Alladale
Sutherland, near Inverness, Scotland
A remote luxury lodge for groups (sleeps 14-18), plus 2 separate cottages for 4, set in 23,000 majestic acres and offering a traditional taste of Highlands living
Alladale Wilderness Lodge & Reserve is a handsome Victorian
gabled lodge located 50 miles north of Inverness, in the heart of
the Scottish Highlands. It was bought by owner Paul Lister in 2003
and lavishly refurbished to provide an indulgent Highland retreat:
roaring log fires, fine whiskies, fishing for salmon and deer
stalking. Two new-build cottages, Eagle’s Crag and
Ghillie’s Rest, were added further down the glen, broadening
the offer from traditional Scottish to boutique Highlands (these
can be booked independently for groups of 2-4), while the lodge
itself sleeps 14-18.
Alladale is more than just luxury accommodation however;
it is also an ambitious eco-reserve. Lister has plans to reforest
the surrounding glen with indigenous pines and rowans, and to
reintroduce lost native species, from wild boar, lynx and moose to
- eventually - wolves and brown bear. All was lost in the infamous
Highland Clearances, when thousands of acres were stripped of
crofters and trees in favour of mass sheep-farming. By staying here
you'll help contribute to this vast conservation project.
Reviewed by Belinda Archer
Last updated 05 March 2012
Highs
- The wild and woolly Highlands scenery makes a spectacular playground for hiking, cycling and pony trekking
- Seeing stags locking horns, eagles soaring low and wild boar in their natural habitat
- The unfussy, hearty food which can also be delivered to the cottages
- The gorgeous bedrooms, both in the lodge and the cottages
- The lodge is perfect for a big group of friends, the cottages for families (Ghillie's Rest has 1 double and 1 twin)
Lows
- It's expensive, especially now that food and activities are excluded from the price
- The show-home feel of the cottages (although they had only just been finished when we visited so will benefit from being lived in)
- Limited bar in the cottages – no champagne, gin or choice of wines (but plenty of whiskies and Scottish beers)
- The midges in summer
