One of The Observer's 50 Essential Travel Websites

Quick search

Inspire me

Browse maps

Orkney Islands East Highland North Highland Western Isles, Isle of Lewis Angus, Dundee Aberdeenshire, East Grampians Perth and Kinross, Grampians Easter Ross, Moray, Inverness East Mull, North Argyll and Bute, South Highland Highland, Wester Ross, East Skye Highland, Western Isles, West Skye Isle of Mull, Isle of Coll Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Cheviot Hills, Berwick-upon-Tweed Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway Edinburgh, Lothian, Fife Glasgow, South Stirling, East Argyll and Bute, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, Southern Uplands Mull of Kintyre Jura, Islay, Argyll and Bute North Lincolnshire, Kingston upon Hull East Riding of Yorkshire, Scarborough York, South and West Yorkshire North Yorkshire, Darlington, Middlesborough, South Durham Manchester, Merseyside, Blackpool, South Lancashire Cumbria, The Pennines Holy Island, Isle of Anglesey Isle of Man South Suffolk, East Essex Norfolk Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire Lincolnshire, Rutland, Peterborough, West Norfolk Worcestershire, Warwickshire, North Gloucestershire, North Oxfordshire Staffordshire, South Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Birmingham Powys, West Herefordshire East Gwynedd, South Conwy, Denbighshire, West Cheshire, Shropshire Gwynedd, Wales West Coast Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion Southend, Dover, East Kent Brighton, East Sussex, West Sussex London, North Surrey, North Kent Southampton, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight West Berkshire, Swindon, Hampshire, West Surrey Dorset, East Devon, Bournemouth North Somerset, West Wiltshire, Bristol, Newport North Devon, Exmoor, West Somerset South Devon, Dartmoor, Plymouth, East Cornwall North Cornwall North Cornwall West Cornwall

Special Escapes: Self-catering in the UK

Assynt House

Assynt House, Evanton, Ross-shire, Scotland

So impressive is this turreted, listed, 18th-century dower house that Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt spent their honeymoon here. A century later, trees were growing through the roof. Undeterred, new owners Elizabeth and Graham embarked on a five-year restoration, replacing every plank of oak and reproducing every inch of cornicing; it became a cause celèbre. The hall's coat stand, umbrellas and vase of fresh flowers create a first impression of a super-relaxed place to stay. Step into a big, warm, wood-panelled living room with sofas, logs, candles, more flowers, and an antique table that seats 14. On the lower ground floor are three bedrooms and a room for music, games and TV; on the first floor, four big bedrooms decorated in a mix of contemporary and classic style (fun hot water bottles, fabulous king-size beds) and a spiral staircase leading to a little room with a telescope and views of the Cromarty Firth. The bathrooms are, without exception, stunning; the light, airy, beautifully equipped kitchen lends itself to eating, drinking and chilling. Outside are six acres of peaceful wooded hills above whose magnificent trees eagles soar, and a bothy at the back where your friendly, charming and attentive hosts live.

Breakfasts, lunches and evening meals on request.

Next steps

Details

Assynt House

Contact: Graham & Elizabeth Waugh

  • Tel: 01349 832923
  • Sleeps: 14 (18 with cots and fold-away beds).
  • Rooms: 3 doubles (1 with cast iron bath & shower, 1 with bath/shower); 1 with double spa bath & shower); 4 twin/doubles (2 with bath/shower, 1 with shower, 1 with bath & shower).
  • Price: £1,900 – £3,200. Christmas/New Year £4100
  • Closed: Rarely.
  • Changeover: Flexible
Children are positively welcomed, with no age restrictions, but cots, high chairs etc are not necessarily available. No smoking anywhere in the house. Wireless internet access available for guests.

Checklist

  • Dishwasher
  • Electricity included
  • Washing machine
  • Microwave oven
  • Central heating
  • Mobile reception
  • Television
  • BBQ
  • Beach within 3 miles
  • Cooked meals available
  • Restaurant nearby
  • Short breaks possible
  • Extra bed/cot available
  • Shop within 3 miles

Points of interest

  • The Black Isle Villages to visit and breathtaking local walks, red kites are often spotted in this area
  • Guided Walks, Distilleries, Salmon & Trout Fishing Nearby
  • Dolphin & Wildlife Boat Tours in the Cromarty Firth 20 Miles
  • Dornoch Beach, Village & Royal Dornoch Golf Course 30 Miles
  • The Famous Loch Ness 40 Miles, Boat cruises and Urquhart Castle
  • West Coast a drive away, visit Inverewe Gardens 72 Miles

This information is provided by owners and is not endorsed by ASP. If you have questions about it, please contact the owners.

Assynt House Assynt House exterior

Assynt House exterior

Assynt House Wood-panelled sitting room

Wood-panelled sitting room

Assynt House Super-king sleigh bed in Raspberry room

Super-king sleigh bed in Raspberry room

Assynt House Cast iron bath in green ensuite

Cast iron bath in green ensuite

Photo captions have been written by the owner or management of Assynt House and are not verified or endorsed by ASP.

Help

Children welcome but cots, high chairs, etc. are not necessarily available.
Guests’ pets can sleep in the bedroom (not on the bed).
Working farm.
Wireless internet access available for guests.
No smoking anywhere in the house.
Full and approved wheelchair facilities.
Tennis court on premises; use may be by arrangement.
Credit cards accepted; most commonly Visa and Mastercard.
Bikes on the premises to hire or borrow.
Swimming pool on the premises; use may be by arrangement.
Within 10 miles of a bus/coach/train station and owner can arrange collection.
At least one bedroom and bathroom accessible without steps.

Hide symbol explanations ↑

Show me places nearby

Search Britain again

Anchor Butter Competition