The single track road into the Torridon area winds itself dramatically through iconic Scottish Highland landscapes. We travel quickly down it, feeling right at home being back in one of our favorite areas of Scotland. We’ve continuously returned here since our first visit back in 2018.

This time, we’re headed toward a newly finished home outside of Shieldaig to spend the next six nights during our 11th trip to Scotland. We’ve just flown in from Los Angeles by way of Denver, arriving in Inverness. We pick up our rental car and off we go toward the west coast for the next 1 hr 50 min.

Perched overlooking dramatic views of Loch Shieldaig, Torridon, and Diabaig hills, Creag na h’iolaire (‘rock of the eagle,’ Scot’s Gaelic) appears as more secret James Bond lair than typical Scottish cottage.

Once inside, the expansive landscape feels very much like it could possibly be the best view in the world.

Besides the views, the thoughtful styling of the house adds to the experience. It also has a few modern conveniences that I really must have at my own house someday, including a faucet feature that (safely) activates instant boiling water. The laundry room and appliances are the nicest in a holiday home we’ve ever rented.

Modern interiors are not usually what my blog focuses around. Oftentimes they feel too sterile and without artistic charm, so my partner and I don’t gravitate toward them. But Creag na h’iolaire beats both assumptions and is by far the most comfortable, cosy, and inspiring house we’ve had the pleasure of experiencing on holiday.

We’ve spent a fair amount of time in the Wester Ross area on previous trips. One of my favorite places in the world is Diabaig, accessible via a long single-track road that is known to raise the hair on the back of many a traveler’s neck. It’s an area famous for its incredibly scenic walks, from beginner tracks to strenuous munro bagging. There is also opportunity to rent kayaks at the local Kayak Shack in Shieldaig.

Shieldaig and Torridon are quaint and peaceful loch side villages with just enough of what one needs. There are plenty of local produce and products that are incredibly top-notch, and it’s one of the joys of staying in this area. I wish I could fill an entire suitcase with the local salmon pates, cheeses, and meats. My favorite stop is Loch Torridon Smokehouse, tucked behind the main row of houses in Shieldaig. The Smoked Salmon Pate is a must.

But if you don’t feel like cooking in the well equipped kitchen for every meal, there’s plenty of options in the area that rival the best restaurants in big cities. Ghille Brighe in Lower Diabaig attracts locals and visitors alike and is one of our favorites for the scenery and friendly, casual hospitality (and excellent food from local ingredients, of course).

We also made reservations at Bo and Muc, the more casual dining option available to non-residents at The Torridon just down the road from the house, following by a dram at The Whisky Bar (or, as I prefer, trying The Torridon’s very own gin Arcturus). After dinner, a walk around The Torridon property is an absolute must, including their own kitchen garden and into their woodland walks.

On previous trips to the area, we can also highly recommend dinner at The Applecross Inn, which is an incredible wee road trip as well. One really must have the Bealach na Ba single-track road on their bucket list of things to experience.

No matter the Scottish weather, there’s a bounty of cinema in watching the ever-changing light and wildlife. It’s viewable from nearly every room in the house. Whether you’re cooking, showering, soaking in the tub, sipping a dram near the fire, or just waking up, you’re greeted by the natural world around you.

Having these surroundings makes you want to wake up at sunrise and go to bed late to not miss a single moment. While we’re there, the sunrise is around 4:30a. Most days, we have overcast mornings that clear more in the afternoon. But the one or two days we have the sun break through the clouds, even momentarily, it’s nothing short of awe-inspiring. Scotland earns her sunshine, and this house is there to soak it up in all its glory. But even the gentle sunsets are worth hanging around the house for, as again – you can’t beat this view so sometimes you feel, “Why go anywhere else?”

The fortunate owners of the property, Bridget and Gareth, certainly knew the promise of this steep, rocky outcrop they purchased back in 2016. They repaired the previously scarred landscape from a past excavation attempt prior to their ownership and, along with their incredible architectural and building team, designed a sustainable house worth generations of enjoyment.

Creag na h-iolaire is available to book here: https://www.creagnahiolaire.com
Follow them on Instagram: @creag.na.h_iolaire
More about the house and its owners: https://www.creagnahiolaire.com/about-us
*I do not receive any commission from bookings.

Follow me on Instagram: @ladyemilytravels @emilysandiferphoto

Below are some images from previous trips of the surrounding areas, taken in various time of the year (May and October, mostly)