Our inspectors have been roaming north in search of places to stay in the Scottish Highlands that make you stop, stare and scold yourself for not spending more time in places with views this wild. But the setting is only half the story. We look for places that help you make the most of being there too, through welcoming owners who know their patch inside out, thoughtful touches that make you feel at home, and spaces that draw Scotland’s landscapes into everyday living. From a former fishing station turned holiday cottage overlooking Gruinard Bay to a secluded self-catering hideaway beneath the Torridon Mountains, here are our inspector’s latest Highland finds in some of Scotland’s most extraordinary corners.
Published in October 2026.
A quick guide to our latest Scottish Highlands finds
- Tigh Ruaraidh, Applecross: Best for west facing sunsets, far reaching sea views and a chance of spotting the Northern Lights.
- Feada Collie, Shieldaig: Best for disappearing into the trees, with ancient Caledonian forest and the Torrion Mountains just beyond your doorstep.
- Ice House, Laide: Best for sea watching, bracing wild morning swims and a beautifully restored fishing station.
- Rhuroin, Shieldaig: Best for a peaceful hideaway above the loch, with thoughtful personal touches and the possibility of otters for company.
- Corlyus – Fjord, Ullapool: Best for big loch views with walks, wild swims and the cafes and harbour of Ullapool within reach.
- Borradill Cottage, Glenborrodale: Best for a properly remote escape among Atlantic woodland, waterfalls, wildlife and dark skies.
Tigh Ruaraidh, Applecross
There are places that feel like you’ve stepped into another world entirely. Follow the winding single-track roads to this whitewashed Highland house, perched above mesmerising sea views, and the everyday begins to feel a very far away. Facing west, it has front-row seats for glorious sunsets, with the Northern Lights occasionally showing up when conditions are right. No pressure, nature.
Inside, wood-burners, family furniture and local art make things feel homely, while the garden is a riot of colour and is safely enclosed for dogs and little adventurers. There are books, puzzles and an Everhot cooker so you can do some proper holiday feasting. Outside, keep watch for otters, pine martens and white-tailed eagles, and gaze across the water towards Rona, Raasay, Skye and, on clear days, the Outer Hebrides.
What our inspector says: “Tigh Ruaraidh is a wonderful place to escape from the world, somewhere to reset and unwind as you take in the ever-changing view out to sea.” – Clare, Sawday’s inspector
Feada Coille, Shieldaig
Suspended in a sea of trees, Feada Coille feels like a private window up and out onto the wild Highlands. Floor-to-ceiling glass looks out across ancient Caledonian forest and lochs, with the Torridon Mountains rising in the background. The terrace seems to float above the wooded slope, making it a lovely spot for morning coffee while watching out for deer and red squirrel below, and a little stargazing at night.
Inside, there’s a nature inspired library, local maps and walking guides, along with wood-burners indoors and out. There’s no TV, although the internet is decent if you really must insist on checking in with the outside world. This setting feels particularly special because Caledonian forest is one of Scotland’s rarest habitats and a remnant of the pinewoods that once covered much of the Highlands, so the natural world feels almost magically close.
What our inspector says: “Ancient forests and abundant wildlife are the backdrop to this stunning location in Scotland. Some of the most spectacular views over the Torridon mountains and the Sheildaig Loch are jaw-dropping. Take a drive out to Eilen Donan Castle or Applecross beach. Hike in the mountains, kayak on the loch, or just sit and enjoy Sophie and Sarah’s peaceful and tranquil cabin.” – Jenny, Sawday’s inspector
Ice House, Laide
Once a fishing station on the shore of Gruinard Bay, Ice House has had a successful change of career. Today, it’s a beautifully renovated holiday cottage, where the sea and sky are very much part of the interior design. The enormous upstairs window frames the view like a painting that changes by the minute and occasionally features seals, otters, and curlews. On a lucky day, you might spot dolphins, whales or porpoises, too. No need for a wildlife documentary subscription here.
Downstairs, two bedrooms open onto a wooden deck, where the braver among us can slip straight into the sea for an early morning swim or watch the water with a cuppa. There’s a Danish wood-burner for blustery evenings, a kitchen for ambitious cooks and a little library of local maps and walking guides for when you’re feeling outdoorsy. And if all that looking at the sea leaves you wanting to stretch your legs, the spectacular mountain of An Teallach is waiting nearby.
What our inspector says: “A secluded and romantic retreat where you can immerse yourself in nature, embrace the peace and quiet, watch for local wildlife, or simply slow down and unwind beside the wood-burning stove while taking in the breathtaking sea views.” – Alessia, Sawday’s inspector
Rhuroin, Shieldaig
Hidden on a wooded headland above Loch Shieldaig, this restored stone house comes with far reaching views over the water, and the thoughtful owners have made sure there’s plenty of well-appointed seating next to windows dotted around to help you get the most out of the landscape. In the morning, pour a coffee on the terrace and there’s a very good chance of an otter surfacing before your mugs empty. In fact, you might end up spotting more from here than you would on an organised excursion.
Inside, the atmosphere is warm and unpretentious, with maple floors, local art, shelves of books and a wood-burner for evenings spent sheltering from the weather. The characterful kitchen is well stocked with thoughtful essentials, including Skye coffee, oats, spices and Scottish shortbread. Upstairs, two peaceful bedrooms have wildflower prints created by the owner’s grandmother and Carron pottery lamps, personal details that give the house a sense of its own story. After a day out, there’s a bath you can sink into while listening to the wind moving through the trees outside.
What our inspector says: “If I wanted to escape to a breathtakingly beautiful corner of the British Isles, far from civilisation, but with lovely owners nearby, to breathe fresh air, walk, swim (with a wetsuit) and feast on wonderful langoustine freshly fished from the loch in front of my house, I would adore to stay here.” – Nicky, Sawday’s inspector
Corylus – Fjord, Ullapool
There’s something a bit humbling about a landscape that refuses to fit neatly into a giant picture window. Here, the windows are certainly giving it a good go. Wide panes of glass and natural wood make this considered retreat feel like an extension of the loch outside, where you can watch the little boats and ferry chug towards Ullapool. When it’s time to turn in, two bedrooms offer inviting beds, reading lights and more of those relentless vistas.
But this isn’t just a place for admiring the scenery from indoors. You can walk into Ullapool in around half an hour, head out for a hill climb, go swimming or discover the area’s beaches, caves and historic sites. And when the weather turns, as it often does in the Highlands, there’s huge pleasure in being somewhere warm and comfortable enough to watch the drama unfold.
What our inspector says: “A treat to spend time up here among the heather and hills, with spectacular loch views, wonderful walks, and bustling Ullapool just a half-hour walk away. A place to forget about your city cares and ease into long hikes, wild swims, and much comfort upon your return.” – Nicola, Sawday’s inspector
Borradill Cottage, Glenborrodale
Getting to Borradill Cottage is part of the adventure. Out on Ardnamurchan, the ‘headland of the great seas’, the Atlantic sweeps in from three sides, and the journey takes you into a landscape of forests and waterfalls. The cottage itself is a welcoming, wood-clad retreat overlooking a loch, with generous windows that bring the scenery right into the living space.
Oak, birch, rowan, larch and spruce fill the surrounding woodland, and if you sit quietly and patiently enough, you might spot an owl, pine marten, otter or eagle. There’s plenty for adventurous families, who can take their pick of den-building, bracing swims, beach discoveries and boat trips, while those seeking solitude can explore the Atlantic rainforest or simply find a cosy corner and open a book. With almost no light pollution, clear nights bring a spectacular show overhead to see off each day.
What our inspector says: “I kept searching the usual lyrical words to try and conjure up a picture for people of what Borradill is, but the answer is you just have to see it. Scotland rightfully boasts some of the most stunning scenery with vivid colours and textures. A stay at Borradill is literally sitting in the landscape and soaking up the immense beauty. If you want to Breath and Be and Go slow then here is the place.” – Jenny, Sawday’s inspector
Closer to the extraordinary
The Highlands have a magic way of putting things into perspective. A changing sky or the sudden appearance of an otter popping up can make an otherwise ordinary afternoon feel like something special. Our inspectors look for places that help these moments happen, choosing stays for more than their spectacular settings alone and looking for the considered details and the feeling that you’ve found somewhere you might not have discovered otherwise. These latest finds each offer their own way into the wild, whether that means heading out into the hills or settling by the window and watching the world go by.
Explore all our special places to stay in the Scottish Highlands >
Staying in the Scottish Highlands FAQs
What makes the Scottish Highlands unlike anywhere else?
It’s so far north and remote, there’s almost this feeling that you’ve arrived on a different planet that’s been shaped by forces much bigger than you. Mountains rise straight from sea lochs and completely dwarf you, ancient pinewoods feel dreamlike, and the weather can transform an entire landscape in minutes when you least expect it. There’s an otherworldliness to it.
Where can you find the most awe-inspiring views in the Scottish Highlands?
It depends on your particular weakness for a good view. Around Applecross, the sea opens out to a scatter of islands, while in Shieldaig, wooded lochside sits beneath the Torridon Mountains. Gruinard Bay brings you closer to the sea, and Ardnamurchan feels wonderfully elemental, with Atlantic coastline sweeping in on three sides. Some of the best views are the ones you don’t have to go anywhere to find, framed from a window with a cuppa in hand.
What wildlife might you spot on a Scottish Highlands escape?
Keep your eyes peeled and the Highlands can put on quite a show. White-tailed and golden eagles soar across the skies and otters often hunt along the shoreline. You might also spot red squirrels, deer, seals, dolphins or porpoises, depending on where you stay. Sightings are never guaranteed, of course, which is part of the appeal of letting the landscape surprise you.
How do you find a truly special place to stay in the Scottish Highlands?
There’s so one size fits all, and what might seem special to you might feel disappointing to the next person. So, start by trying to visualise how you want to experience the landscape and the feeling you’re after. If you love being by the water, then waking up beside a sea loch is going to feel really special. If you love being surrounded by trees, then a stay with a terrace that puts you directly amongst ancient forest and critters like deer and red squirrels is probably a better choice. Wherever you choose, our Sawday’s inspectors have selected places that helps you to feel part of where you are.
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Beth Tingle
Beth is our Marketing & Content Coordinator, who uses her experience in all things content to get to the heart of the stories and people behind our places and paint an authentic picture of what makes them truly special. She then helps the SEO team to ensure that content reaches as many people as possible. Raised in the small seaside town of Clevedon, she then studied English at Falmouth University and is happiest when swimming in the sea. A huge foodie, she enjoys travel that involves finding the best local markets and cooking up the produce in a self-catered stay.
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