Gille Buidhe's Broch

Ullapool, Ross-shire, Highland
Self-catering
+44 (0)1854 622368
Visit owner's website

From
£192 - £312
per night
From
£1340 - £2189
per week

A modern take on an Iron Age roundhouse with stunning sea views in Scotland’s wild west, perfect for couples

Bed

1 bed

Bedroom

1 bedroom

Sleeps

Sleeps 2

Pets welcome

£192 - £312 per night

£1340 - £2189 per week

The Experience

It’s quiet here on the Coigach Peninsula, the only sounds the birds, the wind and the waves. Burrow down into squashy sofas and take in the views through the enormous windows or work your way through a stack of books.

Outside, the broch is camouflaged, but interiors are bright and colourful – a lovely relaxing bedroom, modern bathrooms with saunas, a sociable kitchen – with light, beamed ceilings. Sheileagh and Reiner leave their own farmyard eggs, cake and a drop of whisky – they’ve lavished love on the broch down to the last detail, using parts of the old pier built by Sheileagh’s great grandfather in the build.

You’ve got pretty Polbain on your doorstep and Achiltibuie a few miles east, the latter has great spots to eat and trips out to the Summer Isles. Amble along the hills and beaches – there’s a guide in the broch – swim in sea and loch, or hire a kayak and pack a picnic to spend fine days exploring hidden beaches.

Gille Buidhe's Broch - Gallery

We think you'll love

  • The ever-changing views of the sea
  • Staying somewhere quirky
  • Sheileagh’s entertaining local stories
Gille Buidhe's Broch - Gallery

You should know

  • The dining table is rather snug
  • There’s no television
  • It’s some distance (15 miles) to the nearest main road

Essentials

  • EV charger
  • Self check-in
  • Swimming pool
  • Hot tub
  • Garden
  • Open fire / woodburner
  • Breakfast included
  • Breakfast available
  • Meals available
  • Vegetarian meals
  • Oven
  • Parking on premises
  • Free parking nearby
  • Accessible by public transport
  • WiFi
  • Television
  • Central heating
  • Limited mobility
  • Wheelchair access
  • Mobile reception
  • Hob
  • Barbecue
  • Paid parking nearby
  • Air conditioning
  • Relaxation areas
  • Washing machine
  • Tennis court
  • Microwave oven
  • No smoking
  • Credit cards
  • Working farm
  • Owner has pets
  • Electricity included
  • Dishwasher
  • Pets welcome

Family friendly

  • Baby monitor
  • Books and toys
  • Children welcome
  • Babies welcome
  • Stair gates
  • High chair
  • Fire guard
  • Cot available

Nearby

  • Pub/bar within 3 miles
  • Restaurant within 3 miles
  • Shop within 3 miles

Activities

  • Bikes available
  • Food courses
  • Kayaking
  • Other courses
  • Sailing
  • Surfing
  • Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price
from £192
Weekly price
from £1340
1 House for 2
From £1921 bed1 bedroom

Information

Booking information

Check in
4pm
Check out
By 9am
Other details
Minimum stay: 6 nights all the year round.
Closed
Rarely.
No smoking
Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Property
This property is part of a working farm or vineyard.
Meals
Pubs/restaurants 2 miles.

Reviews

An absolutely marvellous week! Looking through those windows was like watching the world through a wide-screen movie screen. Sun, clouds, rain in an ever-changing view. The Red Deer also provided much entertainment! They even danced on the rooftop one night. Magic!

Gilbert and Clara, Mississippi, US

Magical spot in a magical place

Charles, Lucaya, Grand Bahamas

A truly spectacular place to stay and enjoy one of the most wonderful places in the UK. The views, landscapes, wildlife, seas, skies all coexist with this special Broch. Tastefully decorated with fantastic artwork, beautiful furniture and locally sourced pottery it’s all been carefully considered to deliver a truly wonderful home. We will be back 😊.

James, Wolverhampton

What an incredible two weeks it has been! Your warm welcome made us feel right at home. The stunning view from your window was a daily masterpiece - the rolling hills, majestic mountains, breathtaking sea, and the adorable rabbits and graceful deer that added a touch of enchantment to the pittoresque landscape. We were lucky enough to catch glimpses of playful dolphins and laid-back seals - moments we treasure forever. The two full weeks of sunny weather left us feeling like nature was in on making our stay special. Thank you for the memories-we are already counting the days to our next visit

Mark, Basel

Our 3rd visit, a beautiful sanctuary at one with nature. We enjoyed watching the baby bunnies, the deer and the antics of the sheep. This year’s hills were Canisp, Beinn an Eoin and the stunning Stac Pollaidh. Many thanks Reiner and Sheileagh -we will be back!

Susan, Newport-on-Tay

What a wonderful place. I love the beautiful unusual architecture, the warmth, the views, the walks, the friendliness of all the locals. I did miss my microwave but I found I could manage without it. I loved Lochinver, especially Culag Wood + Dornoch was a lovely quaint seaside town. I prefer the Summer Isles to the East Coast. I hope I can return. Many thanks for cake, eggs + whisky!

Stephen, Solihull

Back again for our annual visit. This time , Achmelvich Bay and the Folly Castle made for a fantastic day in the sun. Lochinver boat trip also excellent and a trip to the pie shop afterwards 😊. Enjoy your stay - we always do!

Scott, North Berwick

What an amazing week! The Broch was so very comfortable for the family- we loved every minute of this holiday. Lovely facilities here and and excellent starting point for our walks, fish trips, runs, driving and food journeys. Loved seeing the varied wildlife. Thanks so much Reiner for the many recommendations of places to visit, walks to take and the fish trips. Our stay was excellent and we will definitely be back!

Dave, Berkshire

The broch is a gem, a piece of history repurposed, a stylish and comfortable retreat amidst perhaps the most beautiful part of Scotland, even whole British Isles. Two of Scotland’s most lovely peaks are on its doorstep, Stac Polly and Suilven. How could walking days be more any more perfect than to return to the broch, cook dinner in the wonderful kitchen, while looking out across the ‘lounge’ and through the panoramic window to the Summer Isles just outside. A gorgeous place to stay and dean of returning to...

William, Beijing

Read more reviews

Location

The neighbourhood

Tiny Polbain is almost as far west as you can go, a charming crofting village with a long row of cottages facing the sea. It’s 22 miles north of Ullapool – the last 15 along a wild, single-track road, but once you’re here there’s no need to travel far. Achiltibuie (three miles) has a great grocer and a handful of restaurants where the food miles are low – Salt Seafood Kitchen is just a few hundred metres from the shore and serves hand-dived scallops and massive langoustines.

Local points of interest from Reiner Luyken

  • Coigach is part of one of Britain's most outstanding National Scenic Areas. You will find nature in abundance. Mountains that rise like huge sculptures out of the heather; the sea in its changing moods; a patchwork of islands. All right in front of you.
  • Gille Buidhe’s Broch is part of a small Highland sheep farm. Some guests helpe with lambing and bottle feed orphan lambs.
  • Hidden roads take you through birch forests and along enchanted lochs to small fishing towns. In Lochinver, you are spoiled for choice for lunch. Ullapool‘s „Dipping Lugger“ boasts a truly deserved 3 rosette culinary excellence award from the AA.
  • Ian MacLeod takes you out to watch seals and, if they around (which they are ever more frequently) dolphins and whales. The sea around The Brochs is a Marine Protected Area. You can observe otters and sea eagles - some of the world's largest eagles.
  • Nearby Stac Pollaidh, one of Scotland’s most iconic mountains, is an easy climb. If you fancy fly fishing for brown trout, sea trout or char, there are no better places than the lochs a short drive inland. We can advise you about permits and tuition.
  • The greatest thing is perhaps just to do nothing. To look out through the huge panorama window and watch the ever changing sky. In the evening, you have the choice of three places for a meal within a radius of two miles.

Introducing

Reiner Luyken

Sheileagh and Reiner Luyken have lived at Polbain all their married life and opened their brochs to guests in 2011. They’re a font of fabulous stories: Sheileagh’s a local lass well-versed in the history of Achiltibuie, while Reiner, a trained musical instrument builder and salmon fisher, spent many years afterwards dodging bullets as a war correspondent for the German weekly, Die Zeit; he’s now turned his talents to crofting. They’ve a palpable enthusiasm for their project and live onsite with their collie and border terrier.