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Craiglea Lodge

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The only one that comes with the pool

Craiglea is four separate lets on one small estate at Latheronwheel, and the Lodge is the one that comes with the leisure building. The private heated indoor pool, the jacuzzi and the sauna are included in a Lodge booking, and the owners state plainly that they are not included with the Barn or the pods. That single fact is what should decide the choice between them.

It is two cottages that connect and are let together, so a group of 14 can spread out and still eat in one room. Four twin bedrooms, two with en suites, two single rooms, and two family bathrooms, one with disabled access. Real fires burn in the lounge and dining area, and the kitchen has a washing machine and a tumble dryer.

The Barn is the smaller, self-contained half of the same stone building, and the two pods sit apart with decks of their own. Both cost less per night and neither carries the pool.

The three lets compared

The Lodge The Barn The Pods
Sleeps 5 to 14 4 to 6 4 to 6 in each pod
Bedrooms Four twin, two single Two twin Two double, plus a sofa bed
Bathrooms Two family, two en suite One family, one en suite One family in each; Bromach has a second toilet
Pool, jacuzzi and sauna Included Not included Not included
Real fires Yes Not stated Not stated
Kitchen Washing machine and tumble dryer Washing machine and tumble dryer Dishwasher

Good to know

  • Check in is from 4.30pm and check out is by 10am, which is earlier than most self-catering.
  • A £500 refundable security and cleaning deposit is taken on every booking and returned within 14 days if nothing is deducted.
  • Booking more than four weeks ahead takes a 30% deposit, with the balance due four weeks before arrival.
  • The terms set no minimum stay but cap any one booking at four weeks.
  • Towels, bed linen and complimentary toiletries are provided, and there are towels for the pool.
  • Children have to be supervised at all times in and around the pool area.
  • No smoking anywhere on the property.

Features

  • BBQ
  • Free parking
  • Hair dryer
  • Pets allowed
  • Private pool
  • TV
  • Wifi
  • Washing machine
  • King bed
  • Iron
  • Towels

Location

Where it puts you

Latheronwheel is on the east coast leg of the North Coast 500, on the A9 between Helmsdale and Wick, so the route runs past the gate rather than an hour away. The owners give Inverness Airport as roughly two hours and 150km by road, and put the property about 30 miles south of John O'Groats.

The places they send guests to are Whaligoe Steps, the Fairy Glen at Latheronwheel, the Berriedale footbridge and braes, Reiss Beach on Sinclair's Bay, Dunrobin Castle at Golspie, Old Pulteney distillery in Wick, and the boats to Orkney. They will also cost out an activities programme if you ask them to.

The North Coast 500

The full loop section by section, with where to stop and when to drive it.

The NC500 in winter

What stays open, what shuts, and why a heated indoor pool is an argument for going in February.

Frequently asked questions

Can guests in the Barn or the pods use the pool?

No. The owners state that the pool, jacuzzi and sauna are for guests who book the Lodge, or the Lodge and Barn together, and not for a Barn or pod booking on its own.

Are there real fires?

Yes, in the lounge and dining area.

What time is check in and check out?

The rental starts at 4.30pm on the day of arrival and ends at 10am on the day you leave.

How many bathrooms are there?

Two family bathrooms, one of them with disabled access, plus en suites off two of the twin rooms.

Can extra beds be added?

Yes. The owners will set up additional beds in each cottage for two more people on request, which is how the count reaches 14.

What is provided?

Towels, bed linen and complimentary toiletries, with separate towels for the pool. The kitchen has a washing machine and a tumble dryer.

Is there a minimum stay?

The terms do not set one. They do cap a single booking at four weeks.

Important

*Make it Scotland provides general information and aims to be as up to date as possible. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information or pricing provided.

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Explore nearby

Reading for the area: Whaligoe Steps and waterfall