WHERE WE ARE

Ours is a spectacular location on the sea-shore at the mouth of the Shieldaig river. We look north over Loch Torridon to Shieldaig and Shieldaig Island. To the east, the wooded slopes of Ben Shieldaig form a dramatic backdrop to the house. The giants of Torridon - Beinn Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Eighe (all over 3,000 ft.) -are only a few minutes drive away.

We offer you the independence of your own cottage without the chore of having to do the cooking, as meals are served in our house next door. The facilities are ideal for those with an interest in wildlife and outdoor activities, and for families with children.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome and there are plenty of safe areas for them to run around.

WILDLIFE

There is much wildlife in the area, including red deer, pine martens, golden eagles and buzzards. Seals and otters play within sight of the cottage. Herons, mergansers and oyster-catchers are common and red and black-throated divers can be seen on the hill lochans if you know where to look.

A programme is in progress on the estate, to regenerate and extend over 1,000 acres of Caledonian pine woodlands. Simple way-marked paths and stiles have been put in to provide interesting walks through the lower areas and easy access to the higher hills behind. A basic but well-equipped shelter at about 1000 ft is available for guests who are bird-watching or fishing.

The Scottish Executive is engaged in a major research project, based on the Shieldaig river, aimed at restoring endangered sea-trout populations throughout the West Highlands. The staff running the project always welcome visits from anglers and others who are interested in their work. A visit to the fish trap when the smolts are running (May/June) or when the adult fish are returning from the sea (August/November) is a fascinating experience.

ACTIVITIES

We have canoes and a rowing boat which guests can take along the seashore to see seals, otters and a wide variety of seabirds. There is a rowing boat available for brown trout fishing on Loch Doughaill and also fishing on the hill lochans on the estate. On part of the estate there is a fenced area of over a thousand acres of regenerating native woodland where we have recently laid out several walks; there is a good chance of seeing birds of prey including white-tailed and golden eagles, buzzards, merlins and peregrines The house has a pool table, a well-stocked library of travel books and lots of board games for wet days and there is a separate building for table-tennis and table football.

If you are interested in a guided walk, scramble or climb inthe Torridon Hills there are excellent opportunities to go out with Jim Sutherland. Jim lives in Shieldaig and there are further details on his website www.nineonesix.co.uk. For general relaxation, there are some good local beaches and interesting places to visit, including Attadale Gardens, the Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve and Inverewe Gardens.