A roaring log stove, crackling in the corner. A wrap-around deck looking out to sea. Or an elevated bedroom peeking through the treetops. The stuff of Grand Designs. Or, in the case of our best luxury lodges here in Scotland, simply your home away from home.
Hygge. It became THE go-to word for during the pandemic to try and make us feel better about being stuck at home. And indeed, hygge is the simple contentment evoked by being cosy, enjoying food, being with friends. None of which we felt with Covid 19!
Now we can travel far and wide, there are so many amazing places to experience hygge across Scotland. And for our staycations pick for Autumn/Winter 25/26, here at Westender Magazine, we’ve chosen the very best of luxury lodges. Small and intimate, large and spacious, we have your R and R retreat covered.
Croft 103
First in our list of luxury lodges is the gloriously remote Croft 103. A meander to the very top of the nation, to Sutherland, sees this stunning self-catering accommodation nestle on the shore of Loch Eriboll.
There is a choice of two cottages here – Hill and Shore Cottage. At the core of the Croft 103 ethos is sustainability and a commitment to having as low an impact on the natural environment as possible.
Both cottages are wholly in keeping with their surroundings, constructed from natural stone.
At Hill cottage, the fan shaped building has enormous windows allowing light from every angle of its south facing aspect. Throughout the property, polished Caithness stone adorns the sinks and shower areas, whilst Anta tweed covers the furniture and floor in the stunning open plan dining/living area. It’s clear to see that owners Fiona and Robbie Mackay are passionate about supporting local artisans, creating timeless décor.
A dip in the OUTSIDE bath? A secluded patio overlooks the sea.
Shore Cottage welcomes the beauty of its sea view inside, with an open-plan design leading to a fantastic stone deck reaching out to the water. Like Hill Cottage, every aspect of the accommodation has been meticulously designed, even down to extravagant 7ft feather topped bed, designed by artist blacksmith Sam Barrow.
Land, sea, contemporary Scottish design… and comfort. You’re welcome.
Ben Damph Lodge
Torridon. Majestic doesn’t quite convey the beauty of the landscape. Mighty Glen Torridon weaves a path through some of the tallest Munros in Scotland and leads us to our next lodge, the enormous Ben Damph Lodge on the Ben Damph Estate.
With a vantage point overlooking Loch Torridon and beyond to the Cuillins of Skye, there can be few more pleasingly situated lodges.
Where Croft 103 emanates romance, Ben Damph invites friendship and family. For this lodge sleeps up to 10 people. The lodge has two separate wings connected by a library. In one wing, the bedrooms and en-suites, in the other the enormous, vaulted living, dining and kitchen area. Once again, owners’ The Gray family wanted to ensure the design of Ben Damph was sympathetic to the landscape.
The house is clad in native larch, with Scottish Douglas fir providing the timber frames for the living area. With textures of local stone and slate around the lodge, it very much feels part of the natural environment. And as such, The Gray’s have worked hard to reduce their carbon footprint. Ben Damph is powered by the solar panels in the field next door, heating being provided by a ground source pump. Even the hot tub is powered by a wood burning stove.
There is a blend in Ben Damph which marries old and new: a huge Douglas fir dining table is as perfect in the property as the vintage bath placed in the bedroom overlooking the Loch. A blend which marries togetherness and alone-time. The communal living space is a dream for family fun, for late night reminiscences over a bottle of wine with friends. Yet there are quiet spots like the library. Like the mezzanine, where a chair swing looks out towards the mountains, a place for quiet contemplation.
All this, before you’ve even explored Torridon.
The Captain’s Cabin
Time for something a little different – and utterly delightful.
We head for the Morvern Peninsula near Ardnamurchan, to the incredible Captain’s Cabin. Designed by its owners, architect Roderick James and his wife, Interior Designer Amanda Markham, this is a piece of petite perfection. The round living area sits atop an old chapel. With a galley kitchen, bedroom, shower room and living area with wood fired stove, it may be compact, but you will have everything you need – and then some. The outdoor deck area is breath-taking, with views over The Sound of Mull to the Atlantic beyond. From here you can observe sea otters breaking crabs on the rocks, Pine Marten in the countryside or Sea Eagles swooping overhead.
The interior of the Captain’s Cabin is a nautical-themed haven of ship’s lanterns, sea-faring soft furnishings (like the delightful saloon chairs reclaimed from an ocean liner) and of course, a telescope. The elliptical nature of the design allows those staying a view from the floor to ceiling windows in every direction. Perfectly made for two, the Captain’s Cabin is a romantic break of blessed, restful seclusion.
The Treehouses at Lanrick
And South we travel, to our first non-coastal lodges. Perthsire is known for the most beautiful rolling hills and native forests, filled with red squirrels, glorious woodland walks… and treehouses.
The Treehouses at Lanrick are again the brainchild of husband and wife design team Simon and Louisa Dickson. With his background in design and building, he dreamt of creating a unique stay in his native rural Perthshire. Louisa’s career has seen her travel in Africa as a tour operator, visiting the stunning safari lodges on the continent. Together they have managed to deliver a truly special experience.
With five individually designed treehouses at Lanrick, there is a cabin to suit everyone’s taste. Named after the delightful birds who call the trees their home, larger houses e.g. Willow Warbler and Flycatcher are perfect for families. For a more romantic stay, visitors may consider the elegance of Nuthatch. For those who like accommodation with some design flair, the quintessentially quirky Treecreeper or the sensationally Scandi Pipit may be for you.
Regardless of which treehouse you choose, all have a back-to-nature deck to immerse yourself among the trees. For forest bathers, the amenities are perfect, for you can, literally, bathe in the forest. Each treehouse has an outside copper bath. And with soothing décor inside, wood burning stoves crackling, a walk in the woods at Lanrick will uncover untold treasures. The Treehouses here at Lanrick were built purely to provide people with luxurious and pure escapism into nature; surrounded by beautiful surroundings, a river and a luxury escape from reality. They provide a truly unique stay amongst the Scottish countryside.
And…breathe.
