Ullapool, an appealing port and resort in Wester Ross, the fishing port of Ullapool in Wester Ross comes alive in summer when it receives a large influx of holidaymakers. Many move on by ferry to Stornoway on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, but it is a good base for exploring the area, and has a marvellous setting jutting out into Loch Broom. Attractions include the award-winning Ullapool Museum and a multitude of craft shops and galleries.
Email The Peatcutters's Croft enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around
Ullapool
"Gaze up at stunning star-filled skies by night and let
birdsong wake you in the morning”
Welcome to The Peatcutter’s Croft, a 150-year-old croft house on the hill above Little Loch Broom. Set in 11 acres of working croft land, it nestles on the foothills of Beinn Goblach and has uninterrupted views across to the imposing peaks of An Teallach and down to the shimmering loch below.
Our stylish bed and breakfast apartment is the perfect get-away-from-it-all destination all year round. Just over an hour’s drive from Inverness or 40 minutes from Ullapool, we are situated at the end of an 8-mile single-track road. This remote but accessible location makes The Peatcutter’s Croft the perfect retreat for lovers, adventurers or families looking for a slice of contemporary Scottish life.
The Peatcutters's Croft Accommodation
"Where tradition meet modern luxury”, Our tastefully-furnished apartment has its own front door so you can come and go as you please, making it the perfect base for taking it easy or enjoying the rich outdoor pursuits the area is so famous for. We can also cook a delicious meal of locally-sourced and homegrown produce for you to come home to.
The stylish self-contained bed and breakfast apartment is adjacent to our family home and is equipped with crisp bedding, fine toiletries and quality furnishings. You can relax in comfort - just pull down a book from the shelf, turn on the gaslight, snuggle into the sheepskin and warm your toes by the peat-burning stove.
Your apartment has its own front door, well-appointed bathroom, comfortable beds, easy chairs, Sky TV and gorgeous views across the loch below. It sleeps up to three people and can accommodate up to four children, too. We can supply a cot and highchair if you wish.
Children are half price.
Other facilities
You can wander through our large garden with its many fruit trees, play
the piano or guitar, or indulge in our wide selection of music, books
and board games. There is a drying area for boots, outdoor clothes and
wetsuits. Motorbikes, cycles etc can be stored securely in the shed. Internet
access is available.
Dining
The Peatcutter’s Croft is unlike most bed and breakfasts as here
breakfast and dinner is not served in a dining room, but in the homely
surroundings of our family kitchen, with guests dining with us just as
friends would. From guest feedback, we know that this is a particular
highlight of a stay here – and we’ve loved our many varied
conversations around the dining table.
You will breakfast on our own bacon and sausages (when available - it’s so tasty it goes fast!), fresh eggs from our happy hens, and our sensational home-made bread and muesli. All polished off with a cup of freshly ground coffee or a speciality tea.
Dinner at The Peatcutter's Croft is a delicious option, too – just give us a steer on what you like, bring your own wine and we'll rustle up something tasty. Our house specialities are locally-reared lamb or pork roasts with all the trimmings, wonderfully creamy risottos, interesting salads and deliciously different vegetarian dishes.
Here are a few of our guests’ favourites:
· Roast lamb in a Moorish marinade, served with hot mint sauce,
a pea puree and chickpea mash.
· Turlu Turlu - a complex, delicately spiced Morroccan vegetarian
dish with roasted peppers, al dente chick peas and coriander.
· Creamy king prawn and chorizo risotto, served with roasted cherry
tomatoes and a homegrown beetroot salad.
· Apple and berry crumble, made with fruit from our own orchard
and berry garden, served with our deliciously creamy homemade ice-cream.
Just a short stroll across the fields is the house's own rocky beach where you can sit in perfect solitude on the rocks and watch for porpoises or fish for fresh mackerel to grill on the Rayburn. The more adventurous can scale one of the area’s 22 Munros or cycle along the footpath to the pioneering Scoraig community at the tip of the peninsula.
When the day’s over you can luxuriate in front of the apartment’s toasty peat fire. Come to enjoy the good life at Peatcutter’s Croft and discover the beauty of Badrallach.
The Local Area
"Shell-ridden white sandy beaches, tree-lined gorges and massive
craggy peaks await you”
Situated on the Dundonnell Estate with its beautiful mansion house, The
Peatcutter’s Croft has been a working croft since the 19th Century.
Wherever possible, we live off the surrounding land and sea – growing
our own fruit and vegetables, enjoying fresh fish from the loch, cutting
peat from the hillside and using dead wood from the gorgeous birch forest
in our garden.
Local activities
Wonderful opportunities abound for sailing, scuba diving, hill walking,
bird watching, climbing, deer stalking, salmon and trout fishing and the
new local 9-hole golf course on the shores of Loch Broom. There is an
indoor swimming pool in Ullapool, and the area’s many sandy beaches
are easily accessible. These are just some of our favourites…
An Teallach
Composed of weathered Torridonian sandstone and Quartzite boulders, An
Teallach has two Munros (Bidean a’Glas Thuill and Sgurr Fiona) and
eight tops, the highest point being 3484ft. Deep corries, sheer drops
and impressive pinnacles, often coated with snow, make this one of Scotland's
finest mountains.
Ullapool
Whether it’s delicious fish and chips or a close encounter with
a Common Seal, Ullapool has many highlights and is just over half an hour
away. By day you can while away the hours in the cafes, pottery and bookshops,
and come the evening. The Chelidh Place is a fantastic
venue for food, drink and music.
Ullapool is also the gateway to the Outer Hebrides and there are regular Caledonian MacBrayne ferry sailings from and to the Isle of Lewis.
Gruinard Bay:
Just half an hour away you will find three beautiful beaches
around this bay, all with pink sand from the Torridon rocks. All are perfect
afternoon picnic destinations to fully appreciate the stunning sunset
views.
Mellon Udrigle
A beautiful white sandy beach, just 12 miles from Badrallach,
with a fabulous distant mountain vista. To the north east the views include
Suilven, 25 miles north, the mountains of Coigach, including the top of
Stac Pollaidh. To the south east the views treat you to a glimpse of An
Teallach.
Inverewe Gardens, Poolewe
The wonderfully-named Osgood MacKenzie began building a baronial-style
mansion and its fantastic gardens in 1862. Now owned by the National Trust,
the site is warmed by the Atlantic Gulf Stream, which has helped to produce
gardens of great beauty. Featuring massive rhododendrons, plus stunning
walled, Japanese and woodland themed areas, Inverewe also has a visitor
centre, shop, cafe and book shop. It is just half an hour’s drive
away.
Corrieshalloch Gorge
This mile-long gorge is 60m (200ft) deep, with the river plunging 46m
(150ft) over the Falls of Measach. You can walk over the suspension bridge
above the gorge and the viewing platform provides a great vantage point.
Beinn Ghoblach
The views from this hill, directly behind The Peatcutter’s Croft,
are stunning – with Ullapool, the Summer Isles, An Teallach and
the Scoraig peninsula stretching out before you.
Walk to Scoraig
Best-known for its pioneering use of wind power, the isolated crofting
community of Scoraig is only accessible by boat or on foot from Badrallach.
The 5-mile walk along the shore of Little Loch Broom offers some stunning
views out to sea.
Further afield..
Inverness, the famous Loch Ness, the Culloden battlefield, the historic
Caledonian Canal and Clava Cairns, a fascinating archaeological site,
are all just over an hour’s drive away. The A832 is a scenic route
which connects to Oban and the Isle of Skye if you wish to make the most
of your time here and travel down the stunning west coast.
DIRECTIONS
The Peatcutter's Croft is located in the small, beautiful township of
Badrallach on the Dundonnell estate. It is about an hour from Inverness
Airport with its direct air links to the major British airports.
By Air:
BA, BMI an EasyJet fly to Inverness Airport from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton,
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, the Isles and elsewhere. Collection can be
arranged at a small additional cost.
By Rail:
Garve is the nearest station on the stunning Inverness to Kyle route.
It is about 30 miles away and collection can be arranged at a small additional
cost.
By Road:
The journey time from Inverness is just over an hour. Take the A9 north
from Inverness onto the A835 to Ullapool. Approx. 10 miles from Ullapool,
at Braemore Junction, turn left onto the A832 and proceed for another
10 miles before turning right onto the single-track road, signposted for
Badrallach, for a further eight miles.
If you're travelling north along the coast from Gairloch, follow the A823 and turn left at the Badrallach signpost about one and a half miles past the Dundonnell Hotel. Please be aware that coming up the coast road from Inverness will add almost two hours to your journey time.
By Bus:
We can arrange pick-up from Inverness or Braemore Junction (15 miles away),
which is served several times daily by both Rapsons and Citylink to and
from the Ullapool-Stornaway ferry. The Westerbus, Gairloch-Inverness-Gairloch
route also passes the road end (7 miles away) on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Saturdays.
Email The Peatcutters's Croft enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
