Email Rua Reidh Lighthouse Hostel enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around Gairloch
Rua Reidh has offered guided walking in the Highlands for nearly 20 years
and we have become walking experts in this area with guides not only taking
care of your safety and well-being but also having local knowledge often
not found in the guide books!
From here, you can explore a variety of wildlife habitats (coastal and mountain) and see birds, whales, dolphins, etc.
Rua Reidh Lighthouse is a unique and exciting place to 'get away from it all'. Leave the artificial trappings, worries and pace of everyday life behind and experience the raw elements, majestic landscape and wild seascape of the North West Highlands of Scotland.
With comfortable accommodation in the old keeper's house, a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and excellent home cooking, it provides the perfect base from which to explore one of the last wilderness areas of Europe.
Rua Reidh Lighthouse Hostel Accommodation
If you've ever dreamed of staying at a lighthouse, why not come and stay in one of our comfy rooms with either meals provided or self catering. Situated on a remote peninsula in the North-West Scottish Highlands, 12 miles from the village of Gairloch and 3 miles from the nearest dwelling, Rua Reidh Lighthouse is a unique and exciting place to 'get away from it all'.
We offer the following options ranging from bed and breakfast to self
catering:
· Accommodation in 4 Star Hostel (Visit Scotland grading)
· Principal Keepers Quarters with 5 bedrooms sleeping 15 (available
from 1 May 2011 onwards)
· First Officer's Quarters with 3 bedrooms sleeping 5 (available
from 1 May 2011 onwards)
Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
Built in 1910 by a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson, it is now fully automated,
allowing the keeper's house within the lighthouse compound to be converted
to provide comfortable and homely accommodation.
Guests have the choice between twin/double rooms with ensuite facilities or shared bathrooms. Family bedrooms are also available (each with a double bed and set of bunk beds). All rooms have comfy beds, central heating and tea/coffee making facilities are available. Meals are charged separately.
The Keepers' House also has a drying room, conservatory, sitting room with log burning fires, a wealth of books to suit all tastes and a stack of board games to play, along with magnificent views out over the Minch to Skye and the Western Isles. Binoculars and maps are available for your use.
Self Catering Principal Keeper's Quarters
Rent the Principal Keepers Quarters in the Lighthouse Keepers House. Sleeps
15 in 5 bedrooms as follows:
. Family room with en suite bathroom. Double bed & set of bunk beds
(or two single and set of bunks).
. Family room with double bed and set of bunks sharing a bathroom.
. Family room with en suite facilities. Double/twin bed & single bed.
. Double/twin room with en suite facilities.
. Twin room sharing a bathroom.
. Sitting room & a separate TV room.
. Large conservatory dining room with tables and chairs to seat 20.
. Main kitchen with range cooker etc plus a separate kitchenette o Shared
drying/laundry room.
The price includes linen & towels, starter pack of fuel for the open fires, central heating oil & electricity and VAT at prevailing rate. There is a payphone on the premises, washing machine and dishwashers. The house has full central heating and is double glazed.
Entry is after 4.00pm and we ask that you leave the house by 10.00am
on the departure day.
Credit card accepted - MasterCard or Visa.
First Officer's Quarters
Through Unique Cottages we will be renting the First Officer's Quarters
from 1 May 2011. This ground floor apartment sleeps 5 and comprises:
· Sitting room with multi-fuel stove and TV/DVD
· Dining kitchen with gas hob and electric oven, fridge-freezer
and microwave, etc.
· 1 double bedroom with en suite shower room
· 1 twin bedroom with wash basin
· 1 single bedroom
· 1 shower room with shower, WC and wash basin
There is a terrace outside the apartment where it is possible to sit out and another even more sheltered area within the central 'courtyard'.
Bed linen, towels, electricity and oil central heating are included. Wireless Broadband available. Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome under strict control (sheep grazing around the lighthouse). No smoking in the house. Private water supply.
Visitor Centre
A small visitor centre at the lighthouse with visitor information on wildlife,
nature and lighthouse history, vending machine catering and toilet facilities
is open daily 9am — 6pm all year round. In addition, a viewing area
looking out over the Atlantic with telescope and binoculars and a small
gift shop is open during the summer months.
Activities and Attractions
Guided Walks
Full day, half day walks and family walks. Wildlife Walking in the Scottish
Highlands.
From the lighthouse walls Whales, Dolphin, Basking Shark and Atlantic Seals can often be viewed when the sea is not too rough. Coastal plant life clings precariously to steep cliffs as do nesting Fulmars, Shags and Kittiwakes and the moors are alive with the flowers of bog and heather providing cover for ground nesting Golden Plover and Red Grouse.
Other birds sometimes seen include the magnificent White Tailed Eagle, Skua, Red & Black Throated Divers and in autumn the tiny Storm Petrel is sometimes drawn towards the light as they return to their nests at night time!
Join us on a walk to hear more about the Rua Reidh environment.
Guided day walk: 10.00am - 4.00pm around the Rua Reidh Headland going over the moors to Lochan Druing ancient woodland, along the fault line to the sandy beach of Camus Mhor and then along the coast on the cliff path back to Rua Reidh.
Half day walks: 10.00am - 1.00pm or 1.00pm - 4.00pm: To watch the seabirds nesting near the Lighthouse, explore the immediate moorland area and linger by the coast, eyes strained out to sea in hope of seeing that elusive whale, or dolphin!
Family seashore exploration: Fun for the family with small children on the rocky shores around Rua Reidh. Catch a Butter Fish, learn the difference between a Limpet and a Barnacle, search the rock pools for beautiful red aenenome’s, sticklebacks, crabs, etc.
A guided exploration lasting a couple of hours. We also look at the environmental changes affecting the seashore in recent times — e.g. increasing use of plastics, climate change and our own impact.
Rock Climbing
From basic rock climbing skills to improving your technique and confidence
- instruction tailored to your individual needs. Or take it a step further
and learn to lead. All technical equipment is provided. Family rates available.
Enjoy the route of your choice or just sample some of the abundant local climbing venues. Our local guide and instructor, Paul Tattersall, offers a friendly and professional service throughout the North West of Scotland.
He is fully qualified (Mountain Instructor Award), and has over 25 years of rock climbing experience from all over the world. Paul is also involved with the production and publishing of local climbing guides, Wild West Tops.
Driving Directions:
From Inverness take the A9 north then the A835 heading towards Ullapool.
Just past the village of Garve turn left and follow all signs to Gairloch
for the next 45 miles.
After reaching Gairloch, continue through the village for a mile before turning left by the Police Station onto a road signposted to Melvaig. Continue along this road for 13 miles, the last three of these being the private road to Rua Reidh.
The whole journey from Inverness takes around 2 hours, from Gairloch around 30 minutes and the last three miles are very slow as the road is narrow and winding. Please note that local petrol stations around Gairloch are closed on Sundays.
Email Rua Reidh Lighthouse Hostel enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
