Onnela - Escape to Eden
from £200.00 Per night*
Onnela Lodge, Kishorn, Strathcarron, IV54 8XA
T: +44(0)7889 183 634
A group house that was designed as one
Most lodges that sleep ten are houses with beds added. Onnela was built for it: five bedrooms, two of them en-suite, an open plan living space with a bar in it, a separate sports bar with a pool table and darts, a games room and a kitchen sized for cooking for a crowd.
It stands above Loch Kishorn on the west coast, built in Finnish Arctic pine, and the whole thing is pointed down the loch. The hot tub is outside with the same view.
The fifth bedroom, The Cobbler, is the flexible one. It works as a children's playroom with a sofa that converts into twin beds, which is how a five bedroom house sleeps ten without anyone being in a corridor.
That combination, one big room to eat in, two bars, a games room and a playroom, is why this books for birthdays and reunions rather than couples' weekends. It is not a quiet retreat and does not pretend to be.
Good to know
- Two of the five bedrooms are en-suite. The other three share bathrooms, so agree who gets what before you arrive.
- The Cobbler is a playroom as much as a bedroom, with a sofa that converts to twins.
- Dogs are welcome.
- Kishorn is small. Lochcarron, about fifteen minutes away, has the shop, the fuel and the pub.
- The Bealach na Ba, the pass to Applecross, starts a few miles up the road and is the highest road climb in Britain. It is not the road to learn hill starts on, and it closes in snow.
- Groups of ten in one house need a plan for the bins and the dishwasher. There is a lot of kitchen here, which helps.
Features
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Free parking
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Heating
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Hot Tub
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Indoor fireplace
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King bed
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Kitchen
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Pets allowed
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TV
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Wifi
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Lochside
Location
Where it puts you
Kishorn sits at the point where Wester Ross gets serious. The Bealach na Ba climbs from Tornapress a few miles away, twisting up to 626 metres and dropping into Applecross on the other side, where the Applecross Inn does the langoustines that people drive the pass for. It is on plenty of best stops lists for good reason. It is one of the great roads in Europe and it is on the doorstep.
North of here are Torridon and Liathach, south is Plockton and the road to Skye, and the whole area sits on the western stretch of the NC500. Eilean Donan Castle is about forty minutes south on the way to Kyle.
25 of the best stops on the NC500
The Bealach na Ba, Applecross and the west coast stretch, with what is worth the detour.
Driving the NC500
The full loop section by section, and where Wester Ross sits on it.
Frequently asked questions
How many does Onnela sleep?
Ten, in five bedrooms. Four are doubles and the fifth converts from a playroom with a sofa bed to twin beds.
How many bathrooms are there?
Two of the bedrooms are en-suite and the remaining rooms share.
Is there a hot tub?
Yes, outside, looking over Loch Kishorn.
What is there to do in the house?
Two bars, including the Tom Thumb sports bar with a pool table, darts and a big screen, plus a games room.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes.
How far is Applecross?
Over the Bealach na Ba from Tornapress, a few miles up the road. Allow longer than the distance suggests, and check the pass in winter.
Where is the nearest shop?
Lochcarron, about fifteen minutes away, for the shop, fuel and a pub.
Is it suitable for a group celebration?
That is what it is built for: one large living space, two bars, a games room and a kitchen sized for ten.
Important
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