually provided.
Campus Accommodation is provided by colleges or universities for their students and which is made available - with meals - to individuals or groups at certain times of year, typically the summer, Easter and Christmas holiday periods. 
Guest Accommodation is similar to a guest house though there may be some differences in the amount of services and facilities. 
Self Catering accommodation can be a house, cottage, apartment, chalet or similar accommodation, with self-catering facilities, which is let normally on a weekly basis to individuals, although shorter breaks may be available. 
Serviced Apartments are essentially self catering apartments where services such as cleaning are available. Meals and drinks may also be available, either to each apartment or in a restaurant and/or bar on site.
A Hostel often has shared rooms with bunk beds but family rooms may also be available. Hostels normally welcome individuals, families and groups, many of whom are staying on a short-term basis. Hostels often have a quite formalised structure, which may or may not include restricted access, meal service, etc. 
Backpackers are very similar in style to a hostel, but may be run on less formal lines, such as 24-hour access. They are often more appropriate for longer term independent travellers and the younger end of the market and they tend not to take family groups. 
A Bunkhouse is a rural accommodation which can be booked by groups or individuals. Services and facilities may be limited but will include a self-catering facility. Bunkhouses are not star rated but will meet or exceed minimum standards for cleanliness, maintenance and quality. 
Holiday Park is a park that offers holiday homes and, most likely, touring and camping pitches. 
A Touring Park is a park that offers touring pitches, and may offer camping pitches as well. 
A Camping Park is a park for camping only. 
Caravan Holiday Homes are not star rated but will meet or exceed minimum standards for cleanliness, maintenance and facilities. 
Thistle Caravan Holiday Homes can receive an Thistle award which recognises a high standard of caravan holiday home based on a 4 or 5 star park. 

In October 2009, The Scottish Board introduced a gold star award 
which recognises "Businesses which consistently achieve the highest 
levels of excellence within their Visit Scotland Star Grading" 

Unassisted wheelchair access
Assisted wheelchair access
Access for visitors with mobility difficulties