Holidays in Scourie And North West Sutherland

Wild, rugged, remote and magnificent – just four of the many adjectives that describe the north-west corner of the Scottish mainland.

North West Sutherland starts at Elphin on the Wester Ross Border, 14 miles north of Ullapool, and finishes at the Caithness Border on Scotland’s North Coast, around 110 miles away by road.

The West Coast consists of a chain of magnificent hills running south from the North Coast to Assynt, the parish on the Ross-shire border, and including names such as Ben Hope, Foinaven, Arkle, Ben Stack, Ben More Assynt, Conival, Quinag, Canisp and Suilven.

Many of these hills, especially in Assynt, are made of ancient Torridonian sandstone, a rock up to 6 kilometres thick laid down about 1 billion years ago in hot, dessert conditions, which explains its red colour and the presence of numerous small, wind-polished pebbles.

The hills sit on top of an even more ancient layer of Lewisian gneiss, at up to 2.7 billion years old one of the oldest rocks in the world. This hard, grey rock has created a very uneven landscape of small hills and numerous lochs of all sizes known as a “knock and lochan” landscape. This is great fishing and walking country.

Immediately to the west of the mountain chain the low-lying gneiss and sandstone basement reaches the sea in an extremely jagged coastline with deep sea lochs, long headlands, and numerous bays, sandy beaches, and rocky offshore islands. The pretty fishing villages and crofting townships of this area - Lochinver, Clachtoll, Drumbeg, Kylesku, Scourie, Kinlochbervie and Durness - dot the coast and you will find village shops, pubs and restaurants all the way up the coasts. In addition, crabs, lobsters and prawns can often be bought from local fishermen

The North Coast is wonderful: remote, peaceful and very traditional and the landscape changes the further east one goes. The Kyle of Durness, Loch Erribol and the Kyle of Tongue are all deep and wild inlets but as one heads east the inlets become fewer and the rocky coast straighter, although still very rough. Small communities like Tongue, Skerray, Bettyhill, Armadale, Strathy and Melvich can be found at the mouths of the great salmon rivers (Hope, Borgie, Naver and Halladale) or beside the good grazing land that lies behind sandy beaches.

North West Sutherland is a paradise for people seeking magnificent, wild and unspoilt scenery, traditional culture, peace and tranquillity and outstanding wildlife. It is also for those wanting to enjoy activities like walking, climbing, trout, salmon and sea fishing, kayaking and cycling.  

88 Sangobeg, Scourie And North West Sutherland

This quaint little traditional holiday cottage lies close to a simply glorious beach in a tiny scattered hamlet on the north coast of Scotland.

Badnabay Cottage, Scourie And North West Sutherland

The Reay Forest Estate is a large sporting Estate situated in remote and ruggedly beautiful North West Sutherland.

Glencanisp Lodge, Scourie And North West Sutherland

Set a mile up a private road, surrounded by the most spectacular and important scenery and with views that leave you breathless what better place could you stay.

Stack Lodge, Scourie And North West Sutherland

If you were to conjure up a perfect Scottish Highlands Lodge complete with charm, tradition, style, luxury and surroundings that will take your breath away – then this is as good as it gets.

The Old Laundry, Scourie And North West Sutherland

The quaint name of the Old Laundry does not completely reflect the very traditional and stylish presentation of this charming old house on the Reay Forest Estate.

Polla Cottage, Scourie And North West Sutherland

A traditional small Highland croft that retains much of its original features and magic, this is a character holiday cottage that sits on the edge of the river Polla. It is a perfect place to enjoy exploring this dramatic north coast and offers a very competitively priced holiday.

View Hill, Scourie And North West Sutherland

This traditional highland croft house must occupy one of the most scenic spots in the northern Scotland with un-interrupted views for miles around of the mountains of Assynt and Sutherland.

Wallis, Scourie And North West Sutherland

With breathtaking views this property is a haven for people wishing to get away from it all. Fishing is available locally.

Kinloch Cottage, Scourie And North West Sutherland

The Reay Forest Estate is a large sporting Estate situated in remote and ruggedly beautiful North West Sutherland.