Dornoch Firth View

About this property

Dornoch Firth View holds a truly one-of-a-kind position, situated just a short distance from both Dornoch Castle and the world-famous Royal Dornoch Golf Club. Located overlooking the Dornoch Firth and set within eight acres of private gardens, this makes the perfect choice for those looking for a truly tranquil escape. The Grade A listed house, dates back to the sixteenth century and is therefore steeped in history, it has benefitted from a recent refurbishment and today offers visitors contemporary interiors while still possessing plenty of character and charm.

The house has been modernised with high attention to detail and offers all the necessary amenities for a more than comfortable stay. On the ground floor is the extravagant entertaining space which comprises of a cedar-lined library, a cosy sitting room, a games room complete with bar, an opulent dining room and a modern kitchen which boasts all the tools a budding chef could possibly need! Dornoch View can comfortably accommodate up to sixteen guests across eight plush bedrooms, each of which comes complete with en-suite bathroom or access to a private bathroom. There are four super-king rooms, which can be set up as twin rooms on request, three king-size double rooms and one double room. Seven of the bedrooms boast beautiful sea views over the Firth!

Dornoch Firth View is set amongst 8.5 acres of wonderfully maintained private gardens with a large variety of flowers and a fantastic herb garden. In the summer, the garden overflows with homegrown raspberries, currants, strawberries and rhubarb, all of which the guests are welcome to enjoy! The terrace comes complete with dining facilities and a barbecue, making it the perfect place to dine al fresco on a warm evening. The summerhouse has been carefully positioned to catch the afternoon sun and is the ultimate spot from which to enjoy some peace and quiet, a good read and a cold glass of wine!

Dornoch Firth View boasts impressive sea views, situated just a mile north of the Royal Burgh of Dornoch. The historic town of Dornoch, is best known for it’s golf course, however, it boasts a selection of handy amenities, including shops and restaurants. The house is not only perfect for golfers but also birdwatchers, nature enthusiasts, walkers and cyclists being ideally located between two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (sssi’s)  - The Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Nature Reserve.

Walking

From walking along the white sands of Dornoch or Embo Beach, to joining the fearsome Old Duke of Sutherland at the summit of Ben Bhraggie, there are walks around Dornoch for all abilities and inclinations.

Wildlife

The house is ideally situated for wildlife watchers:

Loch Fleet Nature Reserve, walking distance from the house, is a large tidal basin with sand dunes, mudflats, coastal heath and pinewoods. The pinewoods support Scottish crossbills, crested tits and pine martens, as well as woodland plants, such as one-flowered wintergreens. Highlights of the area include all kinds of wading birds plus otters, seals and wild orchids

The Dornoch Firth is a couple of miles south of the house and is another vast “Site of special scientific interest” (sssi)

The Falls of Shin near Lairg. This spot is famous locally as it is great for watching Salmon leap the waterfall as they migrate upstream to their spawning grounds in the Summer. There is also a very nice coffee shop nearby.

Organised Whale and dolphin watching is available in the Cromarty and Moray Firths, between Dornoch and Inverness.

Birding, The South East of Sutherland has a good range of habitats making the area exceptionally bird rich, though this is especially true of the coast, with large numbers of ducks, geese, waders and gulls. Red and Black Grouse can be seen in the hills, as can a variety of raptors, although Golden Eagles are scarce.​

Fishing

Fishing can usually be arranged by the the owners with a bit of notice.

Lochs: The area around Dornoch is surrounded by numerous lochs, invariably in peaceful, beautiful and sometimes spectacular surrounds. Local licenses for the Dornoch area can be purchased by the day from the Eagle pub in Castle St, enabling them to be fished from bank or boat. Wild brown trout are a quarry common to all these lochs, but some are also stocked with rainbows and char. There is abundant fishing further afield, including at Loch Brora through which pass salmon and sea-trout, and at Loch Eye near Tain, where the nutrient rich waters sustain brown trout of 5lb or more.

Rivers: For the experienced fisherman it may be possible to arrange fishing for salmon or sea trout at one of the nearby rivers – such as the Fleet, Shin, Brora or Alness – or at the Kyle of Sutherland. Again, do call Jim to discuss your requirements and he will liaise with the local estates.

Sea: For those who fancy a walk down to the nearby shore, fish such as mackerel and skate can be caught from the beach. There are a couple of spare rods and tackle in the house for your use. And later on, at the right time of the year, you might even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights which were spotted from Embo beach a couple of times last year.

Cycling

Sutherland’s roads are amongst the quietest in the entire UK, and mixed with breath-taking scenery, this makes for great cycling. Bikes can be hired from Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame in Embo, or they can be delivered to the house from Sam’s Bike Shed in Golspie.

Road Cycling. There are any number of Ordnance Survey maps in the house, for you to find your ideal cycling route. If you are feeling energetic, you might consider trying some or all of the increasingly famous “North Coast 500” route, which makes a huge, 500 mile circle around the north of Scotland.

Mountain Biking. Highland Wildcat Trails, Golspie, is a purpose-built mountain bike course set in magnificent Highland scenery, just north of Dornoch, while a little inland and to the west, the ‘Kyle of Sutherland’ mountain bike trail offers more of a woodland experience.

Whisky

The Highlands are rightly famous for their malt whiskies and Dornoch Firth View manor is happily placed in an area which allows you to learn as much as you want about Scotland’s national drink. Six famous distilleries are within an easy drive: Glenmorangie, Balblair, Clynelish, Dalmore, Glen Ord and Old Pulteney. It is easy to arrange a tour.

It’s not just the distilleries which are serving! Visit ‘The Whisky Bar’ in the Castle Hotel Dornoch. It has won many awards and has a vast collection of the finest whiskies in the land. The Carnegie Whisky Cellars in the Courthouse in Castle St. is happy to arrange tastings and pack you off with whisky which will last you the rest of the year, – or just sit and sip your own favourite in the House’s own Whisky bar (with honestly tab).

Dornoch runs an annual Whisky Festival in October, which includes, tastings, distillery tours, ceilidhs and lots more.

Local History

The name Sutherland dates from the era of Viking rule. So although this county contains some of the northernmost land in the UK, it was called Suðrland or “southern land” by its Norwegian rulers. Norse, Pictish and more recent Scottish history involving bloody battles and the notorious “Highland Clearances” of Victorian times are all around. We recommend visiting some or all of the following:

- “Historylinks” Museum in Dornoch and “Timespan” Museum in Helmsdale, to find out about The Clearances and the burning of the last witch it Scotland.
- Dunrobin Castle in Golspie, built by the notorious Duke of Sutherland
- Dornoch Cathedral, which dates from the 13th century
- The Tarbat Discovery Centre at Portmahomack for Pictish remains
- Culloden – Famous battle site near Inverness airport, and Fort George.
Shopping

Dornoch contains a number of general grocery stores, plus specialist butchers, bakers, bookshop, hardware and electrical stores, amongst others. There is also a very good antique shop and a number of fantastic gift shops, most notably The Jail, situated in the middle of the village in…. the old town jail!

Just over the Dornoch Firth in Tain, there are a number of other interesting shops, not least Bannermans fish shop for local seafood and The Tain Pottery shop. (If you’re interested in Potteries, you also won’t want to miss the Anta Pottery, which is a little further south.) There are also a number of large supermarkets in Tain.

Spa Treatments

Aspen Spa at the Carnegie Courthouse (next to the Jail) is a haven of calm and a perfect retreat after a day on the golf course, or a break from a busy day sightseeing or shopping. They have a range of face, body and nail treatments for men and women

Eating and Drinking

Dornoch boasts a number of good restaurants and bars to suit a range of tastes. We have a number of up-to-date recommendations in the house, but would especially caution in the Summer or other popular times, that you book in advance if you want to secure a table, as there aren’t quite enough!

Accommodation

Ground Floor
- Library with fireplace, sofas, a selection of books and table ideal for jigsaws or games
- Sitting room with sofas and smart TV
- Kitchen with dining facilities and French doors leading to terrace
- Grand dining room with fireplace and dining facilities for 16
- Games room with bar, pool table and TV with sky sports
- Utility room
- Cloakroom
- Cellar rooms – perfect for storing golf clubs and fishing equipment

Upper Floors

West Wing
- Master bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite bathroom with Jacuzzi bath and separate shower

East Wing
- Bedroom with super-king double or twin beds and private shower room
- Bedroom with king-size bed and access to private bathroom

Main House

First Floor
- Bedroom with super-king double or twin beds and en-suite bathroom with large claw-foot bath and separate shower
- Bedroom with super-king double or twin beds and en-suite bathroom

Second Floor
- Bedroom with super-king double or twin beds and en-suite bathroom with Georgian-style gunmetal bath and separate shower
- Bedroom with king-size bed and en-suite bathroom with large claw-foot bath and separate shower
- Bedroom with double bed and en-suite shower room

Exterior Grounds
- 8.5 acres of gardens to explore
- Terrace with dining facilities and barbecue
- Herb garden
- Summerhouse
- Practice pitching area
- Path to the closest beach

Additional Facilities
- Wi-Fi throughout
- 3 x TV’S
- Sound Systems in all bedrooms
- Stocked Whisky bar with “honesty tab”
- Selection of books and games
- Washing machine & tumble drier
- Iron
- Three car garage
- Plenty of parking
- Travel cot (more can be provided if necessary)