This isolated Highland croft house set in nearly 6 acres of it’s own ground is situated just 3 miles away from Loch Ness. It is the highest traditional Croft in the immediate area at around 1000 feet above sea level. Access to Loch Ness (5 minutes), Inverness, Beauly and Drumnadrochit (20/25 minutes) and the rest of the Highlands. Picture windows offer wonderful views looking west towards the Glen Affric mountains and beyond. We are very child friendly as we ourselves use the house with our own 4 children to holiday and have done for years. The house is situated at the end of a half mile long track off a minor road. Totally isolated with no neighbouring properties.
Traditional Highland Croft cottage. Dog Friendly.
Inverness, Highland, Scotland, UK8.7 mi to Inverness center
- Cottage
- Sleeps: 5
- Bedrooms: 2
- Bathrooms: 1
- Min Stay: 5 - 6 nights
House near Abriachan and Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands - Isolated Yet Only 20 Minutes From Inverness City And 7 Minutes Drive From Loch Ness
Bedrooms
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 5
Owner
Aislinn Haszeldine
Member Since 2011
- Speaks:
- english
- Calendar last updated:
- Feb 22, 2019
About Aislinn Haszeldine
Hello everyone. My husband and I live in Central Scotland with our children. He is an academic (climate/energy scientist) at University and I am a nurse/mother/general sorter out of things. We have 4 children, one an adult now and three children who are still at school (15, 12 & 10). Work commitments prevent us from living in the highlands but we have a beautiful cottage there which we have owned for nearly 20 years. Six years ago we upgraded the property a bit and began to rent it out for others to enjoy as a holiday retreat. We found we were using it less frequently ourselves and hated the thought of it sitting empty so much of the time, so we decided to let others come and enjoy our little bit of heaven. I can honestly say that the cottage is one of my most favourite places in the entire world.
Aislinn Haszeldine purchased this Cottage in 1998
Why Aislinn Haszeldine chose Inverness
We love the area and were it not for the fact that work commitments keep us in central Scotland, we would live here. A beautiful part of the country. The things we looked for when seeking a property in the area were that it was isolated but not too remote, that it had incredible views, which it has, and that we fell in love with it the moment we first set eyes upon it, which we did. And we still do! We spend around 6 weeks a year there ourselves, during the children's school holidays.
What makes this Cottage unique
Total peace and quiet but with ready access to Inverness within 20 minutes or so. Owl, deer, woodland, even lizards and slow worm have been spotted either at the house or in the grounds. It is a magical place and I love it beyond words. I'm sure you will too!
Amenities
- Heater
- Children Welcome
- Internet
- Parking
- Pets Welcome
- Fireplace
Bathrooms
- 1 Bathroom
- Bathroom 1toilet, tub
- Upstairs bathroom with velux window, cast iron bath, porcelain basin with mirror and shaver point and modern toileting facilities. There is a radiator and a towel rail in the bathroom. There is an removable attachment for the taps which allows rinsing of hair, muddy children etc.
Location Type
- Mountain
- Rural
Meals
- Guests provide their own meals
General
- HeatingElectric heating in all rooms.
- Linens Provided
- Washing Machine
- Fireplace
- Parking
- InternetInternet is sufficient for browsing, emails etc.
- Towels Provided
- Wireless Internet
- Iron & Board
- Living RoomThe sitting room has an open log fire. A 3 seat leather stressless sofa and 2 stressless recliners and stools are perfect to get cosy by the fire on. A video/DVD player provides entertainment (we provide lots of DVD's and videos for you). NO TV RECEPTION!
Kitchen
- Refrigerator
- Freezer
- Stove
- Oven
- Microwave
- Grill
- Coffee Maker
- Toaster
- Pantry ItemsSalt and pepper. Olive oil and Balsamic vinegar for dressings. Mixed herbs. Flour. Sugar. Tea. Various other pantry basics.
- Dishes & Utensils
- KitchenGalley kitchen with cooker, ceramic hob, fridge, freezer, sink, coffee machine, toaster, kettle. Lots of storage cupboards, all plates, cutlery, glasses, bowls, pots and pans etc are of a modern standard. Large dining room adjoining (see below - other).
Dining
- Dining Area
- Child's Highchair
- DiningLarge dedicated dining area. Pine farmhouse table and 6 chairs. There is also a small sofa which seats 2 by the window in the dining room.
- comfy seating for 6 people
Entertainment
- StereoCD player/radio with iphone dock and usb port for mp3 players etc.
- DVD Player
- BooksThere is a veritable library of books. Lots of reference books. Some fiction and masses of childrens books.
- GamesDozens of games and toys for all ages.
- Games for Kids
- Music LibraryWe have a classical music selection for your enjoyment.
- ToysLego, cars, games, etc, etc.
- Video LibraryA HUGE selection of Videos and DVD's for adults and children alike.
Outside
- Lawn / GardenWe own 30 acres of the hillside but the house field is 2.5 acres and the contained garden is half an acre. The garden is gated and deer fenced so your dogs get lots of safe freedom to run and play.
- Outdoor Grill
- Ski & SnowboardCairngorm Mountain range is just over 1 hour away at Aviemore.
- GolfCastle Stuart (site of the 2011 Scottish open) is 17 miles away beyond Inverness.
Notes
- Notes on accommodation: Although the house is very child friendly as we have used it for years now with our own children, I am aware that many people may like the house to be clutter free to enable a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Everything is neatly stored away neatly to facilitate this, however there are toys, games, etc. for every age. Outside: There are flower beds in front of the house, then a large gravel pathway to the side and front of house leading to the access track. Surrounding this is an expanse of grass around the main buildings and barns etc. Half an acre surrounding the house is deer fenced and once the gate is closed, dogs have the run of the place, however the remaining 5.5 acres attached to the property are longer grass and heather and can be accessed through several gates. We provide BBQ equipment, outdoor seating, netted trampoline for the children, swing ball etc. There is a hardwood table and 6 chairs with parasol. Several other wooden benches and seats are placed strategically at especially good view points around the garden. The track up to the house is a basic forestry track of around half a mile. A secret hideaway haven. Utility Room: The utility room (boot room) is a walk-in pantry set off from the kitchen/dining room. Lots of storage space for food, coats, bags, toys, shoes etc. Washing machine, vacuum cleaner, Iron and Ironing board. Brush, mop etc. for any spillages. Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service: Towels and linen are provided free of charge. We do not provide a cleaning service but spare linen and towels are available for everyone. Other: The large carpeted dining room adjoining the kitchen is a spacious extra room with solid wood pine table and seating for 6. There is also a 2 seater sofa and shelving in this room storing dozens of books, videos and DVDs, Games, maps
House Rules
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Cancellation Policy
100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date. 50% refund if canceled at least 30 days before arrival date.
17 Reviews
1 - 6 of 17
The property was was warm and cosy, with everything one could possibly need.
5/5 Stayed Oct 2018
Christine H.
The scenery was wonderful with the added bonus of snow on the mountains made it even more magical. Everything was perfect cosy and warm. Fully equipped with everything one could possibly need. Away from it all so peaceful and quiet. We saw a few reindeer. The garden was lovely the dogs loved it. Loch Ness just down the road which the grandchildren Chayce and Cristin loved the boat trip along the loch. Aviemore was just wonderful and visiting the reindeer centre. the children loved seeing Father Christmas little house, and Aviemore was covered in snow, Just magical.
Submitted Nov 5, 2018
Very peaceful location
5/5 Stayed Oct 2018
Peter L.
We had a very peaceful and relaxed stay. The weather in October may not be that good, but we had a variety of weather including 18C one one day very mixed on other days.
The dogs enjoyed the secure garden. We all had a wonderful time.
Submitted Oct 11, 2018
Beautiful old croft
5/5 Stayed Apr 2018
Brian H.
Property is very nice in lovely surroundings not to far from local amenities perfect little getaway. Loved it.
Submitted May 2, 2018
Splendid isolation yet 20 mins away from everything!
5/5 Stayed Oct 2017
Sarah H.🇬🇧
Love this cottage - felt utterly relaxed within seconds of walking through the door. No tv is actually a blessing and quality time with your holiday mates takes on a whole new level. Well equipped, dog friendly/safe, beautiful views and we also had great weather! Storage heaters keep the house warm during the day and the real log fire makes it cosy at night. We slept really well in the very comfortable bed and enjoyed long pleasant walks in the many local forests. A true haven!
Submitted Oct 15, 2017
Charming Cottage
4/5 Stayed Aug 2017
Bobby B.
We had a WONDERFUL time in Scotland and part of this was due to our stay at this charming little cottage. The cottage was clean and neat and about a 20 minute drive to Inverness Town Center. It was located in a perfect location for us and our travels. If you want quiet, calming and a little disconnect from the world, this charming little cottage is the place for you. However, there are some Con's and reasons for only 4 stars, one being the driveway getting there. First, you pull onto a one lane road that takes you about 5 miles up the mountain, then you come to the "Driveway" that leads to the Cottage. This drive is very bumpy and jarring. You will need to take it very slow. Second, there is a TV, but no service only DVD's, or VHS tapes, if you want to watch the TV when you come in from one of your outings. Last, there is no shower...a tub only. Which is not a big deal really, but it is something of a chore getting in and out of the tub, when you have a bad back, or knee's.
The owner's are VERY nice and easy to talk to. We didn't need anything per say while we were there, but I'm sure they would have been fine with us contacting them, if we needed help for anything.
Submitted Aug 28, 2017
Owner's Response:
Thanks for your review. I'm glad you had a good week at Rinuden and will warmly welcome you back anytime. In response to your comments, I imagine the terrain is very different from what you are used to in the states. The single track road from Inverness/Loch Ness, with passing places, is not at all unusual in the highlands, but you get the hang of them. It's part of the joy. The track is also part of the joy according to many of my visitors. The beautiful views from the cottage far outweigh the small amount of time spent in reaching such splendid isolation. Re. some of your other comments, I've always strived to ensure that my listing is very accurate. It explains clearly that there is a bath (no shower). Sorry if that was unexpected, but it's clearly listed and there is a shower attachment for the taps for those who require that in addition. With the TV, we have around 100 films in our 'library', and cutting off from 'live television' is really very liberating and absolutely deliberate. A positive choice if you like. The internet is always available for those who need the live news. There are no limits on broadband access. I'm writing this response partly for future readers who might appreciate the clarification. But as I said, you really were a pleasure to have as guests and I do hope the highland roads won't put you off visiting the area again. Kindest regards, Aislinn.
A character cottage in a stunning rural location. Great base to explore the Highlands
4/5 Stayed Aug 2017
Moz R.
Rinuden provided a great base for exploring the Highlands. Despite the short drive from Inverness and Loch Ness, it provided a peaceful retreat and offered beautiful views in its isolated but accessible position. The accommodation was warm and comfortable, and we particularly enjoyed the open fire during the evening (unlimited wood was provided). The small kitchen was very well equipped, and having access to a washing machine was an added bonus. An old crofters cottage with great character which is highly recommended
Submitted Aug 12, 2017
Owner's Response:
What wonderful guests.
So glad you enjoyed your stay at Rinuden.
It makes me really happy to have such lovely comments from you about our special place. You're welcome back any time!
1 - 6 of 17
Map
Inverness, Highland, Scotland, UK
Coast/Beach:
Loch Ness. 3.5 miles
Availability
Additional information about rental rates
Pet Fee
$7
Saturdays are best for changeover, but I can be flexible.