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A stone cottage with a slated roof sits nestled among dense woodland, two paddleboards resting on the lawn in front.
Argyll and Bute

Red Squirrel Cottage

For six, with three bedrooms, firewood and room for the dog.

Book on their website
Welcome

Woodside Lodge's old stables on the shore of Loch Goil, renovated as a cottage for six among the pines, with a log burner, a fire-pit terrace and red squirrels in the trees.

For two, the back closes off into a hideaway of its own.

Red Squirrel Cottage is a newly renovated cottage for six on the shore of Loch Goil, on the Woodside Lodge estate near Lochgoilhead, about 75 minutes from Glasgow. It was once the stables for the main Lodge, and it's stone at the front and timber-clad at the back, with a lawn running down to the water.

Inside, the original wood and exposed brick have been kept, and the sitting room has leather armchairs, shelves of books and a log burner, with the logs and kindling supplied. There are three bedrooms, one of them with a wooden sleigh bed, a shared bathroom and a separate WC. The kitchen has an induction hob, a dishwasher and a coffee machine. If there are only two of you, the back of the house closes off into a cottage of its own, with an en-suite bedroom: a roll-top bath, a walk-in shower and a stained-glass window.

Outside there's a terrace with a fire pit, and you can keep an eye on the pines for the red squirrels. Iain Hopkins, who has looked after Woodside Lodge for thirty years, meets every guest himself and can book restaurants, arrange a boat trip on the loch or collect you from Arrochar & Tarbet station.

Good to know: children are welcome, two well-behaved dogs are welcome, and there's parking for up to three cars. Rates are on request.

Iain Hopkins leans against the red timber boathouse at Woodside Lodge, his border collie lying by a pile of logs.
People remember how they were treated long after they forget what something cost.
Iain Hopkins
Our interviewWoodside Lodge: The Jewel of Loch GoilRead our interview
The main bedroom

The main bedroom has a large oak sleigh bed, made up with Egyptian cotton sheets and goose feather down pillows.

The room was once the stables for the main lodge, and its wooden panelling from the early 1900s is still on the walls. The bathroom has a deep roll-top bath and a rainforest shower, with bathrobes, slippers, towels and toiletries.

What is here

A three-bedroom cottage with a log burner and central heating, a kitchen with an induction hob, oven, dishwasher, microwave and coffee machine, an en-suite with a roll-top bath and walk-in shower, a shared bathroom and a separate WC, and a terrace with a fire pit.

Wood for fires
Bath tub
Firepit
Private terrace or patio
Books
Dishwasher
Dog friendly
Kitchen
Welcome hamper
Wood-burning stove
Good to know
Sleeps
Six in three bedrooms. For two, the back of the house closes off as a cottage of its own.
Dogs
Two well-behaved dogs, at a charge each. Never left alone, and not in the bedrooms or on the furniture.
Children
Welcome. Keep an eye on them by the loch.
Included
A welcome pack, towels, dressing gowns, slippers, toiletries, and logs and kindling for the stove.
Food
Order a week ahead: seafood, cooked meat or cheese platters, afternoon tea, and Champagne, wine and beer.
Activities
The estate can arrange boat hire, mountain biking and paddle boarding.
Parking
Room for up to three cars.
Smoking
None anywhere at Woodside Lodge.
By train
Arrochar & Tarbet station, also on the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston. Iain can arrange a pick-up there or at the airports.
Host
Iain Hopkins meets every guest himself, and can book restaurants and boat trips.
At Woodside Lodge on Loch Goil
Seal Cabin, Argyll and ButeSeal CabinSleeps 2Check datesThe whole placeWoodside Lodge on Loch GoilBoth places, and where they are.See Woodside Lodge on Loch Goil
Where it is

Red Squirrel Cottage is on the Woodside Lodge estate near Lochgoilhead, right on the shore of Loch Goil in Argyll, about 75 minutes from Glasgow by car.

If you're coming by train, the station to use is Arrochar & Tarbet, and the lodge can also arrange a driver from Glasgow Central, Glasgow Queen Street, Glasgow Airport or Prestwick.

Getting hereFrom Glasgow, the A82 to Tarbet and the A83 through Arrochar; about 7 miles on, turn left on the single-track B828 for Lochgoilhead. Just before the village, turn right before the bridge for Carrick Castle: the estate is 2 miles on, past the MoD base and the Boat Shed Cafe, behind a stone wall and black gates.

Close byWhere Iain sends his guests.
  1. Loch Goil between steep, wooded hills.Loch GoilIain's first choice: a picnic hamper with a proper Scottish lunch and Champagne, and a boat out to the seal colony.At the door by boat
  2. Carrick Castle on the shore of Loch Goil under low cloud.Carrick CastleSeen from the water, on the boat trip Iain arranges: the mountains and shore from the loch change your understanding of the place.3 miles by boat or road
  3. Mount Stuart's red sandstone front across the lawns.Mount StuartThe extraordinary neo-Gothic home of the Bute family, in 300 acres of gardens: a beautiful drive to Colintraive, then a tiny ferry.road and the Colintraive ferry
  4. Scalpsie Bay's sand and the green fields behind, from above.Scalpsie BayOn from Mount Stuart with a picnic: Bute is Scotland in miniature, the kind of Scotland missed by those who follow only the obvious routes.road on Bute
  5. White cottages with black roofs beside a loch, timber-clad building in foregroundInverA restaurant with rooms on the shore of Loch Fyne at Strathlachlan, the one place the owners put in their own guide for guests.22 miles 34 min by road
Walks from here
  1. Arrochar and TarbetArrochar and Tarbet4½ miles, about four hours8 miles away
Directions
A coffee on a timber table at the Boat Shed.CafeThe Boat Shed Café0.3 miles
The blacksmith at the glowing forge.AttractionsStrachur Smiddy Museum and Crafts6.4 miles as the crow flies
The Tinkers' Heart, white quartz pebbles set in a heart in the old road surface.AttractionsTinkers’ Heart8.3 miles
Beinn Ìme above an old stone bridge in autumn colour.AttractionsBeinn Ime8.9 miles
Walkers descend a rocky hillside path beside a tumbling burnAttractionsThe Cobbler9.4 miles
A dark timber cabin with a pitched metal roof stands among ferns and birch trees.CairndowKabnSleeps 2 · 9.8 miles
Chilled counter and shelves of jars inside the Loch Fyne Deli and ShopRestaurantsLoch Fyne Oyster Bar13 miles
The Fyne Ales farm buildings in the glen from above.AttractionsFyne Ales13 miles
Wooden footbridge leading to stone steps through mossy woodlandAttractionsTarbet16 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from Red Squirrel CottageAll days out from here
  1. Carrick Castle and the Cormonachan woods on Loch GoilCarrick Castle and the Cormonachan woods on Loch Goil3 miles away A few hours
  2. The Allt Robuic waterfalls walk at GlenbranterThe Allt Robuic waterfalls walk at Glenbranter5 miles away A few hours
  3. The Rest and Be Thankful and a walk across the Tarbet isthmusThe Rest and Be Thankful and a walk across the Tarbet isthmus6 miles away A few hours
  4. The Laird's Trail walk at Ardentinny beachThe Laird's Trail walk at Ardentinny beach6 miles away A few hours
  5. Ardkinglas Woodland Garden and lunch at Loch Fyne OystersArdkinglas Woodland Garden and lunch at Loch Fyne Oysters7 miles away A few hours
  6. Inveraray Jail and lunch at the GeorgeInveraray Jail and lunch at the George9 miles away A few hours
  7. Travelling Around Loch FyneTravelling Around Loch Fyne9 miles away A day out
  8. A walk up Dun na Cuaiche above Inveraray CastleA walk up Dun na Cuaiche above Inveraray Castle9 miles away A few hours
  9. Luss Heritage Path walkLuss Heritage Path walk11 miles away A few hours
  10. Historic Kilmun and lunch on Loch EckHistoric Kilmun and lunch on Loch Eck11 miles away A few hours
  11. A walk to Old Castle Lachlan from InverA walk to Old Castle Lachlan from Inver12 miles away A few hours
  12. Castle Hill and West Bay in DunoonCastle Hill and West Bay in Dunoon14 miles away A few hours
  13. Conic Hill and lunch at the Oak Tree InnConic Hill and lunch at the Oak Tree Inn15 miles away A few hours
  14. Balmaha, Conic Hill and Inchcailloch by train and busBalmaha, Conic Hill and Inchcailloch by train and bus15 miles away A day out
  15. SEA LIFE Loch Lomond and a cruise from BallochSEA LIFE Loch Lomond and a cruise from Balloch16 miles away A few hours
  16. A walk to the Falls of Falloch and lunch at the Drovers InnA walk to the Falls of Falloch and lunch at the Drovers Inn16 miles away A few hours
  17. Balloch Castle Country Park and lunch at the Tullie InnBalloch Castle Country Park and lunch at the Tullie Inn16 miles away A few hours
  18. RSPB Loch Lomond and the Dumpling hill at GartocharnRSPB Loch Lomond and the Dumpling hill at Gartocharn17 miles away A few hours
  19. St Conan's Kirk and afternoon tea at the Oban Bay HotelSt Conan's Kirk and afternoon tea at the Oban Bay Hotel18 miles away A few hours
  20. Kilchurn Castle and lunch at the Hollow Mountain CafeKilchurn Castle and lunch at the Hollow Mountain Cafe18 miles away A few hours
  21. Following the Quiet Road Around Loch AweFollowing the Quiet Road Around Loch Awe18 miles away A day out
  22. A drive along the Kyles of Bute and lunch at PortavadieA drive along the Kyles of Bute and lunch at Portavadie18 miles away A few hours
  23. The Lochan Spling walk in Loch Ard ForestThe Lochan Spling walk in Loch Ard Forest19 miles away A few hours
  24. A walk up to the Cruachan Dam above Loch AweA walk up to the Cruachan Dam above Loch Awe19 miles away A few hours
What guests remember

We really felt like part of the family, especially since it was just the two of us.

Justine, who married at Woodside Lodge
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