Burnside Cottage Melness

Burnside Cottage is a wee gem of a holiday home in the far north of Scotland. Situated in a wonderful, tucked away strath near to Talmine and Tongue in the historic county of Sutherland. The cottage has been completely renovated in the most sensitive of ways. The heritage of the property has been kept intact so staying at Burnside gives you the opportunity to experience an authentic croft cottage at the same time as having modern facilities. Not many people leave the NC500 at the Kyle of Tongue. They may pause at the side of the road because this part of Scotland is unbelievably stunning. It’s jaw-droppingly beautiful, so many photographs are taken by those using the fantastic North Coast 500. After a snap or two people pop back into the car and drive off east or west. But staying at Burnside means you go a little north from the Kyle of Tongue and discover a hidden world beyond the small village of Talmine.
The cottage is off-grid, which is a relaxing and different experience for many. Please note that there is no internet connection or mobile signal at the cottage! You can get a mobile signal by taking a short walk. Go left from the cottage and up the steep little hill which then bends left towards the top of the valley. As it starts to level out, on your right are 2 paths, a wide track to your right and a second smaller one goes at an angle up and left and is a grassy path. Go up for about 75 yards and you will see, on the hill opposite, a small mobile mast appearing just above the line of the hill. Then signal will be fine! There’s a nice stone to sit on – we call it ‘the office!’ .
Achininiver Beach is still a bit of a secret slither of sand north off the NC500, and staying at Burnside Cottage it’s only minutes’ walk away. Pretty much all of the time, even in high summer, it will be your very own beach. And trust us, you’ll be strolling down to it at least once a day! The beach will interest those that like surfing. The north coast of Scotland is a bit of a mecca for those seeking out decent waves. Thurso East, Melvich and Strathy are nearby and offer great surf. Achininver is also excellent for those wanting to pop up on a board. The cottage is set on its own plot in a valley called West Strathan. The garden has been planted with wildflower seeds, so summer 2022 will be a riot of colour attracting lots of fauna. There have already been surveys of the plot revealing a surprisingly high number of different insect and bird species. The owners can send you findings if you’re interested. It’s a particularly good spot for those that enjoy birdwatching.
Even from the cottage you can see many different interesting species at different times of the year, including both Golden and White-tailed Eagles. The information pack includes lists of the birds currently recorded, as well as an Ecology survey with plant species and a list of moths. Nearby there are some outstanding RSPB reserves that you must visit during your stay. In particular a superb drive down strath Naver, then turning towards Helmsdale, takes you towards the RSPB Forsinand reserve in the flow country. This drive itself is stunning and goes past the most remote hotel in the UK. The cottage is fabulous and the perfect place to switch off from it all. You can spend your days reading and walking to the beach or up into the hills. There’s a great loop walk from the cottage that goes over the hill to Talmine where the local shop is and works its way back via the coast to the beach and cottage. Further afield you can spend some time climbing bigger hills. Ben Loyal is close and Ben Hope, the most northerly Munro, is nearby too. There are countless other excellent hikes to enjoy during your time at Burnside Cottage. This is also an outstanding area for geologists, next to the world famous ‘Moine Fault’. There are also challenging climbs for the experienced.
The accommodation itself is simple but beautifully finished. On the ground floor there’s a spacious living room, an excellent kitchen/dining room with a wood burning and the original flagstone floor, and a spacious shower room in what was the old internal wood store. On the first floor there are two bedrooms, both double aspect enjoying views down the strath to the sea and up the strath to the hills. There’s a double and a twin room. There is also a Futon sofa in the downstairs sitting room that can be extended into a double bed. All in all, why stay anywhere else? Burnside Cottage is a truly superb holiday home that you’ll want to return to shortly after arriving for the first time! Book now and be forever glad that you did so.
The local Post Office and Store is quite an asset, and will also allow you to order supplies in advance of your visit.