Available to Book New Year 2013/14

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The best of both worlds; peaceful, private seclusion just 10 minutes drive from the centre of the Highland capital of Inverness.

If you are looking for a holiday cottage that has retained much of its original charm, offers a high standard throughout and 'home from home' comforts, then Cotterton will more than meet your expectations. This traditional Black Isle country cottage is located in a peaceful rural area, accessed by a quiet single-track road yet remarkably, only 5 minutes from the A9 giving excellent access to most of the major tourist attractions in the Highlands. In just 40 minutes, or fewer, you can reach the Cairngorms National Park, Loch Ness, the huge sandy beach at Nairn, and the dolphin watching sites in Fortrose and Cromarty. Don't miss the opportunity to see the dolphins at close quarters from the beach in Fortrose. Chanonry Point, only 15 minutes from Cotterton, is known for being the closest you can get to dolphins whilst still on dry land!

In under an hour you can visit Dornoch beaches, the fishing port of Ullapool or one of the last remaining wilderness areas - Glenaffric. It's hard to imagine what activities cannot be achieved from this ideally located cottage whether you want to golf, fish, cycle, shop, tour the many art galleries, bird watch, hill walk or ski; the choice is endless.

However, for those who enjoy a 'home from home' holiday and who just want to completely unwind for a week or two, Cotterton is perfect. Situated on it's own in a quiet area of the pretty Black Isle peninsula you can just enjoy the gardens, the bird song and the peaceful surroundings from the lovely gardens surrounding the house. Extensive views to the south can be enjoyed from the patio. The cottage was refurbished in 2010 with good quality leather sofas and solid wood furniture and is tastefully decorated to incorporate much of the original pitch-pine, 'tongue and groove' walls and plank and beam doors. An attractive multi-fuel stove is a cosy add-on to the oil-fired central heating and ensures warmth throughout the year. A ground floor bedroom and bathroom make the cottage suitable for the less-able although the cottage is not suitable for a wheelchair. The ground floor bedroom also opens into the sun room which could be an additional private sitting room for someone using this bedroom.

Cotterton is ideal for families with children of all ages. The gardens are safely fenced and gated yet offer a large flat grassy space for ball games. The road, which passes by is very quiet and ideal for older children to cycle unsupervised, whilst younger ones have plenty of space to practise their skills in the spacious grounds.
The garden is large and well maintained and is ideal for barbecues, outdoor dining and there is plenty of storage for outdoor gear and equipment.

The surrounding gardens and grounds are neatly maintained and one wall incorporates a fascinating 2000-year-old Pictish decorated stone showing the 'Pictish Beast', the Crescent and the Comb - fine examples of Class 1 Pictish symbols. Mature fruit trees are heavy with apples and pears in the autumn, and there is a small kitchen herb garden by the kitchen door.

The views from the cottage are tranquil and far reaching and, being located in the countryside with no street lighting, starry skies are a treat. Walking from the cottage along tracks and quiet roads rewards those with a love of the natural world - the area is well known for its red kites, goshawks and sparrowhawks, and the Udale Bay nature reserve is a 15-minute drive away on the northern coast of the Black Isle.

Fortrose, some 10 minutes' drive away, offers the only opportunity in Britain to regularly watch dolphins at close quarters from the shore. These beautiful creatures can be just a few metres away from you as you stand on the beach. Fortose also has an 18-hole par 71 links golf course with a club open to visitors. The location of the course is spectacular with the sea on both sides, so plenty for the non-golfer to do and see as well! Round off a perfect day with a meal at the award-winning Anderson Restaurant.

Inverness has a wealth of attractions and the riverside restaurants offer international and traditional cuisine. Grocery delivery is available from Tesco, Sainsburys and also Asda, but the true foodies can enjoy sourcing quality local produce from Ryefield Farm just 5 minutes away, and also from Comfort Foods, a superb butcher, baker, good wine stockist and delicatessen in Rosemarkie.

There are several excellent restaurants on The Black Isle which are well worth trying out. Amongst others these include, The Station Hotel in Avoch, The Anderson in Fortrose, North Kessock Hotel in North Kessock and Sutor Creek and The Royal Hotel in Cromarty.

All in all, Cotterton can be said to be a great, all round holiday home for all ages and interests.