Mackenzie Cottage Poolewe

Mackenzie Cottage is in Poolewe. It's detached, so no one on the other side of the wall. The front looks straight out onto the river.

It sleeps five. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms. One of the double beds upstairs is a big one, a six-footer, and it can be split into two twins if you need it. The stairs are standard, not too steep.

You're about 30 yards from the beach. It's Loch Ewe, so it's a sea loch beach, not the open ocean. It's good for a paddle and the views are tremendous. You can see otters and seals sometimes, if you're quiet and patient.

The village shop is a two-minute walk, and it's well stocked. There's a cafe and a pub nearby too. The local leisure centre has a swimming pool, which is handy if the weather turns.

Inverewe Garden is the big attraction here. It's a mile down the road. Because of the Gulf Stream, they can grow plants you wouldn't expect this far north. It's worth a visit. You can get tickets from the National Trust for Scotland.

For a proper sandy beach, you drive over to Gruinard Bay or Big Sand. Both are about a 15-minute drive. The landscape around here is all mountains and water. The Walkhighlands site has good routes if you want to go walking.

Inside, it's been done up. The kitchen is modern and has a dishwasher. There's a washing machine too. The living room has an electric stove that looks like a wood burner. It's comfortable. WiFi is there, but it's rural broadband, so it's fine for checking things but not for streaming films all night.

You can bring two dogs. The garden is enclosed. There's parking right at the cottage.

It's got a 4 Star rating, which means it's well-equipped and in good order.