The vibe:
A stylish, deeply cosy Highland cottage on a historic estate: woodland walks from the door, deer in the garden, pub nearby, and evenings by the fire.
Welcome to the Cawdor Estate
I’d be quite happy calling a 42,000-acre, 700-year-old Highland estate home, especially if that home was Lochanshelloch Cottage.
Surrounded by redwoods, roe deer and woodland paths that lead to a friendly pub, this is the kind of rural hideaway you never want to leave. Let’s check in.
In the Highlands of Scotland, 12 miles from Inverness, and home to a castle dubiously connected to Shakespeare’s Scottish Play is the Cawdor Estate.
Just off the Speyside Whisky Trail and beside the River Findhorn is Lochanshelloch Cottage, your home for the next few nights. Well, you can’t exactly miss it.
Greeted only by the greedy local deer and a garden complete with a few pheasants, the welcome at Cawdor Estate is low key – all designed to make you feel instantly at home.
It feels wonderfully remote, but you’re only a short drive from Cawdor Village for supplies and a proper pint.
Lochanshelloch Cottage: at a glance
- Sleeps: 6
- Bedrooms: 3 doubles/twins.
- Best for: walkers, whisky lovers, countryside escape.
- Highlights: open fire, big kitchen table, deer + woodland setting.
- Location: near Cawdor Village, Inverness, Culloden
- Dog friendly? Yes, well behaved pups welcome.
Inside the cottage: cosy, stylish and made for muddy boots
Oh and what a wee home.
The layout works brilliantly for a few nights away with friends or family.
Downstairs, the kitchen is the real hub of the house: big enough for everyone to gather, plenty of space to spread out breakfast bits, and that solid dining table that immediately becomes the dumping ground for maps, jumpers, dog leads (if you’ve got them), and whatever local treats you’ve picked up.
The lounge is made for evenings in — fire on, curtains drawn, something good in a glass.
At dusk the light turns silvery through the trees, the fire starts crackling, and you’ll spot deer nosing around the garden as if they own the place.
Sleeping up to six, upstairs, there are two double bedrooms under the pitched roof with deep mattresses and locally spun wool blankets.
There is also a double bedroom with a brass bed hidden under the stairs. It’s ideal if you’ve got someone in the group who’d prefer to avoid climbing up and down, or if you simply want a little extra privacy.
There is also a luxury shower room – perfect for scrubbing up for dinner after a long muddy walk.
Lochanshelloch Cottage’s decor feels collected rather than curated – antique-shop treasures, clashing rugs, fashion photography and the kind of effortless cool you can’t fake.
It makes sense: the owner is a former Vogue fashion editor who later worked with Holland & Holland. She was also close friends with 90s supermodel Stella Tennant – and it shows.
More places to stay on the Cawdor Estate
- Ivy Cottage (in the village)
- Achneim Cottage (nearby)
- Drynachan Lodge (sleeps 22)
- Fisherman’s Cottage (retro wooden charm)
- Gardener’s Cottage (once home to the estate gardener)
Take your pick – they are all gorgeous.
5 Things to near Cawdor Estate
Whilst it is tempting to settle into your cottage and just watch the changing skies and deer outside, the Highlands are on your doorstep and it would be a shame not to explore.
One of the best things about staying on the Cawdor Estate is how easy it is to build a few days that feel full, without spending half your time in the car.
You’re close to Inverness for a city day, near Culloden for a slice of Scottish history, and within reach of the Moray Coast when you fancy sea air and wide beaches.
- Walk to the pub in Cawdor Village – two miles from the cottage is Cawdor Village, with a friendly local shop and the Cawdor Tavern, think roaring fires, real ales and a genuinely warm Highland welcome.
- Visit 14th-century Cawdor Castle – step inside the ancestral castle of the Thanes of Cawdor and explore its rooms, history and beautiful gardens. Don’t miss the basement, where you’ll find the remains of an ancient thorn tree hidden within the castle walls.
- Explore Culloden Battlefield – a short drive from Cawdor, Culloden Battlefield is one of Scotland’s most important and sobering sites. The visitor centre brings the story vividly to life through sound, light and reconstructions and the windswept battlefield itself is unforgettable.
- Spend a day in Inverness – Just 12 miles away, Inverness is perfect for a day out. Walk along the River Ness and the Caledonian Canal, browse the brilliant Leakey’s Bookshop, or take a boat trip on Loch Ness to visit Urquhart Castle.
- Drive the Moray Coast – For sea air, head to the Moray Firth for crashing waves, blue water and charming fishing villages. Walk the beach at Findhorn, visit Bow Fiddle Rock, and keep an eye out for dolphins (the Moray Firth is famous for them, with a wildlife centre at Spey Bay).
…and after a long day exploring, you have your cosy cottage all waiting for you. Grab a plate of local cheese and your whisky of choice – and light the log fire. Time to snuggle in for the night.
Oh Lochanshelloch Cottage, can I just move in?
If you’re looking for a Highlands stay with real character, the kind that feels like stepping into someone’s private world, Lochanshelloch is the dream.
Kate – Love from Scotland x
Thanks to the Cawdor Estate for inviting us to stay!
More of my favourite places to stay in Scotland
I’m Kate, the Scotland-based travel writer behind Love from Scotland. I share first-hand destination guides and accommodation recommendations across Scotland. Let me help you plan your best ever trip!