Loch Shin Luxury Pods

13/09/2024

🍂 CHANGING SEASONS 🍂

Ready for autumn at the Loch Shin Glamping Pods?

The changing colours of the leaves make all the headlines but there's plenty of other things to look forward to on site and in the surrounding area as well...

🔥 Our fire pits come into their own again after a summer off. Stick your jacket on come outside to gather round the fire and tell other guests stories about your day while sharing a drink.

🦌 It's also the time when rutting takes place and it's a sight to behold. Brave newcomers will challenge the current dominant stag for the control of the hinds with noisy clashes of antlers and roaring which can be heard from some way off - which is a good thing - because it's best to watch from a distance.

💫 If you are lucky, you can marvel at the astonishing sight of the Northern Lights. Did you know that 2024 is considered a great year for aurora-spotting opportunities?

💻 Visit the website for the latest pod availability.

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05/09/2024

🟢 LOCH SHIN IN REVIEW 🟢

We are always grateful to those of you who take the time to tell everyone else what a good time you had at the Loch Shin Pods.

It's even better when you leave some lovely pictures on a reviews as well to SHOW people what a good time you had too.

So, a big thank-you to Camille Mengen (and all the rest of our supporters) for this 5-star Google review... 👍

"We had such a great time while we were staying there, we just regret not staying a little longer.

"The place is very peaceful, dog-friendly and with a stunning view. John and Anita were very nice and helpful, it was a pleasure to discuss with them while going to order a delicious cappuccino (they have a small mobile coffee shop that they open in the mornings for the guests, I love the idea).

"Thank you for the nice stay!"

⭐️ Rooms 5.0
⭐️ Service 5.0
⭐️ Location 5.0

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03/09/2024

🦞 SUBLIME TASTES OF THE SEA 🦐

We may be isolated from certain things up here at Loch Shin but we are so so lucky to be very close to the wonderful Sutherland Game & Shellfish Ltd!

It had been a wee while since we sampled some of their goods so thought it was only fair to try some fresh lobster and langoustines to remind ourselves of how good it tastes.

For the record, it was amazing.

If you are planning on visiting us and want pointing in the right direction for some truly sublime tastes of your own, just let us know.

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29/08/2024

🐑🐑 NEW ADDITIONS

The Forge Cottage Croft, here at the Loch Shin Pods site, has two new additions.

So please give a big warm welcome to Shelby and Lou Lou! 👋

We have a feeling that, with those coats, they won't struggle for warmth during the upcoming Scottish winter!

Both are settling in nicely and are part of a growing animal community here at the Croft which all visitors to the Loch Shin Pods are welcome to come and visit during their stay.

Just ask Anita and John for a guided tour and they will be happy to oblige to guests.

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27/08/2024

🌤 INDIAN SUMMER AT THE PODS?

It looks like we are about to drift into the autumnal season here at the Loch Shin Pods with the potential of an Indian summer.

There's a good forecast for a couple of weeks now so if you fancy seeing some late-summer sunsets like this one, come and visit, and we'll see what the Scottish weather can deliver.*

While our availability for full weeks in September is limited, we still have options for one and two-night stays at certain times.

For the best prices and latest deals, please visit our website to check bookings, or give us a call on (07590) 007743.

* We hold no special powers over what the Scottish Highlands weather will ACTUALLY do when you visit! 🙏

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22/08/2024

😡 600kg OF BEACH LITTER REMOVED...IN JULY ALONE!

A few weeks ago, we did a post to make visitors aware of the amazing beaches we have within a drive of the Loch Shin Pods.

Then we saw this.

We all owe a huge debt to the people who keep our beaches clean throughout the year.

Sadly, with over 600kg of beach litter removed in July alone, it goes to show just how important these people are in keeping the beauty of the beaches intact.

So, enjoy the beaches and PLEASE...leave them how you found them. 👀

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20/08/2024

🚜 HAY-MAKING DONE AT LAST!

Away from the joys of our animals and making our amazing guests feel welcome, comfortable and cared for, we run a working croft here at the Loch Shin Pods site.

Hay-making is a crucial part of the year-round care that goes into the annual upkeep of a croft and this year's hay-making process has been hampered by incredibly changable weather and forecasts which altered by the hour!

At last, we had a good gap in the weather to get going - and got it done in record time - thanks to the great team around us.

The bales were rushed off the fields and into storage for later in the year.

Job done. 👍

Stress levels reduced! 😮‍💨

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15/08/2024

🐂🐂 There is never a bad time for a picture of our amazing highland cows.

Especially when it's this good - and from one of our wonderful guests Scott Bailye. 😍

Under that floppy mass of hair are two eyes, I promise you. 👀

Highland cows have apparently been around since the 6th Century and, in that time, nobody is really 100% certain they can actually see where they are going!

Whether they have super vision or heightened other senses, they certainly manage to find what they are looking for - even with that long fringe (known as a ‘dossan’) blocking the way!

If you are visiting us over the next few weeks and would like to visit our gang and say 'hello', you'll be very welcome.

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13/08/2024

🏖 AMAZING BEACHES NEAR LOCH SHIN PODS

There's never a bad time to remind visitors to the Loch Shin Pods of the AMAZING beaches that are within a drive of our site.

Some are a bit of a longer drive than others so please do your research before you arrive.

But the variety of setting on offer is stunning. We can promise you that because we have to plenty of them.

At Rosemarkie Beach, you may be able to spot a dolphin or two, while Portmahomack Beach is great for families with young children.

Dornoch Beach is a haven for wildlife while Sinclair's Bay has two 16th Century castles at either end of the sand.

There's loads more too. Give Anita and John a shout if you would like any help in choosing which ones to visit.

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08/08/2024

🙌 RAVE REVIEWS

Far from us to brag but.... 🧐

Of the last 30 reviews left for the Loch Shin Pods on booking.com, we have had....

26 x 10 out of 10
2 x 9 out of 10
2 x 8 out of 10

Thank you to everyone who took the time to say how much they enjoyed their visit.

Here's one of the 10s...from the lovely Zowaid

"Super clean, excellent host and great location, well equipped and certainly a luxurious experience.

"Perfect for families with kids, plenty of animals to see. And, although there is no wifi, we had good 4G internet.

"On our last day John spent some time showing us around the farm and the animals."

Come and see for yourself what all the fuss is about. Find the latest prices on our website. 💻

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02/08/2024

🧐 ARE YOU A PUTTERER?

There could be some fireworks in the Loch Shin Pods management suite this week!

🎇🎆🎇🎆

Anita has accused John of being an 'Expert Putterer'!

Here in the social media team, we are staying well out of it .

Do you know a Putterer?

And if you know John, is he an expert Putterer?

Let us know below please 👇

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01/08/2024

🌳 BUSH TRIMMING 🌳

John's been 'bush trimming' this week and his wonderful efforts have opened up the incredible view we are currently enjoying at the Loch Shin Pods.

With the sun out and the Scottish summer weather in the early 20s, you would never think this is the same place that reaches minus 10 degree in the winter!

Those guest who are staying with us are enjoying some great times - with very little need for the fire-pit at the minute.

If you would like to join us next summer, please contact us for the best and earliest prices.

☎️ Call: 07590 007743

19/07/2024

💻 FOR OUR BEST PRICES....

As the late summer months turn into the beautiful colours of autumn, the Loch Shin Pods are a great place to be.

While you can book your time here with us through many of the major booking sites, our best and most up-to-date offers are always through our website.

So, while we would love you to see the quality of the reviews we have been lucky enough to receive on sites like Trip Advisor and Booking.com, head on over to our own website to see the best prices and seasonal offers like: free bedding and wood for the fire pit at times.

💻 www.lochshinpods.co.uk

Any queries, please get in touch by phone too if that suits you. We are here to help.



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16/07/2024

🚶 IMAGINE THIS.....🚶‍♀️

Imagine yourself right here, right now.

On a path, in a field, in the Scottish Highlands.

It's a bit breezy and cloudy - but your light jacket does its job.

You can only hear the sound of birds chirping and the wind blowing.

It's peaceful and the air is so clean to breath.

You take a deep breath through your nose and fill your lungs. Ahhhhhhh, that feels good.

It's great to be outside in the countryside. There's no hustle and bustle of modern-day life. No clamour. No chatter.

The only decision you need to make is what drink you fancy when you get back to your pod at the site... 🫖☕🍺🥂🍷🥃🍹

Welcome to a holiday at the Loch Shin Glamping Pods.

💻 BOOKINGS: www.lochshinpods.co.uk



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12/07/2024

🦙🦙 OLLIE THE ALPACA

Since our post the other week, we have had several enquiries from people asking how little Ollie the alpaca is doing.

So, we thought we would share this lovely picture taken by the wonderful Scott Bailye!

Ollie - and his amazing mum - are doing really well and the newly-shorn bunch are loving life.

Alpacas tend not to like a hot summer so the Scottish weather is, errrm, let's say, playing a blinder from their perspective, so far!

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09/07/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ PODS IN REVIEW

Thanks a lot to Gemma A from Bradford for this lovely review. ❤️

She took a cracking picture of the deer too. 👏👏

"Absolutely perfect, from start to finish. We arrived and our pod was spotless with all the essentials we needed such as washing up liquids and clothes, fluffy towels and good bedding was definitely welcomed after a 9 hour drive.

"A perfect break away from crazy weeks at work in the middle of nowhere.

"John was fantastic and nothing was too much work for him, he took us to meet the animals and was very informative. All round the perfect break away from the crazy day to day life. Thankyou 😊"

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05/07/2024

🛬 FLY TO THE PODS

Okay, we admit it, the Loch Shin Pods are hardly on many people's doorsteps.

But we can promise you that when you get here, you will realise why it's worth a long car journey...or, if a car trip is too much, a flight.

Did you know that there are several airports around the UK that provide direct flights to Inverness Airport and they include: Bristol, Manchester, Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton. Our picture shows one such flight coming into land.

Once you have landed at Inverness, it's a 90-minute drive from the airport to our site and there is ample free parking when you get here.

If you are thinking of making a booking at Loch Shin Pods and you have any questions about your journey via car or plane, please give us a shout.

03/07/2024

📺 Have you ever watched Clarkson's Farm on TV?

Did you see that episode where he bought a device which basically crushed or removed everything in its path - and got a lot of joy from watching it at work?

Well our John is thrilled by his new purchase too!

It make not look that exciting - but you should see the look on his face! 😃

This contraption can, so we are told, 'go through pretty much anything including gorse bushes and heather'!

Welcome to crofting in the Scottish Highlands!

Don't worry, we'll keep him away from the pods! 👀

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28/06/2024

🏰 HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

It's not all glamping, animals and landscapes up here at Loch Shin, you know?

Because of where we are situated in the Scottish Highlands, there are numerous attractions pretty much on our doorstep.

So, if you are coming to stay with us and you like a bit of history, try and get yourself to the wonderful site of Dunrobin Castle, which is just a 25-mile drive from the pods.

Located on the east coast, and overlooking the Moray Firth, it is the largest and most northerly of Scotland’s great houses and dates from around 1275.

Ticket prices include entry to the falconry display, museum and gardens and the museum is open from 11.00 until 16.00 daily,

Find out more on their website.



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25/06/2024

🦙🦙 WELCOME TO OLLIE THE ALPACA

A couple of things have happened at the pods which beautifully illustrate both ends of the nature spectrum.

Firstly, we welcomed Ollie into the world as a newborn alpaca. Him and mum Nancy are doing really well and Ollie is busy getting used to his first moves and steps in this world as an innocent youngster. The birth of new life.

Then, John got up, close and personal with a sparrow hawk at the chicken pen one morning. A hungry hunter looking to end a life of a thrush, sparrow, tit or finch. 🦅🦅

If you are coming to stay with us soon, there is loads to see in and around the pods at the minute.

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21/06/2024

It's that time of year again... 🦙🦙🦙✂️✂️✂️

Our alpacas need a hair cut (pic taken last year).

In fact, it's time to shed so much hair off our intrepid little animals, that somebody once told me they 'needed to lose some weight' because the amount of hair they had on them!

They are pretty good animals at making sure they are equipped for the winter.

Now, it's time to make them equipped for a hot (*cough*) Scottish summer!

Alpacas in situ...being kept dry...shearers at the ready.

We'll keep you updated and, if you are visiting us this week, you may be the first to see our new 'slimline' alpacas! 🤣

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19/06/2024

⛺️💚 PODS IN REVIEW 💚⛺️

Thanks a lot to booking.com reviewer Kim for pointing out how easy it is to tour the NC500 from our site....

"We loved the location and that we could easily explore the NC500 from here. It was so quiet. The scenery was beautiful, wonderful views of the mountains and loch.

"The hosts Anita and John were lovely, nothing was too much trouble for them. Would love to return in the near future." ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Especially during the summer time, the NC500 offers so many treasures whether you are looking for sights, sounds or food! 🦞

If you need any help about where the best places to visit are, depending on your agenda, please let us know.

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14/06/2024

🐂 MEET THE GANG!

The summer is such a great time to meet the wide range of animals we have here at the Loch Shin Pods!

Everyone is happier with a bit of sun on their backs - even our Highland Cows - who shed lots of their shaggy hair in the summer months to stop them from overheating!

With dogs, deer, alpacas and more, the pods are a great chance to introduce your children to some animals they may not have had the chance to see up, close and personal.

Fancy giving them a chance to bond with some of nature's greatest animals?

Just give us a shout when you book, and we'll be happy to introduce you to them when you get there.

💻 Book online at: www.lochshinpods.co.uk

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12/06/2024

😍 LOCH SHIN PODS IN REVIEW

We have had a good selection of visitors from Europe over the last few weeks and are happy to say they have enjoyed themselves. 👍

🇵🇱 Anna (Poland): "The pod is very comfortable. It has everything what you need for your stay. Very clean and warm."

🇩🇰 Jeanette (Denmark): "We really enjoyed our stay, and it was very nice helping John feed the animals. The pods are very cozy and right outside the door awaits amazing views of the loch."

🇳🇱 Iris (Netherlands): "What especially made us feel welcome was the warm touches by the hosts. There were lovely tips written in a folder by Anita with some walking trails. Upon request, John brought us fresh delicious eggs and was super accommodating in preparing and giving us a tour of his animals."

Get a true taste of beautiful Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 in more ways than one at Loch Shin Glamping Pods.

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06/06/2024

Ahhhh, the smell of freshly cut grass... 😀

Either makes you want to play cricket - or have a beer! 🏏🍺

It also makes our Loch Shin Pods look pristine and ready for a busy summer ahead.

We have lots of new people - and old friends - to meet during the summer months ahead and we can't wait to show off our beautiful site. 😍

And if we could book weather like this every day for the next few months...we would do! 🌞🌻

Lovely lines by John too. 👏👏

There's a bloke who takes pride in his work.

Thinking of coming to stay with us and seeing the site for yourself? As always, the best prices are on our website 💻 www.lochshinpods.co.uk

04/06/2024

🦌 NEW ADDITION

We thought you would like to share in our joy at the latest arrival to the Loch Shin Pods site.

I was introduced to them as I wandered into their pen the other day to check their water.

There could be more deer calves on the way in the coming weeks but for the time being this little beauty is stealing the thunder and has plenty of lovely land to roam around in.

If you are staying with us over the next few weeks and you - or your children - would like to say 'hello' to our new addition, just let John or Anita know.

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30/05/2024

🦮 DOGGIES DELIGHT 🐕‍🦺

It's not just us humans who enjoy the scenery and wide open spaces in and around the Loch Shin Pods you know?

Dogs just LOVE it up here. 😍

With acres and acres to run around, play, explore and have fun, it's no wonder that so many of our four-legged friends want to come back! 🐶

Our pods site is always welcoming of well-behaved dogs and there are so many places to visit in the near vicinity for a run around too.

Owners John and Anita are dog owners themselves so if you need any ideas or tips of places to visit with your loyal friend, just ask... 🙋‍♀️

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28/05/2024

🙌 Good news for all of the animals we look after....

The Croft buildings are now is great shape and fully prepared for the summer and winter ahead.

John enlisted the help of some good friends (Gavin and sone Tom) and completed all of the jobs that were on his 'to-do list' (...and have been on his 'to-do list' for the last four years!) while the sun shone.

Grafting like super humans (and helped by neighbour Lindsay), they laid down 7.5 cubic metres of concrete and replaced the stable roof!

With deer, alpacas, chickens, highland cows and other animals next to our Loch Shin Pods site, there are plenty of animals for you and your family to meet if you stay with us.

If you would like to come and meet them to say hello, just let John or Anita know when you get here. 👋

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24/05/2024

🎬 PODS IN FOCUS 👀

Owner Anita Douglas takes you on a full guided tour of the inside of a Loch Shin Glamping Pod.

We are delighted to offer you...

✅ Heater (still useful - even in late May!)
✅ Cosy bed, bed settee and blankets
✅ Microwave, kettle, fridge and small cooker
✅ Table, chairs and cutlery
✅ TV and DVD player with remote control
✅ Bathroom with toilet, sink and shower
✅ Picnic bench and outside table
✅ A few extras...on us.

"The pods are really cosy inside and our dining table will comfortably fit four round it for meal times," says Anita.

"We always provide fresh milk so your first cup of tea or coffee is on us when you arrive.

"There is a microwave, pans and a hob so you can easily cook a curry, chilli or one-pot meal and the bathroom is a good size too.

"Each pod also has a fire-pit and we have a big communal fire-pit near the bottom of the field too."

Owner Anita Douglas takes you on a full guided tour of the inside of a Loch Shin Glamping Pod.We are delighted to offer you...* Heater* Cosy bed, bed settee ...

22/05/2024

DID YOU KNOW...? 🧐

Loch Shin is the largest Loch in Sutherland at 17 miles long - and it's the loch which our pods are named after (it's just down the road if you want to visit).

But did you also know that there is a tiny house built in the middle of the loch called, appropriately, 'The Wee House'.

"Why is there a small uninhabited house in the middle of the loch?" I hear you cry!

Well... the building's origins are much debated over in these parts.

The tiny cottage built on top of a tiny island has a slate roof and an old wooden door.

Signs by the shoreline explain the ‘real’ story as starting with whisky distiller Jock Broon being gifted the island by a local laird. Following a hunting accident, the land was split between Broon’s extensive family – including Henry, Daphne, Joseph, and Margaret.

In fact, locals built the house for a gala and decided it was too good to just throw it away. And so a legend was born – one that continues fooling people to this day!

The coming months are a great time to go and see it for yourself if you are staying with us.

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