High up on the west coast of Scotland is the small, charming crofting community and village of Laide. Situated on Gruinard Bay with views of Gruinard Island, the Small Isles, the west coast spreading northwards and the Dundonnell range of mountains to the east. It’s a truly special spot to explore and from which to base yourself. Ranah is a detached cottage down a wee track and is set within a mature and beautiful garden. From the front door from the garden, you have a useful, spacious porch brilliant for boots and coats, while the living room has a huge wood burner and Smart TV, at the other end of the cottage is a truly outstanding kitchen with dining table in the centre. It has lovely wooden counters and fresh white cupboards, and the triple aspect windows let in lots of light. There is a family bathroom also on the ground floor with shower over bath. On the first floor there is a master bedroom with double bed and an en-suite shower room, a large double bedroom with a kingsize bed and a great twin room which has a TV, in it perfect for kids to go and chill out and watch a DVD after exploring the beaches and mountains of the Highlands. The garden has a patio with rustic firepit built in and a peaceful decking area enveloped by mature shrubs and with mountain views, the sloping garden leads down to a burn, but there is an old stone wall or dyke as a boundary before the water.
Other inviting coastal communities nearby include Poolewe and Gairloch, only 15 and 25 minutes away by car respectively, and Ullapool with its ferry terminal to the Western Isles is only 50 minutes to the north, meaning you can easily reach many places with cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops. The beauty of being based in Laide though is easy access to both outstanding sandy beaches and rugged mountains, with the outstanding beach at Mellon Udrigle only a few minutes away. Or spend an amazing day walking from close to Ranah across the peninsula to the special sandy beach at Slaggan Bay.
Further to the south is the lovely beach at Mellon Charles, the amazing Firemore Beach at Cove near Poolewe as well as the Gairloch beaches, including Big Sand, all of which come with the rare aspect of mountain views. At any time of the year these beaches are special, walking them in the winter with snowy mountains is a particular local favourite. The mountain that really stands out from Laide and visible from Ranah is An Teallach and it stands at 1082 metres in an area known as ’the great wilderness’. Walks into this wilderness are a memorable experience and seeing the mountains from Ranah with the tended pastures of the Laide crofters and rugged Highland landscape inbetween is an uplifting sight. Beach 3 miles. Shop 300 yards, pub and restaurant 3 miles.