Self Catering Cottage at Dores

This is a traditional cottage in a prime location in the quiet village of Dores in the Highlands of Scotland. Properties right on the shore of Loch Ness are very rare, and this one has a spectacular outlook on the picturesque bay. The kitchen/dining area and the upstairs bedrooms all overlook this view, which is equally impressive in sunshine or storm. The colours of the loch, the land and the sky seem to change with every hour, not just with the seasons, so this is a panorama you will never tire of. A perfect base for a Highland holiday.

The kitchen and dining area is a relatively modern extension - it has big windows so that you can have your meals looking out on to the expanse of the most famous Loch in the world, with nothing but a few feet of mown grass between you and the water. The rest of the building is much older. The cottage consists of two bedrooms upstairs, one king-size and one twin, and down the quaint original staircase are another twin bedroom and the bathroom. (This staircase is rather steep and narrow, a factor which you should take into account when you are deciding whether this property is for you.) The cosy living room has an open fire, and is lined with wood, as are the upstairs bedrooms and the stairway. You will find a supply of logs in the woodshed, but the main warmth is provided by a full central heating system.

There is a TV with the free Sky channels in the living room, and a CD player in the kitchen. We have recently installed a private ramp for launching and recovering small boats, so if you have something towable, bring it with you. The Dores Inn is just the other side of the hedge, but since the public bar, main entrance and car park are all at the other end of the building this does not impinge on the tranquillity of the cottage. The restaurant does excellent meals at a reasonable price, and the tiny public bar has a tempting variety of ales. You can get coffee and cake in the lounge, where there is even a free wi-fi connection.