Dog-friendly Ross & Cromarty

The Barn at The Old Manse is a superb conversion of an 18th-century stone barn, set in the grounds of a historic listed building dating back to the 1780s which the owners run as a B&B. Set in a large 2-acre woodland garden, it provides a very good standard of accommodation in a tranquil yet accessible location. The main living area is a stunning room on the ground floor converted from the old barn into a beautiful open plan living area, whilst retaining many of the original features. High ceilings, original oak beams and deep-silled windows are complemented by a large wood burner, wood flooring and colour co-ordinated soft furnishings throughout. Stairs lead up from the living room to a mezzanine floor above, providing a second living room, which also doubles as a second bedroom with a deep leather sofa that converts to a double bed if required.
Set away from the main house, with its own pretty patio areas, both front and back, The Barn enjoys peace and quiet as well as stunning views across the open countryside. Visitors are welcome to wander the woodland grounds and enjoy the pretty walks all around. The Barn is situated in the small hamlet of Kildary, just 28 miles north of Inverness, with numerous lovely walks direct from the door. The thriving small town of Tain, Scotland’s oldest Royal Burgh, is 5 miles away. There are a number of supermarkets here, as well as a good selection of pubs, restaurants, cafés and shops. For those who enjoy a ’wee dram’, Glenmorangie, Dalmore and Balblair distilleries are all close by and open to the public. The pretty Seaboard villages of Balintore, Shandwick and Portmahomack are just 10 minutes’ drive away, and the beach at the Royal Burgh of Dornoch lies just 15 miles to the north. Golfer’s are spoilt for choice, with Tain, Alness and Golspie courses within close proximity and the renowned Royal Dornoch Golf Club nearby, which is ranked 5th in the world. Further afield, both Ullapool and John o’ Groats are a scenic 2-hour drive. Wildlife is abundant in the area; red kites and buzzards frequently wheel overhead and owls are often heard in the garden at night. Deer are also regularly seen close by. Beach 6 miles. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant ¼ mile.
Scottish Letting Licence number: HI20022F.

This semi-detached cottage sits within its own spacious, enclosed garden. Upon entering the accommodation there is a spacious hallway with space for welly boots and coats. The kitchen has a fully fitted kitchen with everything you’ll need to rustle up hearty meals for friends and family and beyond the kitchen there’s a very nice dining room. At the rear of the property there’s a utility room with a washing machine. Also, on the ground floor is the living room with 40” Smart TV and open fire, as well as a single bedroom and a bathroom that has a large walk-in shower with rainforest showerhead and on the first floor there are two spacious double bedrooms. In the garden there’s a patio with comfortable garden furniture and a barbecue that is either coal or gas fired. Iseabail’s House is perfectly located right in the heart of Balintore, the central village of the Seaboard Villages.
Sandy Shandwick beach is only 2 minutes’ walk from the cottage and brilliant longer coastal walks stretch out right from the doorstep. It’s an ideal property for those with young ones who want to spend all their time on the beach and for those with energetic dogs eager to let off some steam. Balintore’s harbour was built circa 1890 and the village has a shop, café, inn, post office and pharmacy. It’s a small and friendly community that has made its living for centuries from fishing. Before the harbour the practice of pulling fishing boats up on the beach was common. Sitting on the shoreline at Balintore is the Mermaid of the North, an 11ft high bronze casted mermaid, while at the adjacent Seaboard Centre you can collect the Mermaid stamp for the North Coast 500 passport. Locally there is evidence of an ancient settlement, Fearn Abbey just inland from Balintore was founded in 1238 and just outside the Seaboard Villages is the Shandwick Stone, a 9ft tall Pictish cross slab dating back to 780AD and thought to be standing in its original position. It is thought to have been a navigation tool for fishermen over the centuries. Iseabail’s House makes the perfect base for a Highland holiday. You have everything you’ll want and need right on the doorstep, but beyond the Seaboard Village limits the wild and ever dramatic Scottish Highlands await. The North Coast 500 touring road is 5 miles to the north and an outstanding route showing the Highlands at its best.

Well Cottage is tucked away in the characterful village of Portmahomack, enjoying a lovely situation next to a village church and the Carnegie village hall. Well Cottage was originally a bakery in the 19th century, and the old well beside the property supplied all the water needed for baking. The local pub, shop and beach are all within a stone’s throw from the cottage.
Well Cottage is attractive from first glance, and it keeps on giving as you enter inside the property. The coastal theme is tastefully finished and interesting throughout, all rooms are white and bright, making the most of the coastal light. There are two spacious bedrooms, both with beautifully finished en-suite shower rooms. The open-plan living space with kitchen, dining and living room is a lovely, spacious and bright area, perfect for relaxing after a busy day of exploring. The garden has been cleverly landscaped with decking to provide guests with a sea view across the rooftops of Portmahomack.
Well Cottage keeps on giving and Portmahomack does the same, together offering a lovely coastal retreat in a charming village location. Portmahomack is the only eastern Scottish village that faces due west and is famed for its stunning sunsets. It’s easy to see why people want to return to The Port! After a stay in Well Cottage you are sure to want to return to the beautiful village of Portmahomack. Beach 100 yards. Pub 120 yards.

Literally right next to the sea, during your stay at Sunrise Summerhouse the sound of the waves will be a constant. It’s an incredible spot to simply be and soak it all up.
Sunrises are unbelievable, and the sunsets don’t disappoint, often creating more mesmerising colours in the sky. The view is out across the Moray Firth, where there are resident bottlenose dolphins regularly seen from the shore. You have a very good chance of spotting dolphins from Sunrise Summerhouse. As soon as you reach the village of Hilton of Cadboll, known as Hilton, which is one of the three Seaboard Villages, you’ll spot Sunrise Summerhouse, pull up and be over the moon with your choice of holiday destination and accommodation. Sunrise Summerhouse honestly takes you aback. Right beside the sea, yes, but it’s the quality of the build and finish, and the attention to detail that you notice immediately that’s impressive. And as soon as you wander through the little wooden gate to emerge at the front, seaward side of the cabin, it just gets better and better. The seaward side of the property is thankfully mostly glass, so you’ll make the most of the location right beside the water.
Outside of the cabin is a small seating area and a great charcoal BBQ. A little wooden fence separates you from the shore, where there’s a wee footpath that passes by – useful for exploring the Seaboard Villages during your stay (and visiting the nearby pub!). Opening the sliding main door you enter Sunrise Summerhouse and delight in the interiors. The owners have finished the inside to a very high standard. The linens, curtains, fixtures & fittings, everything is of a high-grade and pleasing to be surrounded by. It is a studio set-up, but it is spacious, and beautifully lit. The kitchen is stunning and has glass tiled backing. The dining area is perfect for two people to enjoy meals by the sea. There’s a very comfortable sofa to snuggle up on whilst watching the waves, and the double bed is perfectly positioned so you can watch the sunrise before drifting back off to sleep. There’s a Smart TV mounted on the wall so you can watch what you want from anywhere in the studio. The bathroom is again finished to a high standard and has a spacious shower cubicle.
Sunrise Summerhouse is a perfect week long holiday spot for a couple. It’s a romantic place to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life; you’ll want to spend as much time as possible at Sunrise Summerhouse, but there’s much to see and do in the local area and further afield. The other Seaboard Villages are worth spending time exploring. So too is the Tarbat Peninsular to the east where you’ll find lovely Portmahomack and iconic Tarbat Ness Lighthouse. The NC500 is only ten minutes’ drive from the cabin, so you can be exploring different parts of Northern Scotland very quickly and easily. Tain, the home Glenmorangie and Dornoch which hosts one of the best golf courses in the world is within half an hour of Sunrise Summerhouse. Do not hesitate in booking Sunrise Summerhouse; whatever expectations you have, we assure you they will be surpassed staying here.

Self-catering Log Cabin near to Tain and Balintore in the Scottish Highlands. This Scandinavian, dog friendly log cabin sleeps up to 6 guests.
This recently constructed Scandinavian pine log cabin is situated 10 minutes’ walk from the beautiful sandy beaches of the Seaboard Villages of Shandwick, Balintore and Hilton.
The lodge offers stunning views West to Ben Wyvis and North to the hills and mountains of East Sutherland.
This recently constructed Scandinavian pine log cabin is situated 10 minutes’ walk from the beautiful sandy beaches of the Seaboard Villages of Shandwick, Balintore and Hilton.
With just a 40 minute drive from the city of Inverness, ’Taigh Fiodha’ (Gaelic for wooden house) gives an ideal base for exploring the Scottish Highlands. Beach ¾ mile.