Mountains, wonderful sandy beaches, great bird watching, some of the earliest occupied cave dwellings in Britain and in one of "geology’s holy places", with the highest waterfall in Great Britain nearby, Scourie is the ideal centre for an unusual and unique holiday. Cnoclochan, "a small hill beside the little loch", is a comfortable, well furnished single story home built by the owner for his family in 1979, and is available for self catering lets. It stands on its own in an open area in the middle of Scourie village (photos 1, 2 & 3). A small copse of native tree species has been planted and gorse and broom also grow in the grounds.The house (photo 4)is beside the village football pitch (photo 5) with a footpath which gives easy access to Scourie beach in about 7 minutes.

The house consists of a very large living room (photo 6) which has a picture window with views over Scourie Bay and to the bird sanctuary island of Handa. One end wall of the living room consists of a map of the North of Scotland made up of 1:50,000 OS map sheets (photo 7). The room has an open fire, coal can be bought at the village shop and drift wood can often be found on the beaches. It has three bedrooms, one with a double bed and en suite shower and lavatory (photo 8), the other two each with two single beds. A child's cot is available if required. There is separate bathroom as well as the en suite shower. There is a well equipped kitchen (photos 9 & 10) with a small utility room off containing the washing machine and dryer. It is comfortably furnished. Cooking, heating and water heating are by electricity and there is a small freezer. There is also a coin operated payphone in the hall.

The house has magnificent views over Scourie Bay and the village, with the mountains and the sea, including Handa island behind. Regular boat trips go to Handa for a day’s bird watching Apart from seabirds on Handa and in the bays,which include many species for example puffins and gannets flying out to sea along the coast, in the hills sometimes you see golden eagles and occasionally peregrines flying among the cliffs and further inland there are marsh harriers. There are many mountain and valley walks in the remote and isolated Northern Highlands. Foinaven, Arkle and Ben More Assynt are close as is the unique and extraordinary peak of Suilven. Ben Hope to the North and, the Fannichs, Beinn Dearg and An Teallach to the South are a little further off but easily accessible. There are also magnificant sandy beaches to visit further up the West coast, including Sandwood and Oldshoremore, as well as just to the South near Stoer and close to Lochinver and on the North coast round Durness, for example Balnakeil. At Sandwood Bay if you are very lucky you may meet a mermaid but don’t let her lure you onto the rocks! Smoo cave near Durness is also worth a visit. Children can enjoy the the sandy bays in safety. Attractive Scourie bay itself is only a short walk from Cnoclochan. Scourie is a good centre for fishing which can easily be arranged when you visit. As well as bird watching, wildlife interest includes seals in the loch at Kylesku (photo 18), otters are occasionally seen around the rocky bays, and pine martens have been seen in the valley between the peaks of Foinaven and Arkle. There are less demanding and interesting walks round Kylesku where there are also boat trips up the loch, and in the area round Loch Assynt below the valley with the caves.

Scourie is in the North West Scotland Geo Park, an area of great geological interest (see The Highland Geology Trail) and has been described as "one of geology’s holy places". A visit to Knockan crag visitor centre will inform you of the area’s significance and set the area’s geology in context. Caves up the valley behind Inchnadamph were occupied in prehistoric times and have some of the earliest signs of human occupation in the British Isles. As well as the mountains the highest waterfall in Britain is close, opposite Quinag, and it can be reached with a comfortable walk. The bookshelves in the house contain a variety of guidebooks for your enjoyment, and there are a lot of leaflets and brochures in the house giving plenty of ideas about what to do and where to go.

The weekly rates for 2008, exclusive of electricity, are £275 to £400, lettings are from Saturday to Saturday. A 10% deposit is required to confirm your letting with the balance to be paid at least 14 days before you go.

Electricity will be charged on the basis of consumption at the Hydro Electric Board's rates. Meter reading will take place at the beginning and end of your letting. We ask for a deposit of £10 per week against the cost of electricity used.

The price does not include bed linen which you can bring, however bedding, consisting of duvet covers, bottom sheets and pillow cases if required can be provided for a small extra charge You will need to bring your own towels.