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The First Officer's Quarters

Rua Reidh Lighthouse, near Gairloch

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Enticingly off the beaten track... Stay where sea eagles soar; watch playful otters scamper on the rocks; spot whales, basking sharks, dolphins; and look out for an abundance of birds.

Quick Info

Sleeps: 2/4 Bedrooms: 2
Changeover Day: Sat Pets Allowed: Yes (2)
No smoking Bathrooms: 2
  • No Smoking
  • Pets Allowed
  • Open Fire/Solid Fuel Stove
  • WiFi
Overview

Designed by David Alan Stevenson and first lit in 1912, Rua Reidh Lighthouse sits benign sentinel on the Minch, alerting ships to Loch Ewe’s entrance, and with spectacular views from this remote stretch of Scotland’s rugged north west coastline.

Located roughly 12 miles from the bustling hub of Gairloch, the road to the lighthouse is mostly single-track and passes through hauntingly lovely scenery. Particularly breathtaking is the final 3 mile stretch, after the public road ends at the charming hamlet of Melvaig. Here, there are no more habitations, only gorgeous panoramas as the narrow gauge track ribbons its way over clifftops and dips into gullies.

With the light now fully automated, guests can stay in what were once the First Officer's Quarters, a ground floor apartment in the west wing of the Keepers Accommodations block. Exquisitely renovated, it comprises of a cosy sitting room, large kitchen, dining room, and 2 en suite bedrooms (one a king-size double and the other a twin).

As well as on the surrounding terrain and rocks, there is space within the compound for guests to sit and relax outdoors. Views from the lighthouse are outstanding, taking in the Isle of Skye, the Shiants, and the Western Isles. There are clifftop walks and beaches to explore as well as fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities.

The owners live on site and run guest accommodation from the upper floor of the building (evening meals may be available to guest subject to prior arrangement).

Please note: Due to weight and width restrictions on the approach to the property it is only accessible by car. Because of the location of the apartment, it is not recommended for children under 6 years old.

Map & Local

The big attraction of this property is its peace and solitude, remoteness and the array of local wildlife.

This is the best place in Europe for whale and dolphin watching and the owners carry out a daily 'Shorewatch' survey for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation charity.

For practical needs Gairloch itself is a popular holiday destination that is only half an hour's drive away and offers shops, a hotel, restaurants, a golf course, pony trekking and boat trips. On the way, you pass sandy beaches (one aptly named Big Sand) and from the village you can tour to north and south.

Munro baggers can climb Slioch or An Teallach and a trip up to the little fishing port of Ullapool, with more tempting mountains just beyond, is another possibility.

While you are there, do not fail to visit the famous subtropical gardens at Inverewe. Back along the road to the south west, along Loch Maree, is the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve (just in case you feel like looking for even more wildlife!) where you are just about at the junction which leads off to Torridon. Even if you don’t want to tackle some of the legendary mountains there, it is a wonderful drive all the way up to Diabaig (if you are feeling really energetic you could then walk round the cliffs to Redpoint and go home that way.

Local Events and Attractions

Category:

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.

Facilities

Accommodation

Single Storey

Sitting room with wood-burning stove and TV/DVD (no TV signal)
Kitchen with electric hob and oven, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and microwave, etc
Dining room
Double bedroom with en suite shower room with WC and wash basin
Twin bedroom with en suite shower room with WC and wash basin.

What's included

Linen (Double Bed)
Free
Linen (Single Bed)
Free
Sets of towels (per person)
Free
WiFi
Free

Available Extras

Pet
£20.00

Services

Bed linen and towels are INCLUDED. Electricity is INCLUDED. Heating is by oil central heating (INCLUDED) and wood-burning stove (1 basket of logs INCLUDED). Water is from a private source which is UV filtered and regularly tested; however (as is typical in many parts of Scotland) it can become tinted from the peat it passes through, particularly after heavy rainfall. Guests may therefore prefer to bring bottled water to drink. Wifi is INCLUDED (via a dongle which can be variable due to bouncing off 4G signal). A maximum of 2 dogs are welcome at an additional charge (1 large, 2 medium or 2 small) but must be kept on a lead at all times due to sheep near the property. If you wish to bring any other pets please contact us and we will see what we can do. No smoking.


Please note: Because of the location of the apartment, it is not recommended for children under 6. There is some 4G availability for guests to set up a hotspot to access the internet or make telephone calls (EE only). For The First Officer’s Quarters, the tariff for 2 persons is based on one bedroom only being made available.

Availability

Availability

The calendar below shows dates which are either available or booked for this property. Use the Book Now menu above to select your desired holiday dates.

Changeover Day: Sat

Booked Available
2024
Price

Weekly Prices

The weekly guide prices for this property are shown below. Use the availability & book sidebar on the right to select your holiday or calculate short break rates (where available).

Changeover Day: Sat

Rental - Date Range Sleeps 2 Sleeps 4
03 Feb 2024 - 29 Mar 2024 £695.00 £750.00
30 Mar 2024 - 19 Apr 2024 £795.00 £850.00
20 Apr 2024 - 03 May 2024 £695.00 £750.00
04 May 2024 - 24 May 2024 £795.00 £850.00
25 May 2024 - 31 May 2024 £895.00 £950.00
01 Jun 2024 - 21 Jun 2024 £795.00 £850.00
22 Jun 2024 - 19 Jul 2024 £895.00 £950.00
20 Jul 2024 - 23 Aug 2024 £995.00 £995.00
24 Aug 2024 - 13 Sep 2024 £795.00 £850.00
14 Sep 2024 - 04 Oct 2024 £695.00 £750.00
05 Oct 2024 - 25 Oct 2024 £795.00 £850.00
26 Oct 2024 - 19 Dec 2024 £595.00 £650.00
20 Dec 2024 - 27 Dec 2024 £950.00 £950.00
28 Dec 2024 - 05 Jan 2025 £950.00 £950.00
06 Jan 2025 - 05 Jan 2026 POA POA
06 Jan 2026 - 05 Jan 2027 POA POA
06 Jan 2027 - 05 Jan 2028 POA POA

Please note: Prices are calculated based on your party size at the time of booking and where more than one tariff is shown, the number of bedrooms made available may vary. This allows us to offer larger properties at lower rates for smaller parties. If your party size changes for any reason after booking, please let us know so we can ensure the accommodation provided meets your exact requirements.

For The First Officer’s Quarters, the tariff for 2 persons is based on one bedroom only being made available.

Reviews

Reviews
(Supplied Independently through Feefo)

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21-Sep-2023

Geweldige hosts, mooie, ruime en sfeervolle accommodatie en een fantastische locatie!

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02-Sep-2023

We enjoyed the officer's quarters and especially the great facility. Susan's spinach cakes were sensational. We really e...

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09-Jul-2023

Sehr schöne Wohnung an einem tollen Standort

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08-Jun-2023

If your looking for peace and tranquility then this is the place absolutely amazing ,views are stunning and owner Susan ...

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21-May-2023

A stunning and unique location, topped off by our host's (Susan F's.) warm welcome and gracious, unstinting hospitality ...

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Refundable House Holder's deposit required