Accommodation: 6 bedrooms, 3 doubles, 3 twins (sleeps 13)
Shinness Lodge, 7 miles north west from Lairg on a single track road, looks over Loch Shin in the heart of Sutherland, with easy access to the East, North and West Coasts.
The traditional stone lodge dates from the 1880s but has been fully modernised and is a warm and comfortable self catering holiday home. The owners have lived there until recently so the house is well equipped for easy living. You can sink into a comfortable new double bed in what used to be the nursery, with its animal frieze still on the wall, or bath in the big claw foot bath with lashings of hot water. For disabled users there is a good quality sofa bed in the ground floor study and a nearby easy access shower.
The whole house is fully central heated and feels warm and cosy, especially with the Aga in the kitchen. On a winter evening light a big fire in the living room from the unlimited supply of logs and sink into the comfortable arm chairs and sofas. In summer, enjoy a lunch time barbecue on the outdoor verandah overlooking the sparkling loch.
For naturalists the area is a haven for flora and fauna with great bird watching opportunities. Black Throated Divers nest on Loch Shin and deer can often be seen from the house in early morning and at dusk.
The Lodge owns two boats on Loch Shin for fishing or just for messing around in boats. The Ghillie is on site and available by arrangement to help and the hill lochs and Fiag and Tirry rivers provide lots of opportunities for fishermen.
Shinness is the perfect self catering holiday home from which to visit the northern Highlands. Play golf, go hill walking or watch the salmon leap up the Shin Falls just beyond Lairg and then enjoy a lovely meal. Go east for great golf courses at Dornoch, Brora and Golspie and visit romantic Dunrobin Castle. Bonar Bridge has serious off road cycling trails, a great nine hole golf course and a good bistro. The huge cliffs at Durness and the mysterious Smoo caves are an easy hour away, together with the empty white sands of the long West Coast beaches. Bird watching is wonderful at Handa Island and the hill walking opportunities include Ben Hope, Scotland’s most northerly Munro.
Extra refundable cost: Good Housekeeping Deposit £250.00 (payable to owner).
Ground floor:
Hall. Study with sofa bed suitable for disabled access. Drawing room with open Jetmaster fire. Dining room, kitchen, larder, boot/utility room with drying cupboard. Bathroom with shower, WHB and WC. Whole ground floor has wheelchair access.
First floor:
3 double bedrooms, 2 twin/double (zip link beds) bedrooms, 1 twin, bathroom with bath, WHB and WC. Bathroom with bath, shower, WHB and WC. Separate WC and WHB.
Grand piano and electric organ. Books, games. Table tennis in garage.
Refundable chargeable extra - Good Housekeeping Deposit £250 payable to owner.
