Allt an t-Saoir

Picture the Scottish coastal landscape that’s on every visitor’s must-see list, the scene shared on decades of postcards and tourist board adverts. You know the one: an azure sea loch dotted with tiny islands, a sprinkling of trees, tussocky grazing, heathery moorland, layers of rocky, snow-capped mountains, and not a person in sight. Now add a timber-clad, turf-roofed home on the water’s edge. This is Allt an t-Saoir.

Pronounced OWLT un TEE-ir, the name is Gaelic for The Carpenter’s Burn, in homage to a nearby stream. The lodge is designed to maximise its prime location overlooking Loch Shieldaig in Torridon.

Kitchen and living

The main living space — an open-plan kitchen, dining room and lounge — has panoramic views so mesmerising you may find yourself trimming down your holiday itinerary to allow more time for simply…watching.

If the weather isn’t being kind (this is Scotland, after all), the cocooning interior lets you enjoy the show from a place of comfort. Make a coffee / tea / whisky / wine / snack (add or delete as appropriate) in the well-equipped kitchen, and settle into one of the strategically placed sofas or armchairs.

Bedrooms and bathrooms

Even at bedtime, there’s no escaping the region’s wild beauty. The two king bedrooms, which flank the living space, have large windows and French doors opening onto the garden, private patio and outdoor seating. A third bedroom sleeps two on bunk beds. A family bathroom serves this room and the king opposite, while the master has its own ensuite shower room.

There’s a WC off the entrance porch, too, which has plenty of space for outdoor clothes and shoes. A desk and reading chair occupy the adjoining spacious hallway.

Outdoors

This home is the ideal place to switch off with family or friends. A ramp leads to the front door, and the single-level layout with spacious rooms suits those with limited mobility. Private parking outside accommodates up to three vehicles.

Location

Allt an t-Saoir is tucked away from the crowds, yet is only a short drive from Shieldaig and Torridon, making it an ideal location for exploring the western Scottish Highlands. Pore over a map of the surrounding area and you’ll find a roll call of popular Munros, including Beinn Eighe, Beinn Alligin, Beinn Damh and Beinn Liath Mhòr, alongside plenty of shorter, low-level and coastal walks, some from the doorstep. Cyclists may relish the famed Bealach na Bà ascent to nearby Applecross; non-cyclists will perhaps be drawn to the just-as-famous Applecross Inn, or one of the many other quality eateries in the area.

Important information

Licence Number HI-11032-F

EPC Rating B