Knoydart House, Knoydart, Highlands, Scotland

Totally private and purposely low profile; Knoydart House takes off grid living in luxury to a new level with one of the best hot tub views in the UK, overlooking Loch Nevis towards the Isle of Skye and Small isles on the remote Knoydart Peninsula. Newly built in 2010 it offers unrivalled peace and seclusion for 10 guests with an irrepressible spirit of adventure. Larch clad with wraparound floodlit decking, unparalleled views, low energy lightbulbs throughout, high grade insulation, underfloor heating via thermal heat pump and electricity powered by private community hydro system.

South facing with floor to glass windows, vaulted ceilings, open beams and locally crafted drystone fireplace this large social space is an ideal venue for special occasions, birthdays, weddings and intimate gatherings with your favourite people. 5 bedrooms, 3 en-suite, one four poster king size canopy bed with memory phone mattress, 3 superkings or twins to suit your party (2 with private decking accessed by sliding doors) and one fixed twin room. Furnished to a very high standard with antiques, wifi, blu ray dvd, Bose sound dock, flatscreen tvs, running machine, complimentary arran aromatics hand soaps and lotions.

Knoydart House is sited in Britain’s, last known wilderness and our lochside hideaway is accessed by private water taxi (15 min family safe, sheltered sealoch crossing). There are three munros at our shoulders, woodland and low level walks. This unspoiled location has amazing sealife and wildlife in abundance, deer, sea-eagles, pine martin, porpoise, dolphin, seals. Watch otters play at dawn with your breakfast alfresco on the deck. There is a newly created bike track courtesy of the Knoydart Forest Trust taking you through our native woodland, ranger guided walks, Knoydart in a nutshell, stalking with a camera, fungi foraging, crabbing, long lazy beach walks, marshmallows on our fire or drop into our friendly local tearoom and pottery for a hot chocolate. There are plenty options for fast water charters for remote beach picnics, beach barbecues or day trips to the Isle of Skye and small isles of Eigg, Muck , Canna or Rum Enjoy fresh shellfish, langoustines and scallops at our local award-winning pub, the remotest pub in mainland britain. The house has an array of boardgames, good Scottish authors books on local interest and history as well as a full size cello, acoustic guitar and games chest.

A welcome supply of tea, coffee, ground coffee for the Gaggia, sugar and a pint of fresh milk await your arrival, as well as sensitively sourced Ecover products and eco bin bags for your use. All towels, electricity, starter pack of logs, crisp white linen, and hot tub towels are provided. Mamas and Pappas Cot, Tripp Trapp Stokke High chair, baby monitors, and popular stories by contemporary Scottish authors such as Hairly maclairy and Katie Morag for our little guests. Well behaved dogs are welcome by arrangement.

How does Knoydart House minimise its impact on the environment and contribute to a sense of place?

Knoydart House runs on a thermal air heat pump and has high-grade insulation throughout the property. Other features include half flush loos, OWL monitors for measuring electricity consumption, and water pebbles in the showers which let guests know how much water they have used. Knoydart runs off the grid and instead uses a small hydro system, with a back up generator for the house. All light bulbs are low energy, and there's a wood burning stove which runs on locally sourced wood from the Knoydart Forest Trust. Packaging is reduced by using dispensers for all toiletries. Glass, paper and aluminium are recycled – recycling bins and bottle banks are provided for guests.

Environmentally friendly cleaning products are used throughout, and all water comes from a private water supply from the hills beyond the property, passing through a UVA purification system when it reaches the house. Knoydart also has a market garden where fresh fruit and vegetables can be bought in season. The local pub serves estate venison, Knoydart langoustines, mussels and hand dived scallops, reducing food miles and encouraging economic sustainability and employment locally. Guided walks of the local area can be arranged as well as seal, whale and dolphin spotting.

Reviewed by Rhiannon Batten

"A great way to experience what’s been dubbed one of Europe’s last great wildernesses without having to do away with luxury, Knoydart House will tick lots of boxes for lots of guests. It also has its heart in the right place; this may be a new kid on the block – and a very upmarket one at that - but it’s no upstart; Ian and Jackie have been helping the peninsula develop its tourism infrastructure for two decades and their experience shows, both in the finer details and in the way the guest experience here is rooted in its location."

Read Rhiannon's full review of Knoydart House.