Rientraid Cottage

Loch a' Chairn Bhain, By Kylesku, Sutherland

FF9

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Rientraid Cottage is a traditional, detached house set in a spectacular location amongst one of Scotland’s most dramatic and rugged landscapes near Lochinver (18.5 miles) in Sutherland, with a stunning view out over Loch a’Chairn Bhain.

As the cottage is set down half a mile of very steep rough track there is off road parking at the top and the owners meet guests and transport them and their luggage down to get settled in (and back up at the end of the stay). It is then a 10 minute walk back up to your car for days out. The cottage is ‘off grid’ with a generator that provides electricity and no other houses for miles around making this is the perfect retreat for those with a sense of adventure that appreciate peace, quiet and magnificent scenery.

You are welcomed by a bright sunroom and the real heart of the house is the large dining kitchen with a traditional wood-fired Rayburn that provides heat and hot water and doors leading out to the garden from the far end. The handy utility room has plenty of storage for coats, boots, drying space for wetsuits, etc and there is also a downstairs double bedroom, a shower room and a little snug/study with a cosy wood-burning stove.

The sitting room has been cleverly positioned upstairs in order to make the most of the amazing loch view that is showcased by its vast picture window. A hallway then leads along to an additional sunny seating area, a further double bedroom, a twin room and the family bathroom.

Outside the elevated patio is ideal for admiring the loch and Eilean a’Ghamhn island from and the nearby outbuildings are just used for storage. There is a little burn just 50 metres away and some steep drops from the garden, which is not fenced off from the surrounding countryside, so care should be taken with children and pets. The wild landscape around the house extends to over 40 acres and just begs to be explored with unrestricted access all around and private access down to the sea where you can fish or launch small boats, canoes or kayaks.

Please note: Due to Rientraid’s unique setting there is no vehicular access during your stay, therefore the cottage is not suitable for those with limited mobility.

Quick Info

Sleeps: 6
Bedrooms: 3
Changeover Day: Tue, Sat
Pets Allowed: Yes (2)
No smoking
Bathrooms: 2

Features

Open Fire/Solid Fuel Stove
WiFi
Pet Friendly
Detached
Off Street/Private Parking
Secure Storage
Cot
Highchair
EPC Rating F
Coastal
Loch or River View
Remote
Rural
Shower
Laundry Facilities

The local landscape is dominated by the imposing Quinag mountain range that is made up of three peaks that are all Corbetts - Sail Ghorm, Sail Gharbh and Spidean Coinich. It takes the best part of a day to climb them and the views from the summits are absolutely incredible.

More about the Quinag Mountain range
(courtesy of the John Muir Trust)

There is a well-stocked village shop in Drumbeg (6 miles) that offers home delivery and the Kylesku Hotel (5 miles) serves excellent meals with lots of local produce and seafood. Boat tours from Kylesku head up Lochs Glendhu and Glencoul and make the ideal vantage point from which to spot birdlife, seals and Britain’s highest waterfall Eas a Chual Aluinn.

The North Coast 500 route passes right by the cottage and you can explore some of it on a drive out to the sandy beach at Clashnessie Bay (11.5 miles). The bay is warmed by the Gulf Stream to create a wonderful little microclimate and a short walk up the valley you can see the impressive Clashnessie Falls waterfall.

Heading north, a passenger ferry runs from Tarbet (20 miles) out to Handa island, a nature reserve that is classified as a SSSI (site of special scientific interest) and is home to thousands of seabirds including Atlantic puffins, guillemots and razorbills. While in the area it is also well worth continuing on to visit the wonderful Smoo Cave at Durness (41 miles).

There is sea, trout and salmon fishing all around with thousands of trout lochs and some of the best salmon rivers in Scotland. The cottage is set within the UNESCO North West Highlands Geopark that was the first of its kind in Scotland and contains some of the oldest rocks in Europe. You can find out more about the park from the café and visitor centre in Unapool (4 miles).

Local Info

Pub: 5 miles
Shop: 5 miles
Restaurant: 5 miles
Train Station: 90 miles
Airport: 96 miles
Supermarket: 33 miles
Sandy Beach: 10 miles
Swimming Pool/Leisure Centre: 33 miles
Cycle Hire: 19 miles
Riding Stables: 60 miles
Golf Course: 33 miles
RSPB Reserve: 21 miles
National Park: 0.5 miles
Marina: 5 miles
Ski Slopes: 118 miles
Bus Links: 5 miles
Water Sport Centres: 10 miles

Local Events and Attractions

Category:

The Achiltibuie Garden Ltd

(18 miles)

Working greenhouse and growing kit business

Smoo Cave

(25 miles)

Dramatic sea cave set in limestone cliffs

North West Highlands Geopark

(1 mile)

Geopark with trails, visitor centre, shop and café

Kylesku Boat Tours

(2 miles)

Scenic boat trips up Lochs Glendhu and Glencoul

Knockan Crag Nature Reserve

(15 miles)

Rocky reserve with events, trails and views

Handa Island Nature Reserve

(9 miles)

Remote island reserve with trails, views and shop

Eas a' Chual Aluinn

(3 miles)

Highest waterfall in the United Kingdom

Coldbackie Beach

(30 miles)

Stunning beach in a peaceful, remote location

Clashnessie Bay

(8 miles)

Small, sandy beach with mild microclimate

Assynt Visitor Centre

(9 miles)

Information centre, activities and viewing point

Ardvreck Castle

(6 miles)

Remote castle ruins with walks and scenic views

Abernethy Nature Reserve

(15 miles)

Nature reserve with visitor centre and bird hides

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.