About Us

History

We are Bridget and Gareth, and we have been coming to Scotland and in particular the highlands and islands for many years, and latterly with our children. Like many others from far away places, we grew up knowing stories from books and films about Scotland’s history, its wildness and its compelling beauty. We love wild places, and have travelled to the far corners of the world to be in the mountains and explore remote and wild country. However it was not until we first visited the highlands that we knew Scotland was the place that could truly capture our hearts. The anguished story of the highlanders, the history etched in the landscape by castle ruins and abandoned settlements, the kind and spirited people, and of course the stunning wild coastal and mountain spaces combine to create a very special connection between people, history and this unique northern environment. In 2016 we were lucky enough to find this very special piece of land on the shores of Loch Shieldaig and never had we seen a more beautiful outlook from a house site. Unfortunately the land had been scarred by careless excavations prior to our ownership and we knew that not only did we have an opportunity to create a beautiful piece of architecture, but we also had a duty to repair and restore the landscape and the visual amenity of this delicate environment and very conspicuous loch-side location. We chose Dualchas Architects of Skye to undertake the design because of their ethos of respecting Scottish heritage, their focus on sustainable design, and their unique modern interpretation of highland architecture. After much careful effort in the design and planning process, we began building in 2021 with Simpson Builders of Beauly as the principle contractor. You can see posts covering the full timeline of the build on our Instagram feed: @creag.na.h_iolaire

Good things take time and the house was finished in early 2023, and we absolutely love it. We named the house for the eagles that call loch Shieldaig their home. These majestic birds of prey can be seen in the skies aloft, or cruising along the loch’s edge, and they sometimes alight in the Scots pines nearby the house. The house is perched atop a rocky outcrop among these trees; this place could readily be known as ‘rock of the eagle,’ in Scot’s Gaelic: creag na h-iolaire (click for pronunciation.) This is a very special place for us and our family, but it is not our normal home and so we wanted to share this magnificent location and the house with people who, like us, appreciate Scotland, the highlands, her people, and the environment.

Our Ethos

In building Creag na h-Iolaire we wanted to create a very special place to rest, recover and be a base to explore, whilst respecting the natural environment and creating very little impact on the landscape. The selection of materials, untreated larch cladding, and the siting of the building are highly specific and over time will blend into the hillside when seen from afar. There are no non-native plants nor extensive landscaped gardens, just the natural coastal environment and Scots pine and birch wooded reaches that envelop the house site. The area is a haven for native wildlife and birds and we believe they should live both unhindered and unaided by our presence. In this sense the experience is immersive, the sounds of seals, sea birds, birds of prey, or the rapid melodies of small forest species are always with you during your stay.

On the inside, we wanted to bring the wildness of the mountains and sea loch into the living spaces and make the landscape and the weather the heroes of your stay. The interior design is straightforward, the furnishings are comfortable yet simple, and the materials and textures either represent neutrality or reflect the natural environment outside so as not to be a distraction from the magnificent scenery. We wanted the house to be somewhere we would be drawn to, and to have all the things we would love to find in a holiday home, none of the things we wouldn’t, and also some personal touches that reflect who we are and what we like.

We also want our guests to constantly be in touch with the outdoor world. Whether you are just waking up, relaxing in the bath or settling down to read a book by the fire, you just cannot escape the cinema happening beyond the glass. After a few days here we believe you will be all the better for it, and after a week, well, you might just never want to leave…

We aim to make a positive contribution to the local community - we employ local people and source as many of our consumables as we can from sustainable sources within Scotland. For those staying at the house, we encourage you to support local businesses through your activities, adventures and outings. For comprehensive information about places to eat, and things to do and see in the area, visit our local guide page.

Sustainability

Part of respecting the environment is ensuring we minimise our impact upon it and take opportunities to preserve the native ecosystem. We have restored the site from the destructive excavations performed prior to our ownership and will continue to improve the surrounds by encouraging native regrowth and sensitively and progressively landscaping the site to enable this. We manually uproot rhododendron saplings to eliminate the spread of this highly invasive non-native species. Firewood is sourced from the adjoining properties either from standing deadwood or felling of non-native spruce trees which prevent native regrowth. Our neighbours are progressively restoring native Scot’s pine, rowen, and alder in place of the felled trees but nonetheless, we ask that you use the firewood sparingly.

The house has been designed to maximise energy efficiency and minimise environmental impact and scores a very high EPC rating as a result. We have used triple glazing in all areas of the building giving extremely low u-values. We use energy efficient LED lighting throughout the house and externally. Our principle source of heating and hot water is the Air Source Heat Pump and underfloor heating which is significantly more efficient than other kinds of boiler/heating systems. The house has a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system which ventilates fresh air through a heat exchanger to maximise energy efficiency through heat recycling. Our water supply is locally sourced from the hills above the house and this is treated and filtered in our plant room under the house. We have a self-contained drainage system on site which processes waste water and sewerage and this despels harmless overflow through a soakaway system. To support this we use environmentally friendly cleaning products and detergents without harmful chemicals or bleaches.

We source as much as we can locally to minimise the footprint of transport and distribution. All contractors and suppliers used for the build were based in Scotland, most being from the highlands and islands. The paint we have used for interior decoration is from Skye and made from sustainable base products. Many of the pieces of furniture and fittings are made in the UK and our bed linen is all made in Scotland. Our bathroom products are locally sourced and contain no harmful chemicals, detergents or foaming agents. Supplied consumable items are principally made from recycled materials.

The site is a natural woodland haven for native birds and of course the inquisitive pine martens whose numbers in the wild continue to grow. The stretch of forested coastline connects through adjoining properties and the Kinloch Woodland Trust rewilding project to the ancient caledonian pine forests on the slopes of Beinn Shieldaig. These precious reaches and their biodiversity will spread with the care and conservation of the local landowners and the Woodland Trust. The woodlands are a reintroduction habitat for the native red squirrel.

We ask that you respect the local environment and take care to minimise your impact both whilst at the house and through your activities in the area. Please follow the Scottish outdoor access code which is often summarsied as: “Take only photographs, leave only footprints.”