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A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.
A collection · Places to stay

Places to Stay by the Water in Sutherland

On Sutherland's north coast the water is everywhere you look, from wide sea lochs to sandy bays. These are the places to stay with the sea or the loch right outside the door, where the first thing you see in the morning is the water.

Curated and written by Hidden Scotland

Updated 23 September 2026. Across Sutherland.

The north coast of Sutherland is shaped by water. Loch Eriboll and the Kyle of Tongue reach deep into the hills from the sea, and Loch Hope lies long and quiet beneath Ben Hope. In between there are sandy beaches where you may have the whole bay to yourself. Stay right beside the water and you'll find yourself watching it all day.

We've gathered our favourite places to stay by the water here. There's an old ferryman's house from around 1830 a few steps from Loch Hope, with a keeper's cottage on the same shore. On Loch Eriboll there are cottages with outdoor baths, where guests have watched the northern lights from the tub. Near Tongue, a restored drover's house stands alone at the tip of the Kyle. Near Durness, an old schoolhouse looks over a beach to the ocean. Bring binoculars and a good book.

Where these are

More of Sutherland

Empty, ancient and astonishing

Our guide to SutherlandPlaces to stay on SutherlandOn the map

Days out on Sutherland

Ready-made days, stop by stop, with somewhere to eat
More infoA morningHot chocolate at Cocoa Mountain and Dornoch CathedralNo car neededMore infoA morningAn evening on Dornoch Beach and a dram at Dornoch CastleBy carMore infoA walkA walk to the Wailing Widow Falls and lunch at KyleskuBy carMore infoA morningColdbackie Beach and lunch at the Brass Tap in TongueBy car

Stay on Sutherland

Places to stay we know, near these
A grand stone mansion glows with lit windows at dusk, bare autumn branches framing the facade.More infoSutherlandLinks House at Royal DornochPlace to stayA white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.More infoSutherlandCeannabeinne CottageSleeps 4A stone house with crow-stepped gables and clustered chimneys rises above trees, hills visible in the misty distance.More infoSutherlandLundies HousePlace to stayKyle House, SutherlandMore infoSutherlandKyle HouseSleeps 2

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