Ceol Mor Highland Lodges

20/09/2024

Friday Lodge Update. We have put a new blog live! Once again, we have done a little collaboration with Holiday Scottish Highlands & Islands. This time we're highlighting some of the many waterfalls that you can see in the area - there's just loads! You can see their blog here: https://www.holidayscottishhighlands.co.uk/best-waterfalls-in-scotland/

13/09/2024

Friday Photo Time. July & August update. Loads going on! We've had some stunning sunsets early August, been exploring many new places as well as some old favourites. We've done new things in all directions and had even tea on the beach. The pine Martens have been exceptionally busy and it feels like a bus load were coming in at times! We've also had a special treat with 2 of our grandchildren coming to stay for a few days.

16/08/2024

Friday video time. Continuing our run of video posts, here is a short video of a trip we did out in a small RIB around a couple of uninhabited islands off the north coast. We saw lots of geology, some wildlife and got a glimpse as to what happens to a landscape when man leaves it. We went out from Skerray harbour which was super pretty and was also new ground for us to explore. There's just endless opportunities to explore new places. Nick (RIB captain) if you watch this, apologies I had forgotten to put the 360 camera in 360 mode so footage perhaps not as expected.

07/08/2024

If you drive or rent an EV, we’ll definitely be able to remove that range anxiety. As we drive an EV ourselves, we can help our guests plan their journeys

04/08/2024

The Flow Country is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site! The RSPB Forsinard centre is an amazing place to get views across some of the landscape that is roughly 4,000 km2 across Caithness and Sutherland. The Flow Country is one of the world's largest carbon sinks and is characterised by its extensive blanket bog landscape. Recently, some of our guests visited and they loved it. Here's a few photos from a trip we did a while back - we'll be back with some more sometime soon I think.

02/08/2024

Friday video time. One of the things we really make a big effort to do is to find new things to see which we really love doing so we can talk to our guests with first hand experience. One gap that we've had for a few years is to do the mini bus trip to Cape Wrath. Well, in June, we finally made it. Here is a little video of our trip.
https://youtu.be/RB5JcCo4cxQ?si=FHOTkboCr855-g_q

A tour to Cape Wrath first taking a ferry from East Keoldale Pier near Durness and then an 11 mile drive on a track to the cape. Definitely pop into the cafe...

26/07/2024

Friday photo time. Another amazing walk discovered...find it on Walk Highlands. A mostly circular walk to an ancient broch, across some moorland, along a huge golden beach and by a beautiful river. All, with the added bonus of being right by Crumbs Cake Cupboard which is highly recommended. There's great views from the broch and there were loads of birds and flowers there. Probably a 3-4 hour walk if you take it all in. You'll also have a beautiful drive along Strathnaver.

20/07/2024

Thanks Decking Daddy for a new bit of decking out front…more improvement to our general outdoor area

19/07/2024

Friday Photo Time. We are often asked about distilleries and which ones are best. So, we set ourselves a mission to check out all 3 of the local ones. Last year we visited Balblair and this year we have been to Glenmorangie and Clynelish. They are all very good and worth a visit. Many will know which one they already want...but if you don't we'll let you know the positives of each.

12/07/2024

Friday Photo Time. May & June update. It has been another couple of busy months. May had superb weather and was the hottest place in the UK for a while. June, on the other hand, was quite mixed and even chilly at times until the end of the month. We've had lots of guests in all on such different holidays. Two even arrived in a Morgan 3 wheeler and took Alan out for a passenger ride. The birds have been multiplying exponentially as the breeding season really gets going and the garden is full of bees. The Pine Martens have been very regular visitors and it's lovely to see them in the light evenings. Even a red squirrel might become a regular visitor. We've done a couple of distillery tours so we can talk first hand about them (they are all very good). Alan has got in some hikes into the hills and on the west & north coasts. There's even been a few jaunts down south to see family 🥰.

11/07/2024

Pine marten bus arrived this evening!

05/07/2024

Friday photo time. Did you know that Chanonry Point is one of the best places in the world to watch dolphins from the shore? It really is. If you get the tide times perfect, in the summer you'll be treated to a potentially awesome show. There'll also often be a load of sea birds there. Look closely at the photo of the tern....it's not flying upside down but its head is turned 180 degrees looking up - supposedly in case a peregrine is about!

03/07/2024

Double act tonight!

21/06/2024

Friday photo time. While we offer itinerary help and have loads of leaflets to give out, you might want to pop into Ferry Croft Visitor Centre in Lairg. There's some stuff for kids as well as loads about the local area - including lots about Lairg being very close to the epicentre of one of earth's biggest ever asteroid strikes.

14/06/2024

Friday photo time. A few weeks back Alan walked out to Sandwood Bay - his personal favourite. It's a decent hike being 9 miles from car to surf plus whatever exploring you do there. There's a freshwater loch behind some fabulous dunes. Watch out for birds - there were Sanderlings and Skylarks when Alan went. It's a fabulous reward after about 4 miles when you come over the brow of a hill and see such a fantastic landscape spread out before you.

07/06/2024

Friday video time. Recently, we were contacted by a German composer, Claudius Karch who had written a piece of music called Ceol Mor Highlands and then he found us! This song, sung by Melissa Hollick is just out on Spotify and we thought to give you just a taster. On our little video, we also thought to let you know what Ceol Mor means - it's Big Music. Also, our lodges have Gaelic names - Abhainn and Glenn meaning River and Valley so the definitions are here...then of course us! Then, one of our fave photos of the lodges. Hope you enjoy the little taster.

31/05/2024

Friday Lodge Update. We have put a new blog live. We have done a little collaboration with Holiday Scottish Highlands & Islands to answer some FAQs. On the back of this, we have done our own version for our website. These really are some of the most commonly asked questions we get. Holiday Scottish Highlands & Islands

24/05/2024

Friday Photo Time. Gorse…. At this time of year the gorse is beautiful. It covers hillsides, cliffs and hills with a beautiful yellow and smell of coconut.

19/05/2024

Some of our guests in quite unusual but amazing transport. Staying with us and heading out to the corners of the NC500 enjoying the interior scenery as well as the coastal route. After the Applecross pass yesterday, where will today’s adventure take them?

17/05/2024

Damn good weather up Ceol Mor Highland Lodges this week 🌞🌞🌞

Parts of the Highlands and Moray the hottest in the UK by a mile once again.

1pm readings shown.

17/05/2024

Friday photo time. Continuing our recent theme of recommending a stop off in the central highlands on the way to us, here’s Dulsie Bridge. The British government built it in 1755 as part of the military road network so the population could be put down quickly if needed. Now, take in the views of the river 60 feet below running through a small gorge.

10/05/2024

Friday Photo Time. March and April update …wow, it’s been busy! Summer wildlife has been arriving, winter leaving, there’s been amazing sunsets, new venues opening nearby, the northern lights have been out, we’ve done lots of exercise, been very social and managed to fit in a holiday in the southern hemisphere before our season kicks off.

06/05/2024

There’s been some fabulous sunsets recently and on Thursday last week we spontaneously went over to Lochinver for tea and then watched the sunset at Achmelvic. Here’s a short Timelapse of the magic. May is brilliant for late sunny evenings watching the sun go down.

29/04/2024

In only a minute and a half, the app had identified more than a page of birds performing in the dawn chorus…if you haven’t stayed with us and heard the stunning sounds of nature, then you’re really missing a treat

26/04/2024

Friday Lodge Update. Litter…a representation of the lazy (at best) human! We regularly litter pick the road for nearly a mile to us. It’s crazy how much we collect sometimes, it really is. We do it to help keep the wildlife safe, reduce the risk of wildfire and also just to keep the area looking nice because we care.

23/04/2024

We’ve helped many guests have fabulous holidays exploring over the highlands…

Looking for things to do in ? In our latest local tips, Ceol Mor Highland Lodges share their favourite things to do including watching pine martens, and, most importantly, where to get “fabulous” cake.

See: https://www.holidayscottishhighlands.co.uk/things-to-do-sutherland/

22/04/2024

One of our regular pine martens, fondly known as the ‘Jam Monster’ comes in to have its tea the same time as us this evening.

21/04/2024

Wow, our super talented guests all the way from Mexico have just presented us with this as they leave on the next leg of their Scottish adventure. They even got our logo bang on from our hoodies. Have a wonderful rest of your trip guys and it was so lovely to meet you all. Big hugs x