August in the Highlands

[Graham Lewis]

Hello all,

On the last zoom meeting on Friday it was discussed that we might tentatively look at booking somewhere for summer for a week in the Highlands. Obviously I think we are all hoping that we may begin to be allowed to travel a bit sooner than this, and bothies and hostels may again become options, but even failing that it seems a reasonable hope that an trip August cottage may be doable. If vaccine rollouts go well places may begin to get booked up soon, so I thought I would look now.

As per the discussions I have been pretty flexible in terms of location and dates. I have nominally gone for looking for places that sleep 8 and that are available for at least one week in August. These are a few of the ones that stood out to me in terms of location for good hills and appropriate balance of price/comfort:

• Tigh an Sith (£1097, 8 people): Aultbea near Gairloch, for access to the classic Torridonian hill of Wester Ross. https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Fort-William-Isle-of-Skye-The-Western-Isles-Drumchork/Tigh-Na-Sith-936966.html?_hsearch=2012215fe0b8cc27bb9&_price=1097&_display=1#duration=7&start=2021-08-28&changeover=6
• The Auld Cottage, Tyndrum (£691, 8 people): Only just up the road from me really but looks nice and probably good bagging opportunities for some. https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Argyll-The-Isles-Clifton/The-Auld-Tyndrum-Cottage-957279.html?_hsearch=2012215fe0b8cc27bb9&_price=691&_display=1#duration=7&start=2021-08-28&changeover=6
• The Logs, Fort William (£1142, 10 people): I like the wood. Lots of hills being in the heart of Lochaber. https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Fort-William-Isle-of-Skye-The-Western-Isles-Moine-Odhar/The-Logs-1009571.html?_hsearch=2012215fe0b8cc27bb9&_price=1142&_display=1#duration=7&start=2021-08-28&changeover=6
• Highland Shore, Dornie. (£977, 8 people). East access to all the Kintail hills. https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Fort-William-Isle-of-Skye-The-Western-Isles-Camuslongart/Highland-Shores-904019.html?_hsearch=2012215fe0b8cc27bb9&_price=977&_display=1#duration=7&start=2021-08-27&changeover=5

All the above are with Syke cottages, who would require a 30% deposit up front. I also looked on TripAdvisor, however very few places that I could find were showing availability yet.

Basically the main point is that I think there remain options at this stage. So let me know if you are up for this; if there are any dates in August you can't do/would prefer; and if you have preference as to location. I can then do a slightly more focused search.

Cheers,

Grinner

[Graham Lewis]

Happy New Year!

Following on from discussions on Hogmany, I have narrowed the search to the Lochalsh region. I have gone for 8-bed places based on some keeness from Jon, Mark & Hannah, and Housechild & Vicky, whilst leaving potential for additional folk to join.

• Highland Shores, near Dornie (https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/Fort-William-Isle-of-Skye-The-Western-Isles-Camuslongart/Highland-Shores-904019.html?_hsearch=2012215fe0b8cc27bb9&_price=977&_display=1#duration=7&start=2021-08-27&changeover=5) has a Friday changeover day, and is available for the weeks of the 13th and the 27th. Sleeps 8, (2 double, 2 twin). Looks modern and well equipped. £977/week.
• Seacroft, near Auchtertyre (https://www.cottages.com/cottages/seacroft-cc511312?clickcd=21500&gclsrc=aw.ds&start=08-08-2021&nights=7&range=3&adult=8&child=0&infant=0&pets=0) has a Saturday changeover, and is available for the weeks of the 7th, 14th and 28th. A little more traditional than Highland Shores. £1499/week.
• Carronside, in Plockton (https://www.unique-cottages.co.uk/cottages/west-coast/lochalsh-wester-ross/da1-carronside?searchId=ee563fb4-4044-4d3e-b41f-0de14455f35e&option=availability#avaliabilityForm) Saturday changeover, and is available every week in August at present. Right on the shore street in the village. Sleeps 8, 3 double one twin. Price is not given for August ("on application") but the price list for the rest of the year is between £695 and £1495 (the latter being Hogmanay week, and so I think likely to be within our range).

Of the three I like Dornie the best, and not just 'cos it is cheapest! Can you let me know if you are interested so I can see if I have got numbers about right? I think we should be looking to get booked in the next couple of weeks.

Cheers,

Grinner

[Hannah Speake]

Hi

Our preference is for Dornie too (as long as it's ok with everyone else - isn't that where you went when we bailed for Japan?). No preference for dates. Excited to put something in our new calendar!

H&M

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[Graham Lewis]

I'm fine with Dornie, it is at least a different house from last time! Plenty of hills (and cycling) to do there too. The Friday to Friday booking opens up the possibility of looking for something else on the final weekend, but that may be getting ahead of things (eg.will hostels be available?)

Jon has expressed a preference for the later date (w/c 27th).

Cheers, 

Graham