Croft 103 Durness

About this listing

Two seriously stylish eco-hideouts, glass walled, wildly romantic and hewn from their highland landscape with outdoor bathtubs, total privacy and 360 views of mountains, water and sky.

Shore and Hill Cottage

Carribean-esque jewel tone seas and soporific views as far as your eye can see; far from the madding crowd and a place of wildly romantic beauty where you can totally reconnect. Completely private; Shore Cottage sits closest to the water while Hill Cottage has sweeping views of the landscape with hues of purple and bronze. Swathes of glass hug the front of each of these soft, curved properties, overlooking Loch Eriboll. Inside you will find stylish polished concrete floors, rustic styled wooden walls, Caithness stone bathrooms and seriously good kitchens. There’s an artisan long dining table, Sonos music system and a gorgeous leather sofa for curling up in front of the wood-burner. Both properties have two indulgent claw foot baths, one inside and another out the front, bathe alfresco under a star trail or watch out for the aurora on a clear night on your own gargantuan stone terrace. The cottages are huge, designed for couples who love their own space and there’s gorgeous soft furnishings as well as the huge 7ft feather bed designed by blacksmith Sam Barlow made from lacquered steel and leather. Crisp white linen awaits you, fit for an Egyptian queen. Caithness stone spa sized bathrooms, walk-in monsoon power showers and oh my…those baths! Its all about the flow of space here with a large light filled lounge, wood-burner, comfy chairs and that jaw dropping view. The owners have thought of everything including laundry room with a washing machine and a tumble dryer in each property.

Eco credentials and luxury interiors

No need to feel guilty about enjoying the romance and luxury either as Croft 103 is carbon negative with both properties crafted with locally sourced materials, eco-friendly recycled tyre bales, sheep’s wool insulation and wood-fibre sheathing. Renewable energy sources include an on-site wind turbine for electricity and a solar collector for hot water. Surround sound Sonos gently floats from every room so you can be listening to your playlists in style while preparing fresh locally hand dived shellfish. Polished Caithness stonework surfaces gleam in the kitchen and you’re spoiled for gadgets and gizmos, as you would expect of a property of this calibre. Oven, hob, American style fridge/freezer, beautiful crockery, Siemens appliances and Lotte Glob tiles on the wall. The stunning dining table was specially commissioned for the cottages and the perfect spot for a romantic supper with the majestic landscape as your dining backdrop.

The surrounds

Experience the elemental power of an ancient landscape and enjoy uninterrupted views of sea lochs and mountains. Indulge in sensuous luxury at the very heart of the wilderness. Quietly tucked on the outskirts of Durness, a world away from the hustle and bustle and main road – your cottage awaits you. Adventures are just waiting to be had and here at Croft 103 you can visit secret spots, sandy beaches, take relaxing walks or head for the munros. The synergy between the landscape and wildlife is breath-taking from porpoise, seals and dolphins in the loch, to deer in the hill or the osprey overhead. Visit the beautiful Sandwood Bay with its golden sands, impressive sea stack Am Buachaille and stories of sailor ghosts. For outstanding luxury, super stylish design credentials and total privacy in the great outdoors Croft 103 has it all. Connect with nature and with each other – you’ll be forgiven for not wanting to leave!

Getting Here: 

Croft 103 is 5km from Durness, the most north-westerly small town on mainland Britain, and part of Sutherland. It’s on the shores of Loch Eriboll and 161km north of Inverness. Driving from Edinburgh or Glasgow will take 5-6 hours; from Inverness it’s 2-3 hours, and from Fort William it’s about 4-5 hours. The best way to reach Durness is to drive all the way in, don’t try and fly. This is wilderness country and the journey really is part of the magic of a stay at Shore or Hill Cottage. Leave the M6-M74 and take the A9 up to Perth, Pitlochry and Inverness, then swing left for Lairg, finally arriving in Durness.

Rates:

Weekly rentals from £2500 per week. Pets welcome on application (£50 pet housekeeping surcharge per pet for the duration of their stay).

Guests Comments:

“Perfect, fantastic views, peaceful, quiet and private. We spent a week at the Shore cottage recharging our batteries. We haven’t slept so well in a long time. All the appliances and facilities are first rate. The 15-foot window design enables fantastic views of Loch Eriboll in all the rooms. The under-floor heating system provides comfortable uniform heating. The power is solar and wind generated. We were visited by a pine marten running along the patio wall one morning.”

“Honeymoon adventure! – My wife and I travelled to stay at Croft 103 for our honeymoon. The Croft was absolutely beautiful and the photos online just do not do it justice. It was a spectacular retreat, with panoramic views over the loch. The finish of the Croft was to a very high standard, with a very high spec kitchen, fabulous bathrooms and high tech media system throughout. Although we were there in Spring the Croft was very warm and comfortable with underfloor heating.”

“It was so lovely to have our own little luxury retreat, without a neighbour in sight, overlooking stunning rugged views. The local village was 6 miles away and there was a small shop / post office that sold absolutely everything you could need. Would highly recommend a stay at the Croft.”

“Blissful – My husband and I stayed for a week at the beginning of April and it was total perfection in every way. Fiona and Robbie are so friendly and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble. The Croft was stunning as were the views. We had some amazing walks, ate wonderful food and simply watched the Loch. I was worried I might get bored as I’m not good at just sitting but I couldn’t of been more wrong. There’s something magical about Croft 103 that just makes you feel still and content. I really didn’t want to leave and will definitely be returning as soon as possible. Thank you Fiona and Robbie.”

“Was it real or was it a fantasy? – It was real! If you are going to the end of the earth, choose the right end. That would be Croft 103. (“Croft” is redefined by this manifestation.) The only thing better than spending a week here would of course be spending two weeks. The only thing better than never coming here would be not to have heard say of the place, so that you do not mope about the rest of your life knowing what you have missed. We had a week of bliss. We often say of places that we are coming back again, and then the desire fades, so much new to explore. But six months after our stay at Croft 103, the urge to return is stronger. Suggest bringing: hiking/walking stuff, a camera or a sketch pad, a need to forget about current world events, the best wines in your repertoire.”

“Experience the enduring magic of the most stunning self catering accommodation in Scotland – This was our third visit to Croft 103 with our two Bearded Collies and the wow factor still hit us like a new experience – familiarity does not diminish the magic. As a destination for a battery recharging, spirit lifting, get away from it all break we have not found anywhere better in many years of holidaying all over Scotland. We have stayed in both Shore Cottage and Hill Cottage and their locations are truly breath-taking, with ever changing views no matter what the weather and these locations are matched by the very high standard of furnishings, fittings and equipment in these two innovative eco-friendly buildings. They offer all you could possibly want for a genuine self catering holiday and with this standard of comfort you won’t want or need to stray much further than the nearby stunning beaches.”

“We cannot thank Fiona and Robbie enough for creating this unique experience and for enhancing it with the warmth of their welcome and their genuine “nothing is too much trouble” customer service.”