Hidden Scotland
Sign in
A curved timber house glows with lit windows at dusk, set low into a grassy hillside.
Sutherland

Hill Cottage

For two, with one bedroom, firewood and room for the dog. Seven nights at least. Arrive from 5pm, leave by 9.30am.

Licence HI-00665-F

Book on their website
Welcome

Hill Cottage is a house for two cut into the curve of a hillside above Loch Eriboll, at Port na Con on Sutherland's north coast, and clad in honey-coloured stone.

Its glass front follows the curve of the building through the kitchen and living space, with oak-clad walls, heated floors and oversized chairs round a wood-burning stove. The bedroom has a huge sliding door and a hand-crafted oversized bed, and the en suite has a big shower made from local stone and a grand bath. Out on the stone patio there's an oversized bath to soak in, with the night sky overhead and, if you're lucky, the Northern Lights. The stone for the walls was sourced on site, and a small on-site wind turbine and solar collectors keep the cottages carbon neutral.

We invite guests to fall in love with the north west.
Robbie and Fiona
What is here

A log burner with a full supply of logs, kindling and matches, wifi, a speaker system and a smart TV with Sky Movies.

Wood for fires
Bath tub
Private terrace or patio
Outdoor dining area
Step-free entrance
Baking equipment
Barbecue
Barbecue facilities
Books
Dishwasher
Dryer
Kitchen
Local maps and guides
TV
Underfloor heating
Washing machine
Wifi
Wood-burning stove
Good to know
Stays
By the week, Saturday to Saturday.
Guests
Two adults; a baby in arms is welcome.
Booking
Bookers must be 21 or over.
Dogs
Up to two, at £50 each.
Livestock
Sheep and deer wander here.
Smoking
Not inside, vaping included.
Step-free
A ramp leads into each cottage.
Parking
Private, at the cottage door.
A car
Essential; Inverness is 105 miles away.
Winter
The owners advise a 4x4.
By train
As far as Inverness.
Wifi
Decent, off the mobile mast.
Food
None supplied; the Durness Shop is six miles off.
Running late
After 6pm, let the owners know.
Shellfish
Lobster, langoustine and oysters, weather allowing.
Northern lights
Likeliest on dark winter nights.
Longer stays
A linen change and clean, by arrangement.
At Croft 103
A curved timber-roofed house catches the evening light beside a sea loch, gorse and heather covering the foreground.Shore CottageSleeps 2Check datesThe whole placeCroft 103Both places, and where they are.See Croft 103
Where it is

Hill Cottage is one of two cottages at Croft 103, on the shore of Loch Eriboll at Port na Con, six miles east of Durness on the North Coast 500, with Ben Hope looking over the loch.

The nearest village store is about six miles away. Inverness is the nearest airport, about 105 miles by road, and a car is essential this far north.

Getting hereAt Port na Con, on the shore of Loch Eriboll, six miles east of Durness on the North Coast 500: 105 miles from Inverness, the nearest airport and station, where the owners suggest hiring a car. There is private parking at each cottage's door.

Close byWhere Robbie and Fiona send their guests, round Durness.
  1. The Durness ShopThe village store, six miles off: regular groceries, excellent baking and good prices. The owners ask guests to shop local.
  2. Mather'sA small grocer in Durness, open in the evenings for the bits you forget.
  3. Rocky headland and grassy dunes above a sandy beach with calm seaCeannabeinne BeachFour miles from the cottages. In Gaelic its name means the end of the mountains.4 miles 6 min by road
  4. Tumbled stone walls of Ceannabeinne township on a green slope in evening light, the sea beyond.Ceannabeinne Township TrailThe trail round the old township above the beach, on the owners' list of places to go.4 miles 7 min by road
  5. Marram grass covers dunes above a curved sandy beach and bayBalnakeil BeachA crescent of sand facing west, safe for bathing, unspoilt and quiet, with sunsets the owners call unparalleled.8 miles 14 min by road
  6. Wooden gallery building with potted plants and a hill behindBalnakeil Craft VillageOn the owners' list of places to go, by the beach at Balnakeil.8 miles 13 min by road
  7. Stone building with arched windows bearing the sign Cocoa Mountain, blue picnic bench outsideCocoa MountainThe café and chocolatier at Balnakeil, on the owners' list of places to go.8 miles 13 min by road
  8. Durness Golf CourseNine holes on Faraid Head behind Balnakeil church, the mainland's most northerly course. In high summer, try a round at midnight.8 miles 14 min by road
  9. Pink boulder overlooking moorland lochs and coastline from a Scottish hillsideThe Cape Wrath ferryThe ferry and tour to Cape Wrath, on the owners' list of places to go, cross the Kyle of Durness.9 miles 14 min by road
Walks from here
  1. Loch EribollLoch Eriboll2 miles, an afternoonUnder a mile away
  2. CeannabeinneCeannabeinneHalf a mile, about two hours4 miles away
  3. Smoo CaveSmoo CaveHalf a mile, about two hours6 miles away
  4. AodannAodann3½ miles, about three and a half hours7 miles away
  5. Faraid HeadFaraid Head4 miles, about three hours8 miles away
  6. Kyle of DurnessKyle of Durness6 miles, about five hours8 miles away
Directions
A white church-like building sits at the foot of a rocky, grass-covered hillside, sheep grazing on the slope above.DurnessCeannabeinne CottageSleeps 4 · 4.1 miles
Wooden viewing platform inside a large cave with rocky floor and green-lit wallsAttractionsSmoo Cave5.9 miles
Durness and Diùranais road sign beside a lane leading into the villageAttractionsDurness7.0 miles
AttractionsBen Hope7.1 miles
Balnakeil Church's roofless walls above a kirkyard of old stones, the bay beyond.AttractionsBalnakeil Church8.1 miles
Aerial view of a tidal island linked to the shore by twin sandy causewaysAttractionsLoch Eriboll12 miles
Sunlight breaks between hills over a still loch with a red tent pitched at the shoreAttractionsLoch na Thull23 miles
Weathered timber boathouse and stone ruin beside a shingle shorelineAttractionsTongue23 miles
Burr’s of Tongue, SutherlandCafeBurr’s of Tongue23 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from Hill CottageAll days out from here
  1. A walk up to the Hood stones above Loch EribollA walk up to the Hood stones above Loch EribollHalf a mile away A few hours
  2. A walk down to Ard Neakie on Loch EribollA walk down to Ard Neakie on Loch Eriboll2 miles away A few hours
  3. The Ceannabeinne Township Trail walk at DurnessThe Ceannabeinne Township Trail walk at Durness3 miles away A few hours
  4. A walk into Smoo Cave's waterfall chamberA walk into Smoo Cave's waterfall chamber4 miles away A few hours
  5. The Cape Wrath boat and minibusThe Cape Wrath boat and minibus5 miles away A few hours
  6. A walk over the Aodann cliffs at DurnessA walk over the Aodann cliffs at Durness5 miles away A few hours
  7. An afternoon on Sango Bay at DurnessAn afternoon on Sango Bay at Durness5 miles away A few hours
  8. Driving Scotland’s North CoastDriving Scotland’s North Coast6 miles away A day out
  9. The Kyle of Durness walk from BalnakeilThe Kyle of Durness walk from Balnakeil6 miles away A few hours
  10. Nine holes at Durness Golf ClubNine holes at Durness Golf Club6 miles away A few hours
  11. A walk to Faraid Head from Balnakeil BayA walk to Faraid Head from Balnakeil Bay6 miles away A few hours
  12. Balnakeil beach, the craft village and a hot chocolateBalnakeil beach, the craft village and a hot chocolate6 miles away A day out
  13. Dun Dornaigil broch under Ben HopeDun Dornaigil broch under Ben Hope10 miles away A few hours
  14. A coast walk from Talmine BayA coast walk from Talmine Bay10 miles away A few hours
  15. Castle Varrich above the Kyle of Tongue, and Loch LoyalCastle Varrich above the Kyle of Tongue, and Loch Loyal11 miles away A few hours
  16. Coldbackie Beach and lunch at the Tongue HotelColdbackie Beach and lunch at the Tongue Hotel12 miles away A few hours
  17. Oldshoremore, Polin and Sheigra: a three-beach walkOldshoremore, Polin and Sheigra: a three-beach walk14 miles away A few hours
  18. Sandwood Bay, the walk from BlairmoreSandwood Bay, the walk from Blairmore14 miles away A day out
  19. The Handa Island boat from TarbetThe Handa Island boat from Tarbet18 miles away A day out
  20. Strathnaver Museum and lunch at the Store in BettyhillStrathnaver Museum and lunch at the Store in Bettyhill18 miles away A few hours
  21. Farr Bay and Ard Mor walk at BettyhillFarr Bay and Ard Mor walk at Bettyhill18 miles away A few hours
  22. A walk round the cleared township of Rosal in StrathnaverA walk round the cleared township of Rosal in Strathnaver20 miles away A few hours
  23. A Kylesku boat trip and lunch at the Kylesku HotelA Kylesku boat trip and lunch at the Kylesku Hotel20 miles away A few hours
  24. A walk to Glendhu bothy from KyleskuA walk to Glendhu bothy from Kylesku20 miles away A day out
What guests remember

Did someone say 'Aurora Borealis'? Dancing skies from the outside bath. Beat that!

Cathy and Mike, Sydney
Hidden Scotland, the magazine

Scotland, in print.

We want to show you the best that Scotland has to offer. The makers and the creatives, the enduring experiences, the evocative tales, the concealed corners. The roads less travelled that take you to places that matter. The adventures that gather you up and sweep you away. The blend of the wild and the artistic that makes Scotland what it is. We’d love for you to join us.

Get Issue 13Read it here