Here are a few comments from some recent guests at Cornhill:
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Back again - staying whilst renovations completed next door. Comfortable and warm.
Sea watching paid off with our first sightings of Orca close to Eilean Nan Ron - life changing!
— S&D, 23 Apr 2022
Super warm, homely cottage, even in colder wintery weather. The house is definitely warmer with new insulation in the bedrooms. So special to see a different season and finally catch the Aurora in all its glory!
A special place - thank you
— S&D, 30 Nov 2021
Another wonderful week in this beautiful cottage. Weather has been mostly fine despite the forecast on the tv predicting a week of rain! Best moment of the week was seeing a pine marten at the head of the Kyle - a first for us! We will be back soon!
— J, E and S, 17 Aug 2021
A nice cottage with everything you need at home and on holiday. The range cooker was a new experience but in fact it turned out to be very practical. Beautiful views, especially Skinnet beach. Thnak you for your hospitality.
— R, A and kids, 26 Jul 2021
We have had a lovely week here - the weather has been mixed, from warm sun to freezing winds, but we've avoided being out in any heavy rain. We have done lots of walking, including a climb of Ben Hope - unfortunately the summit was cloudy. There is a great circuit walk fromthe cottage round the headland to Port Vasgo, East Strathan and back over the moor, and good routes around Invernaver and Torrisdale beach, Faraid Head and Farr Bay. Ben Loyal will have to wait for another visit! Lots of birds, wildflowers and seals in the bay. The cottage is well equiped and warm. A problem with hot water was fixed the same day - thank you! All in all a great week in a beautiful place.
— B &GP, 26 Jun 2021
Wonderful to be back at Cornhill! We first stayed in 1991, then 1993 and have returned to the area several times since. An enlarging family and coming with friends necessitated renting a larger cottage but none compared to here. Our ages have doubled - we've changed - but delighted that, in spite of welcome improvements, Cornhill retains its special character. The kyle of Tongue is undoubtedly our favourite place in Scotland. It was great to revisit old haunts - Achininver, Castle Varraich, Coldbackie beach, Durness and Balnakeil beach, Melness cemetery and, of course, Talmine itself. It was worth the early start to catch the ferry to Orkney from Scrabster. We've previously climbed Ben Loyal and considered another attempt - but not this year! Thnak you for welcomeing bread and such a clean well organised cottage. It won't be 27 years before we return!
— M & C, 26 Aug 2020
A very enjoyable stay with fantastic weather. Have enjoyed the local walks. A highlight was finding Scottish primrose. Thank you for letting us stay in your lovely cottage!
— Phil and Phil, 16 Aug 2020
Our week has disappeared too quickly. The cottage has been our home, and has been truly wonderful! We have enjoyed the weather and scenery, and have walked 20 miles. The cottage is a credit, as are the local people we've met. Our thanks and regards to everyone!
— D & J, 18 Apr 2019
Lovely to find Cornhill Cottage so little changed. It is so great for wildlife watching. We saw a pair of golden eagles at Castle Varrich, peregrine falcon at Faraid Head and otter footprints on Skinnet beach. The walk to the broch at Invernaver was blustery. Deer were roaring at loch Hope. Scottish primrose mostly over but found one in flower. Thank you for a wonderful week.
— M & P, 06 Oct 2018
Completed the 500 mile journey in two stages. Overnight in Inverness. Stayed early September, so weather still pretty good, but not peak summer. Cornhill is wonderfully cosy. Melness and the rest of Sutherland and Caithness are marvellous. A land that time forgot. But so much nature, and so many views. Local walking and wider touring brings its own rewards. Nearest supermarket, probably Thurso, and Wick Tesco is pretty good. The Talmine stores will help with more immediate needs. Fresh eggs available within 200 yards. Fish man on Wednesday and meat on Friday. Local pub around 15 minutes walk. Look out for Hamish and Auntie Mary. Enjoy the rainbows on a "mixed" weather day. If you don't like the weather, wait half an hour. It will change. Great views of Ben Loyal and Ben Tongue. Don't miss a Ceilidh.
— Mr and Mrs Roberts, 23 Sep 2018
We've had a brilliant week at Cornhill Cottage. The beaches and the whole place look especially amazing in great weather! The kids have had a great time on the beaches, and we've loved playing in the house too. We saw tiny baby frogs and big dragonflies at Borgie Forest. Great welcome and food at the Craggan Hotel. Thnaks for a lovely holiday.
— K, R, C and A, 07 Jul 2018
Cornhill warm and homely as ever. Our best ever trip for otters - total of 6 in the week - mostly seen from the car on the shores of Loch Eribol. Beautiful snowy landscape has to be seen to be believed! The wind was scary at times, taking the breath out of our mouths on a walk to Sleitel, but made for some awesome waves.
— David and Sarah, 01 Feb 2016
Cannot believe we have been coming to Cornhill cottage for 20 years! This time we have enjoyed a visit by 3 porpoises by the harbour. Relaxing visit to Farr beach and Bettyhill, and a walk at Clashaidy with views of Coombe island. Our favourite spot is at Port Vasgo, through the village and past the harbour.
The left hotplate on the stove makes the best pancakes ever!
— I&S, Dundee, 16 Sep 2015
Had a great stay at this lovely, comfortable cottage. Thanks for the lovely bread. Hope to come back soon. Will recommend the cottage to family and friends.
— Ian from Livingston, 10 Jul 2015
Thanks for the opportunity to stay at this lovely old house in such a beautiful location. It may have helped that we were here during a heatwave but we can't think of a more idyllic spot. The beaches are amazing - beautiful clean sand, clear water and so few people! The wildflowers are fantastic - so much so that we realise our home is actually a green desert.
We enjoyed the walking on Faraid Head to watch puffins, to Port Vasgo and Skinnet beach direct from the cottage, and to Varaich Castle. The cottage is great. The neighbours are friendly and helpful. The shop is very well stocked, and we recommend the Craggan for an evening meal.
— K & T , 04 Jul 2015
We enjoyed your lovely cottage and had a great week here. The weather has been very good, no rain and we did some nice walks like Ben Loyal, Stac Polly and several coast hikes.
— Simon, Germany, 05 Sep 2014
Had a lovely relaxing time in this cottage in an idyllic location. The weather has been very kind.
— Jack and Pat, 13 Aug 2014
A lovely relaxing stay in your beautiful, cosy, homely cottage. We have been lucky with the weather and visited the whole coastline walking, relaxing on the beach and even managed a trip to Orkney.
Lovely bread - thank you!
Great holiday - will be recommending to our bird watching friends!
— Rachel, Northamton, 30 May 2014
A lovely week in your clean, cosy cottage. Weather on and off - showers and sunshine, cold winds, rainbows - bit of everything really! Got drenched one day, so glad of drying facilities.. Thank you.
— I and C, 26 Oct 2013
Super week as usual in Sutherland! Highights: Superbly equiped cottage!! Weather excellent - didn't get wet and enough wind to deter the midges! Osprey seen on 3 occasions - magic! Otter on the Kyle, and the best rainbow ever.. We are going home with a few bass and a couple of sea trout from the kyle. Many thanks.
— Ian and Malcolm, 17 Aug 2013
Had a fabulous week here at Cornhill Cottage. The highlights have been seeing puffins at Balnakeil and the fabulous weather. The children have had a ball exploring the rockpools at Talmine beach, and trying to catch sand eels.
The walk to Skinnet beach is lovely, as is Farr beach at Bettyhill.
It is well worth an early visit to the Post Office for delicious warm bread in the morning for a atsy start to the day.
Our trip has been just the break we needed!
— Graeme and family, 10 Jul 2013
A very special 'get-away-from-it all' place, we will always love staying at Cornhill Cottage!
— Jane Watkins, 07 Mar 2013
Watched otters three days in a row - more than the rest of my life altogether! Truly a great otter-watching holiday. Fantastic weather at the start of our stay, and dramatic storms at the end - hail, snow, wind, lightning.. Northern lights one afternoon, though we missed them :-(
We can't wait to return.
— Mark and Linda, 13 Nov 2011
A great week in a lovely cottage. We've seen every kind of weather under the sun! Got very excited about the geology round here - how many different kinds of rock?! Very impressed by he stove once we got the hang of it. Lots of walks, now worn out...!
— Ian, 22 Oct 2011
This is our 5th visit in 14 years! Just most relaxing - the quiet in the evenings is astonishing. We visited Durness to see puffins. We will be back!
— I and S from Dundee, 22 Jun 2010
We all had a fabulous week in this lovely cosy cottage (lots of people have used the word cosy - and it's true). We can't quite believe it but it has been sunny all day every day, the cold breeze hasn't spoiled our enjoyment. We promised our colleague from Liverpool 'beautiful beaches to rival the Caribbean' - and he wasn't disappointed. The views from the house are stunning and we saw two otters on Skinnet beach and porpoises from Strathy Point. The range cooker has been perfect. Thanks for a wonderful time.
— P and J, 13 Apr 2009
Thank you so much for sharing your haven of a cottage, it has been just what we needed. We have found moments of utter peace in a background of melodious birdsong and the sounds of the sea. We have been blessed with glorious sunshine and a kaleidoscope of colour.
— M and R, 17 May 2008
