Croft of Balmerion

Fortrose, Near Chanonry Point, The Black Isle

GN2

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Set in charming Fortrose is Croft of Balmerion, a warm and inviting traditional house in extensive grounds of around 3 acres with a sandy beach and golf course just 5 minutes' walk away, near one of the UK’s best dolphin-watching spots at Chanonry Point on the Black Isle.

This wonderful home is comfortable and cosy throughout as well as being perfectly placed for taking in the wildlife and wonderful scenery of this sunny stretch of coastline. The sitting room’s inviting open fire simply draws guests in to admire it after spending time out and about. It is conveniently open plan to a delightful sunroom and the large dining area where meals can be enjoyed in style.

Sliding doors open up from the sunroom onto the attractive patio seating area which is a lovely place to sit and listen to birds chirping in the trees. In the spacious kitchen the large range cooker is great for creating some culinary masterpieces and there is also a handy little breakfasting area.

A charming double bedroom is set out downstairs with views out to the pretty garden, as well as a lots of useful storage, a super king-size bed to stretch out on and a bright en-suite shower room. Upstairs, two further bedrooms (a king-size double and a twin room) and a modern family bathroom complete the spacious indoor accommodation.

There is plenty of room for parking by the door and guests will love exploring the huge garden with mature trees and shrubs that create a lovely, peaceful atmosphere. A morning stroll can be enjoyed without even having to leave the garden with something new to be found around every corner including a woodland and an orchard.

Quick Info

Sleeps: 6
Bedrooms: 3
Changeover Day: Sat
Pets Allowed: Yes (2)
No smoking
Bathrooms: 2
Licence No: HI-20056-F

Features

Open Fire/Solid Fuel Stove
WiFi
Pet Friendly
Detached
Off Street/Private Parking
Garden Furniture
Secure Storage
Cot
Highchair
EPC Rating E
Coastal
Village
Shower
Laundry Facilities
Freezer
Dishwasher
Mains Water

Ideally situated within Fortrose, there is a small supermarket, a butcher, two excellent bakers and a choice of eateries in easy walking distance from the door. It is also only a short walk to visit the ruins of the 13th century Fortrose Cathedral where helpful information boards explain some of its fascinating history.

The house sits in the middle of the Chanonry Ness peninsula that separates Fortrose and Rosemarkie and juts out into the Moray Firth with beaches on either side. The Fortrose side has a sand and shingle beach, while the Rosemarkie side has a gorgeous long stretch of unspoilt sand that just begs to be explored no matter what the weather.

At the end of the peninsula is Chanonry Point which is known as one of the best places in the UK to see bottlenose dolphins as they hunt for Atlantic salmon out in the narrows. Dolphin-spotting boat trips run out from Avoch (2.5 miles) or Cromarty (10 miles) for an even closer look.

The 18-hole Fortrose & Rosemarkie golf course just 5 minutes’ walk away was re-designed by James Braid and is a delight to play on with its amazing coastal views. The surrounding area is definitely golf country with other courses at Castle Stuart (19 miles), Nairn (29 miles) and Royal Dornoch (44 miles) to try.

Superb walks can be had in the Fairy Glen (1 mile) where a woodland trail leads out to two picturesque waterfalls that are particularly impressive after heavy rainfall. There is great hill waking in easy reach in the Cairngorms National Park, Glen Affric and over on the mountains of the west coast. Bikes can be hired in Fortrose and mountain bikers will be keen to tackle the graded tracks at the Learnie Red Rock trails (4.5 miles).

Local Info

Pub: 0.5 miles
Shop: 0.5 miles
Restaurant: 0.5 miles
Train Station: 13 miles
Airport: 20 miles
Supermarket: 0.5 miles
Sandy Beach: 0.5 miles
Swimming Pool/Leisure Centre: 16 miles
Cycle Hire: 0.5 miles
MTB Trails: 4 miles
Riding Stables: 2 miles
Golf Course: 0.5 miles
RSPB Reserve: 1 miles
National Park: 45 miles
Boat Hire: 2 miles
Marina: 0.5 miles
Ski Slopes: 45 miles
Bus Links: 0.5 miles
Water Sport Centres: 13 miles

Local Events and Attractions

Category:

Urquhart Castle

(22 miles)

Imposing castle on the shores of Loch Ness

Strathspey Railway

(29 miles)

Steam train travel with dining and themed events

Spynie Palace

(31 miles)

Medieval bishop's house with visitor centre

Speyside Wildlife

(30 miles)

Day and evening wildlife watching experiences

Pluscarden Abbey

(25 miles)

Only inhabited medieval British monastery

Loch Ness Cruises

(22 miles)

Loch Ness cruise fun for the all the family

Loch Fleet Nature Reserve

(26 miles)

Coastal reserve with trails, hide and picnic areas

Glen Affric Nature Reserve

(28 miles)

Iconic reserve with waterfalls, trails and views

Fort George

(2 miles)

Imposing fort with museum and visitor centre

Elgin Cathedral

(30 miles)

Beautiful cathedral with events and visitor centre

Craigellachie Nature Reserve

(29 miles)

Reserve with trails and live camera facility

Cawdor Castle

(7 miles)

Castle with activities, gardens, café and shop

Brodie Castle

(14 miles)

Castle with gardens, walks, tearoom and shop

Ben Wyvis Nature Reserve

(19 miles)

Mountainous reserve with trails and picnic area

Ace Adventure

(16 miles)

Outdoor adventure activity centre

Learnie Red Rock Mountain Biking Trails

(2 miles)

Black Isle trails suitable for all enthusiasts

Glenmore Nature Reserve

(31 miles)

Woodland reserve with activities, café and shop

Glen Ord Distillery

(14 miles)

Highly acclaimed Highland distillery

Please note: while we make every effort to be as accurate as possible, the actual position of the cottage indicated on the map above and the proximity of the amenities in the Local Info section cannot be guaranteed to be precise and should be used as a guide only.