Cape Wrath Lodge, situated in the very far north-west of Scotland, was formerly a well-known fishing hotel because of the nearby limestone lochs. In recent years, it has been completely refurbished to a high standard and is now a luxury retreat. The south-facing lodge has spectacular views of the Foinaven range across the Kyle of Durness with this vista changing throughout the day along with the tides and weather.
The Lodge is ideal for families and groups with an interest in outside activities such as golf, walking, bird watching, fishing, surfing, kayaking, painting and music The Lodge is large enough to accommodate inside activities comfortably without feeling cramped, when weather demands. The inside facilities include a childrens’ playroom, a cinema room, a sauna, a delightful massage room and a large games room with a full-size snooker table and dart board.
Our housekeeper lives in a separate flat attached to the lodge. She has access to and works on behalf of the house during rentals. Housekeeping time can be organised to a level required by individual parties.
Two dogs allowed in property downstairs but kennels are provided for two/three dogs adjacent to the Lodge if no one is in the property.
Ground floor
The large entrance hall is wood panelled. The panelling continues into a long sitting room on the left with a selection of comfortable armchairs and flanked by picture windows which allow the magnificent scenery across the Kyle to be part of this area. The room contains an electric organ for those who want to liven up the party! A variety of sporting pictures and animal heads adorn the walls of both rooms. This room opens into the dining area.
The dining area has a long table which can seat up to twenty. Again, the views from large windows over the Kyle to Foinaven are ‘to die for’. A Bang and Olufsen sound system is operated from this room. This area opens back into the former bar area and creates another sitting area with comfortable armchairs and a closed wood burner fire. With the bar, this makes for a wonderful room to relax and have a drink. The bar also holds ample crockery and cutlery, a sink with a continuous hot water tap, an undercounter fridge and dishwasher and a coffee machine - all this is close to the dining room, so movement between relaxing, eating and clearing is easy.
The cinema room, has a large flat-screen Bang and Olufsen TV with a huge sofa, chairs and cushions. This room has a gas fire and plenty of DVD’s for you to watch at your leisure
Moving further into the house there is a room with board games, books, toys and a large television. There is also a sofa bed in this room. Adjacent is a downstairs cloakroom/toilet and a super king bedroom with en-suite shower and toilet.
Beyond these rooms is a very well equipped and organised kitchen which was converted from the commercial hotel kitchen to a ‘top of the range’ residential one arranged around a central island with barstools. The kitchen facilities include a seven burner GAZ range with an overhead extractor, two ovens, there is also a steam oven and a microwave oven, two dishwashers, two sinks and an under-counter fridge. Adjacent to the kitchen there is an ample sized larger with storage cupboards, an ice making machine and bread making machine. In the corridor outside is a large walk-in fridge. In the back larder there is a beer fridge, a chest freezer and more cupboards for food storage.
A long flag stone corridor leads to the rear of the Lodge. Off this, close to the kitchen, is a utility room with a washing machine, tumble drier, sink, and coat hooks. There is another underfloor heated room with ample room for coats and boots, two butler sinks, a table and chairs.
Moving further on down the corridor, past the back door is a sitting area with chairs, a sofa and a table for reading the paper, board games, doing jig-saw puzzles, office work etc. This is lit both by reading lights and by a large picture window looking out to the south, the Kyle and Foinaven. Beyond is the full-sized red baized billiard table, a darts board and a music sound system.
Off this billiard room is an electric sauna (capacity 6/8 people), a massage room, a cloakroom/lavatory and separate shower.
Upstairs on the first floor there is:
• 1x super king size bed with en-suite bath and shower
• 1x king size bed with en-suite bath and shower
• 1 x king size bed with en-suite shower
• 1 x zip & link super king/twin with en-suite shower
• 2 x twin beds with en-suite shower
On the second floor there is a further bedroom with a king size bed.
Grounds
The Lodge is surrounded by 2 acres of, mainly, lawn and ample room for private parking. Also behind the house are three dog kennels.
Around and about.
Cape Wrath Lodge and the village of Durness, two miles away, are situated in the far north-west of Scotland, in what has been described as the last great unspoilt wilderness in Europe. Spectacular mountains straddle seemingly endless peat-based moorland which sweep down to some of the most breathtakingly beautiful silver sand beaches in the world. We are on the Route 500 around the north of Scotland,so why not stay a week with friends and enjoy the Highlands at its best.
Balnakiel beach, three miles away, is a mile and a half of white sands and there are several other beaches nearby. Sea swimming can be challenging but is very refreshing! Bring paddle boards, kayaks and surfboards as there is wonderful surf up here. There is loads of storage available. Loch fishing can also be arranged in the limestone lochs under day licence, obtained locally, and in the moorland lochs for no charge.
Geologically, Sutherland includes some of the oldest mountains in the world and, recently, some of the oldest fossils have been found on Balnakiel beach. The area is a walker's paradise with routes for both beginners and those in search of a challenge. Wildflowers and wildlife abounds, with some of the UK's largest sea bird colonies and the highest mainland coastal cliffs. Cape Wrath and its lighthouse can be visited by taking the ferry over the Kyle and a minibus from the pier to the end of Scotland. The ferry crosses from a pier a short walking distance of a few hundred metres from the Lodge.
In Durness there is also the Balnakiel Craft Village which has many different independent outlets, a Post Office with a Spar and a Pub. Balnakiel Golf Course which was recently voted the second best nine-hole course in Scotland.
