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2 beds
2 bedrooms
Sleeps 3
Children welcome
Pets welcome
Babies welcome
The Experience
The steading, part of the courtyard at Véronique’s 1880s croft house has been converted into accommodation for three, with its own garden space and views across fields to Loch Fleet and the sea. You’re just by the wild Sutherland hills here for fantastic walks and, although it feels very rural, Dornoch with its cathedral, good restaurants, cafes and shops is only 3.5 miles away.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are there for your arrival, along with basics for the kitchen, cleverly built into a specially made cupboard. Find a selection of good books, board games and a record player with a huge range of LPs across all genres.
Sit in the garden and take in the peace and quiet, or walk down the hill and you’re in Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, which has birdlife and seals. There are plenty of sporting activities nearby, including walking, biking, hiking, fishing or golf, plus historic castles and whisky distilleries to visit. The weather can be quite wild so bring clothes for all seasons.
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We think you'll love
- Staying in such a rural, peaceful and relaxing spot
- Having Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve just down the hill
- That there’s so much to do locally

You should know
- You’ll need a car to get about
- The piano isn't in working order - it's purely decorative
- There’s no TV, and the Wi-Fi is slow
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
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Information
& pricing
Booking information
- Check in
- 5pm-8pm
- Check out
- By 11am
- Booking restrictions
- Minimum stay: 3 nights, £450. Dogs welcome (maximum 2), £20 per stay. Discount for solo travellers - please ask Véronique for more details.
- Closed
- Rarely.
- No smoking
- Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
- Owner has pets
- Animals living on the property
Pricing
- Nightly price
- from £95
- Weekly price
- from £700
- 1 Cottage for 3
- From £952 beds2 bedrooms
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Reviews
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The Steading is in a peaceful spot to explore the local lochs and firths, and the most wonderful beaches. It is a quirky and individual place to stay. Perfect for walking while bird, duck and seal spotting. Veronique was not there during our stay but left all the info we needed, maps, details of walks etc. We had problems getting the Micro Wave/oven and the hob to work, but okay for basic breakfast and sandwhich making. Comfortable bed, plenty of hot water and good shower. We would have preferred another sofa or comfortable chair instead of the piano after a long's day walk.
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We had two nights in this bohemian, arty and comfortable place just beyond lovely Dornoch. Perfect for walking, seal spotting and cat stroking. Veronique provided all the information & help we needed.
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We had a really good time here. The Steading is comfortable, very welcoming and interesting. There’s every comfort: good beds, thick towels, plenty of hot water, and a very well-equipped purpose-built fold-away kitchen. We loved that there is no dreaded list of what not to do in the home nor guest book nor out-of-date things to do file. This added to its intimacy, individuality and sense of discovery. Veronique was on hand ready to give info and ideas if required. The Steading is in a wonderful position to explore the loch, forests, beaches and the plentiful and exciting wildlife.
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We had a lovely few days in Skelbo it's a quiet pretty retreat perfectly placed for walks and popping into Dornoch and enjoying the coastline
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We thoroughly enjoyed our long weekend at Skelbo Steading. Véronique had very kindly left a welcome package of goodies, and the cottage is well thought through. She is also on hand should you encounter any problems, not that we did. The location is blissfully quiet, we really enjoyed hearing the cuckoo on our 11 pm twilight walk.
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We spent a very relaxing two days at the Steading, walking our dog and reading our books in our private section of the garden. There’s plenty to do in area but it’s also the perfect place for doing nothing. Veronique is a kind and generous host - she made us feel completely at home and we’d love to return in the future.
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What a lovely tranquil place to get away from it all. Veronique was a great host advising on walks,restaurants and things to do in the area. The cottage had everything we needed and the kitchen in a cupboard something to behold
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Absolutely charming accomodation. Amazing views Very friendly host Dornoch is a wonderful town with great food Plenty of great walks Loved every minute, even the Scottish weather!
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A very cosy apartment and personalised music; I really liked the very warm welcome and good advice we were given by Veronique.
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This is a great place to stay - stylish, clean, open and homely. Lovely beaches to explore below the house and Dornoch is very nice. Veronique is helpful and kind.
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A quaint accommodation with a modern rustic vibe, set within quiet natural surroundings. Véronique is a fantastic host who made us feel very welcome and had great knowledge of the surrounding areas and the Highlands. Thank you for our fabulous stay.
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An enjoyable stay at a lovely and characterful place. Veronique was an excellent host and went out of her way to help when we booked at short notice.
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Delightful stay and ideally placed for Highland touring. East coast advantage - no midges! Facilities great and the steading very comfortable. Enjoyed rifling through Veronique's vinyl collection. Even found one featuring her fiddle playing from the 80s! Splendid collection of exotic teas - not enough time to try them all. Would recommend spending an evening over a glass (or two) of wine with Veronique - very sociable and helpful hostess. On the food front Dornoch Stores has excellent local produce and Luigi's restaurant is well worth a visit (need to book). Will we come back again? Yes!
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Skelbo Steading was the perfect getaway for us - a couple with an old dog - looking for some tranquility and the chance to explore the coastal Highlands. The steading is comfortable, cozy, but spacious too. Lovely shower! The kitchen was ample for simple meals. 'Our' garden was filled with birdsong, butterflies, and blossom - a great place to read or enjoy the view across grazing to Loch Fleet. Highlights were being able to walk to the shore and watch lazy seals in the morning. For nature lovers there is more than enough to do within a few miles drive. Veronique was a most welcoming host.
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Amazing place to stay in the countryside of the highlands! Veronique was a wonderful host with lots of tips on what to do in the area. The steading was beautiful, comfortable and homey. We cooked dinner both nights and the kitchenette was perfect. Wonderful location being close to towns but tucked away in the country. We enjoyed walking along the loch and seeing the animals and Skelbo Castle ruins. I would highly recommend Skelbo Steading and hope to stay here again.
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Location
The neighbourhood
There’s a community shop two miles away in Embo, small supermarkets in Dornoch and larger ones in Tain, 10 miles away. Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, Scotland's northernmost sea loch on the eastern seaboard, is a birdwatchers' paradise; seals also abound, often to be seen swimming, or resting on the sandbanks. You can explore historic castles, such as Dunrobin, 8 miles away, or try some of Scotland's finest whiskies at the many local distilleries: Balblair in Edderton, or Glenmorangie in Tain are less than 10 miles away. There are good beaches with miles of sand in Dornoch and Embo.
We had a wonderful 5 nights / 4 days at Skelbo Steading. A beautiful place to stay and enjoy the area and day trips beyond. Véronique was a great host and easy to coordinate everything with. The bedroom is super comfortable and the shower is amazing. The Murphy kitchen cabinet is neat, worked well for us; we cooked about half our meals. Skelbo itself is a wonderful and quiet spot. The forest walk is well worth it, as is the Loch Fleet Nature Reserve across the loch. We also took an easy day trip across to Ullapool. All in all we had a truly nice time at the steading. Thanks!