And now for something completely different - a holiday in a lighthouse!
Rua Reidh is a Stevenson lighthouse, built in 1910 by a cousin of the great RLS himself, which has a truly spectacular situation on the headland, about 12 miles north of Gairloch.
It is reached by an equally spectacular single-track road across the cliff tops, with amazing sea views. This becomes the private lighthouse road after you leave the tiny hamlet of Melvaig (inn), and there are then no further habitations for three miles until you suddenly come upon the lighthouse below you. It really is the most dramatic approach!
The light is now fully automated, so guests have the opportunity to stay in what were the First Officer's Quarters, a ground floor apartment now fully refurbished to make a comfortable holiday home. The owners have further holiday accommodation on the other side of the building.
A long corridor runs the length of the lighthouse wing where the apartment is situated and the rooms all open off this. There is a cosy sitting room with multifuel stove, a modern dining kitchen, three bedrooms, one with en suite shower, and a further shower room. The dramatic rocky shoreline is just over the low wall which surrounds the complex and which was doubtless put there for safety reasons and to afford some protection from the elements at stormy times. There is a terrace outside the apartment where it is possible to sit out and another even more sheltered area within the central 'courtyard'.
This is the most amazing place for wildlife and on the other side of the complex there is an outbuilding which has been turned into a little visitor centre for those who venture this far, with details of what may be seen here. Visitors are encouraged to put their own daily sightings on a whiteboard. An example from June 2010 read '22 porpoises, 30 dolphins, 3 killer whales, 2 sharks, 1 lizard, 2 eagles and 1 otter'. Quite an impressive day's viewing!
In the event that even this may not be enough for you, then you can return to civilisation at Gairloch (shops, hotel, golf course) only a half-hour drive away, passing sandy beaches (one aptly named Big Sand) on the way. From there you can tour to north and south.
A visit to the sub-tropical gardens at Poolewe is a must when in this area. You can also visit the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve (What, more nature? Sorry, but there is a lot of it about!) while Munro baggers can climb Slioch or An Teallach. A trip up to the little fishing port of Ullapool, with more tempting mountains just beyond, is another possibility.
Bed linen, towels, electricity and oil-CH INCLUDED. Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome under strict control (sheep grazing around the lighthouse). No smoking in the house. Private water supply. Wi-Fi access is available, subject to provider.
