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Balnakeil House

Durness, The Highlands
Sleeps 17
Bedrooms 9
Bathrooms 5
Change Sat
Dogs welcome 1
5 star
Downstairs bedroom
Downstairs bathroom
Waterside views
Open fire / woodburner
Internet access
Games / Play facilities
Pub nearby
Shop nearby
Beach within easy reach
Luxury
Family friendly
Four Poster
Towels included
Travel cot available
Highchair available
15 more

At a glance

  • Secluded Grade A-listed Highland lodge, in a glorious beachside location
  • Beautifully restored, mixing traditional features with fresh contemporary style
  • Games room with table football table
  • Multi-fuel burners in multiple rooms
  • Stylish and spacious open-plan kitchen/lounge/dining room
  • Next to the white sands of Balnakeil Bay and 1 mile from Durness
Overview
Property code: CA030

Sat beachside above beautiful Balnakeil Bay, this Grade A-listed Highland lodge makes the perfect unique retreat for large family get-togethers or special occasions.

Relax in both luxury and style with a stay in this wonderful A-listed Highland lodge. Comfortably hosting 17 guests both young and old, this property will no doubt be a hit with all the family. Far-reaching sea and mountain views can be enjoyed from every window in the house, ensuring stunning landscapes that will be a treat to wake up to each day. Within 350 metres of your doorstep you’ll find yourself on the sandy shores of Balnakeil Beach, a spot well known for its undisturbed bathing and spectacular sunsets.

This spacious home has been modernised throughout yet still benefits from original style features, including wooden panelled walls, feature fireplaces and slate tiles. This traditional Highland home celebrates Scottish culture by proudly presenting tartan patterns in the furniture, soft furnishings and even wallpapers. Multiple rooms are adorned with unique art work, adding to the luxury of the home, and muted, earthy colours used throughout contribute to the countryside aesthetic of the place.

The heart of this home is its spacious, open-plan living area. To one side of the room you’ll find a farmhouse-style kitchen with a traditional Aga and spacious kitchen island, and to the other side of the room you’ll find a relaxation area with sofas and a TV to unwind in front of. The centre of the room boasts a stunning 4.5-metre solid oak table, which comfortably seats up to 17 guests. For celebratory meals, head to the impressive dining room that comfortably seats 18. Whilst adults cook and relax, younger guests will no doubt instantly claim the games room, which boasts a pool table, books, games and a TV with a DVD player. Those looking for a bit more peace and quiet can sit before the open fire and settle down to a good book.

Head upstairs via the wide central hallway, where unique archways enhance the luxury style of the home. This floor boasts two king-size bedrooms and one twin, all of which are made extremely comfortable by memory foam mattress toppers and crisp linen. The elevated first-floor position of these bedrooms ensure stunning, far-reaching views from each and every window.

The rest of the bedrooms can be found at the top of the house, on the second floor. Find two twin bedrooms with charming sloped ceilings, and a unique family room with five single beds, ideal for younger children enjoying a sleepover.

This wonderful property benefits from a spacious private lawn where you can dine alfresco at the garden table or fire up the BBQ and entertain a summer party. With the beach a mere 350 metres away, its sandy shores and clear waters add to the outdoor space that you’re free to enjoy.

Dogs are charged at £20 each per full or part week.

Please note there is a refundable £500 security deposit for this property payable closer to the start of your holiday.

  • 9 bedrooms – 2 king-size, 4 twins (that can be made up as super king-size on request), 2 twin passageway rooms (separated by a curtain), 1 small single room suitable for a child 
  • 5 bathrooms – 1 shower room, 1 en-suite shower room, 3 family bathrooms (2 with showers), plus 1 separate WC
  • Aga, fridge/freezer, fridge with icebox, microwave, 2 dishwashers
  • Washing machine and tumble dryer
  • Cot/highchair available
  • Multi-fuel burner (starter pack of coal included)
  • 4 TVs, DVD player
  • Wi-Fi included
  • Linen and towels provided, including beach towels
  • Hairdryer
  • Telephone (with honesty box)
  • Private garden with furniture and BBQ
  • Games room with TV, pool table, table football, board games, books and DVDs
  • Ample parking
  • 1 dog welcome - restricted to the ground floor only
  • Shop, restaurant, pub and petrol station within 1 mile
  • If you would like to accommodate a further 2 guests, property CA331 can be booked alongside this property

This remote location is ideal for outdoorsy families and those looking for sporting holidays. Wander half a mile to the seafront golf course or go sea kayaking, surfing and swimming at local Balnakeil Beach. Those looking to enjoy some mountain biking or hiking should venture into the nearby mountains. Scotland's most northerly Munro, Ben Hope, can be accessed just 28 miles from the house, and smaller summits such as Arkle and Foinaven can all be found within 18 miles. Fishing is another popular past time here in Durness, with Lochs Lanish (0.5 mile), Croispol (400 metres) and Caladail (1 mile) all popular spots for both boat and bank fishing. Enjoy quality brown trout for dinner after a long day on the water. Another popular spot to visit is the stunning Smoo Cave (2 miles). Steeped in 6,000 years of history, this is Britain's largest sea cave and boating tours are available in the summer.

Wander down to the village of Durness (1 miles) for a small selection of independent shops, a popular local chocolatier, and a restaurant and hotel with a bar. Grab some local produce to take back to the house or a souvenir to take home when your holiday ends.

This property is personally managed by Fiona.

Guest comments

Reviewed by Mrs Beesley May 2019

Wonderful house the only thing if any were the sight of huge motor homes that were parked in full view from the kitchen bay window ! Our family had a lovely day on Handa island while I waited in the Storehouse sea food tasting their wonderful lobster. Good meals at the Sango sands and the Smoo Cave hotel.

Reviewed by Ms Langmead September 2018

I am really torn whether to give a four or five star rating but as it wasn't 100% perfect, I have opted for the latter for fairness. It was very close though as we really loved our stay at Balnakeil House. Our group were 17 friends in their early 30s (plus a baby) who wanted to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, and the location was due to one of tRead morehem was cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats. It is really hard to find somewhere large enough to accommodate such a large group so when booking my priority was that everyone had their own bed and privacy and this certainly ticked those boxes. The house is beautifully decorated in a modern country style, with monogrammed linen and fluffy towels. Every room was spotlessly clean (and I have very high standards) so we were all very comfortable making use of the kitchen. The house is huge and it took a bit of time to get used to the lay-out and to find everything (we didn't locate the games cupboard until the final day unfortunately) but was perfect for us and there was always a quiet spot if you wanted some alone time. We tended to hang out in the kitchen around the giant table and window seats as it had lots of light, but we did use the formal dinning room a couple of time and hosted our own drinks reception in the drawing room. The location is remote but I would assume that anyone looking in the area would be aware of that. We were able to collect our enormous food order through Tesco's from the Kinlochbervie Hotel (about 40 minutes away) but the local Spar shop in Durness seemed relatively well supplied and we were able to buy fresh salad from there one evening. We also loved being able to walk along the beautiful beach moments from the house, and we also popped to the Craft Village and a couple of friends played on the golf course. Our only issues were: 1. The smell of damp in the red corridor which impacted the games room. I understand that this is due to problems the bottom bathroom but they are struggling to rectify the problem. Luckily it faded by day two but it wasn't nice for the girls staying in the ground floor bedroom. 2. There were lots of light bulbs but unfortunately not of the sort we needed so we had a couple of dark areas, again, weirdly, on the red corridor. It would be good if the lights had been checked by the housekeeper before we arrived. 3. One of the top floor bathrooms is missing a flush so we had to take the top off the toilet to push it. However, I would stay again without question and would highly recommend Balnakeil House to anyone who wants a large and luxurious property in the north of Scotland. Hide

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Location

Map
Note: As the postcode is used to identify the general area of the property, it may not always reflect its precise location, therefore please only use this map as a guide.

From the isolated and peaceful Shetland Islands in the north to the thriving border towns and cities in the south, across wild mountains and serene lochs, and encompassing over 700 islands, Scotland’s rich and dramatic landscape simply must be seen to be appreciated. Scotland is home to the ten highest mountains in the UK – including Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak – and is bordered by three seas, offering epic scenery unlike any other you may have seen.

Whether you choose to explore the Highlands, lowlands or islands, lovers of the great outdoors will be thrilled by the stunning Scottish landscapes where some of the rarest UK wildlife can be glimpsed, including golden eagles, dolphins and whales. Take a road trip on the North Coast 500, Scotland’s version of Route 66, to experience the sheer beauty of the land’s wilderness or, as Scotland is the home of golf, either tee off at one of the 550 courses across parkland, heathland and links courses.

Scotland is also a land of unique culture where the people are renowned for their incredible warmth and hospitality. Experience the peaceful Isle of Lewis where Scots Gaelic is widely spoken, or immerse yourself in the cosmopolitan cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen which are vibrant with thriving arts scenes, delicious restaurants and bustling nightlife. And no trip to Scotland is complete without exploring the castles and distilleries: learn about clan rivalries or bloody battles amongst 13th-century battlements or try a taste of Scotland itself during a tour of one of the 120 whisky distilleries. Pure Scottish culture in a glass.

With so many beautiful places to visit and things to experience, a break to Scotland should not be missed. Our fantastic Scottish holiday cottages will ensure a truly memorable getaway. Whether it’s a dog-friendly countryside cottage for two, or a vast and resplendent castle for the entire clan on a tranquil island, we have a holiday in Scotland to suit everyone.

The Travel Chapter Limited, trading as holidaycottages.co.uk | The Travel Chapter Limited is registered in England and Wales. | Registered office Travel Chapter House Gammaton Road Bideford EX39 4DF Company No. 02431506 | VAT reg: 143053210