Kate and Gary have had the privilege of managing the Cathair Dhubh Estate since 2018. Assynt has been a family retreat for us for decades. After years of dreaming of Scottish skies, we finally took the plunge to move north and it's one of the best decisions we ever made! What a joy to wake up to the sound of waves and birdsong every morning, to spot dolphins from your kitchen window and go for a quick dip whenever the fancy takes you. We're passionate about providing a wonderful experience for our guests and we're on hand to answer questions and provide useful information to enhance your holiday experience.

Cathair Dhubh Estate houses five lovely self-catering properties. Fern is a cosy semi-detached cottage looking out over Achmelvich Bay. The cottage has two bedrooms; a double and a twin. It has a good sized family bathroom. There is a fully-fitted and well-equipped kitchen, incorporating an oven, hob and microwave, together with a fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer. The open plan lounge and dining area provides a comfy place to relax and is equipped with satellite TV and DVD player and CD radio. We do have Wifi, but in the spirit of getting away from it all, it is quite basic and at times, elusive! There are patios leading to outside seating where you can experience the breathtaking views. Bring your binoculars and you could be watching whales, basking sharks, porpoises and dolphins all from your window!

Taken from the Gaelic for ‘Black Chair’, Cathair Dhubh derives its name from the dramatic hillside to the east of our cottages. Established in 1993, the small, secluded estate is situated a few miles north of the well-serviced and attractive fishing village of Lochinver, directly on the Route NC 500 (North Coast 500). The cottages themselves are situated in the valley, well away from the public road and are ideally placed to enjoy the tranquillity and the breath-taking, panoramic coastal views. Cathair Dhubh looks out over Achmelvich Bay and is set against an awesome backdrop of sandstone mountains, with names that trip from the tongue of any walker – Quinag, Suilven, Canisp. These ancient hills are formed from some of the oldest rocks in the world and create a timeless wilderness. In the hills around the estate, wildlife and birdlife abound. Black throated divers, otters, red deer, seals, porpoise and sea birds are but a few of our neighbours. With a touch of extra vigilance, you may even happen to spot minke and pilot whales, orca and sea eagles – binoculars are a must! At the entrance to the estate, lies Loch an Ordain allegedly haunted by the mythical Black dog of Creag an Ordain – a two-headed, horned beast belching fire, with a human face and eyes that glow like burning peats – you might not find him listed in many of the nature books but he abounds in local legend!! For those anglers undeterred by the prospect of the Black Dog, the hills behind Loch an Ordain cradle a network of lochs and lochans teeming with brown trout. Some lochs further afield, even have migratory Sea Trout and salmon passing through them – there are indeed a wealth of fishing opportunities.