Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage - Stay next to a Lighthouse and explore the far North of Scotland

A unique holiday cottage on Scotland’s North Coast 500

Have you always wanted to stay at a Lighthouse? Are you looking for somewhere unusual to stay in Scotland for a short break or a longer adventure?

Noss Head Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage is one of Scotland’s hidden gems, just off the NC500 route in the Scottish Highlands.

The cottage is a light and cosy home from home, set on a headland with sea on three sides – you can even see a ruined castle out of the kitchen window! It is the perfect place to stay, whether you want a romantic weekend getaway, or a holiday packed with family-friendly activities for the kids and the dog.

Thoughtful touches for a relaxing stay

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage sleeps up to six people in three bedrooms, and dogs are welcome too.

• The Wifi runs between 7Mb to 20Mb – so it’s fine for Zoom calls or streaming movies to our Smart TV*.
• Our family / dining room has a big table perfect for eating together, playing board games, or sorting through photos on your laptop.
• The living room has comfy seating for everyone and a selection of family-favourite DVDs.
• Our well-equipped kitchen is designed for creating family meals.
• The bathroom has recently been refitted with a large shower.
• The bedrooms have organic towels and bedlinen.
• EV Trickle Charging on-site by arrangement.
• The cottage has been furnished with accessibility and neurodiversity in mind – see ask for details.

*We are very rural, so wifi is not guaranteed but so far it’s always been fine.

The perfect getaway for couples

If you want to relax and reset, the cottage is the perfect place to reconnect.

It’s light and cosy if you just need some indoor down-time in a lovely place. You will be surrounded by stunning views with some wonderful places to walk, whether you want a gentle stroll to the nearby ruined Castle Sinclair Girnigoe, or to spend a day tackling the coastal John o’Groats trail.

Several of our local distilleries offer tastings and tours, and you can visit the King’s favourite summer retreat at the Queen Mother’s Castle of Mey.

Great for family adventures

Take the family on days out and adventures to ruined castles, or on a boat trip to see orcas and visiting puffins. 

Families with young children love the fairy glen at Latheron. Teenagers often enjoy taster sessions for surfing or body boarding.

The cottage is a truly family-friendly place to stay, with boardgames and books as well as family favourite DVDs and activity packs for younger kids if it’s a rainy day. We even provide kites for taking on the beach!

We provide a high chair and plastic crockery and cutlery for tinies, and a child gate if you want to stop small people getting into the kitchen.

A dog-friendly cottage in a dog-friendly place

Caithness is lovely place to bring your dog. If you come in the summer, your dog might even go home with a rosette! Take them to the County Show or Highland Games, and enter them into the dog show, but be careful your pup isn’t “the dog the judges most want to take home!”

We have great beaches for dogs to run on, and hidden forest trails for them to explore, and our own dogs just love sniffing round the harbour. After your walk, you’ll find most of our pubs and cafés will make a huge fuss over your pupper too. 

Inside the Cottage, we provide dog towels for muddy paws, and throws for the furniture. You’ll find a water bowl, some poo bags and doggy treats, and a calming plug to  help your pup adjust to being away from home.

Getting here

Punch KW1 4QT into your sat nav, and drive until you are up by the Lighthouse!

You can fly to Inverness from many UK and European airports, or take the train to Inverness or Wick and hire a car. We are on the Eastern leg of the North Coast 500, and a perfect stop-off for a trip to Orkney

Travel times:

• Inverness: 2½ hours
• Edinburgh or Glasgow: 6 hours
• Manchester or Leeds: 9 hours
• Birmingham: Over 10 hours
• London: 13 hours

Add time for breaks!

If you are driving up in winter, we recommend you drive the A9 from Perth to Inverness in daylight so there is less chance of ice and snow. Consider stopping in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Perth.

Who else is here

My name is Ben, I have been proud to welcome guests here since 2018.

We live next door (along with our cat and our Newfoundland dog) so if you have any questions, I am just round the corner and can help you straight away.

Noss Head is a working lighthouse, so contractors sometimes come up to do maintenance work.

And remember, everyone loves a lighthouse! In good weather, walkers may come up to the compound. We always ask them to keep their dogs on leads.

Book your perfect break

Book direct with me or via Airbnb.

Family breaks range from £450 for three nights to £1230 for a week depending on the time of year.

Or phone or WhatsApp Ben on 07771702089 for an off-season pitstop for two-nights for two people for £250. Great for couples or friends.