Frequently Asked Questions
Due to the COVID-19 pandemioc, we are currently closed until at least the beginning of September. If you are lookng to book for a future date, and have any questions, feel free to contact us HERE - although we've tried to answer some of the most common enquiries below!
What exactly is a croft?
It's not a house as many people think - it's a kind of smallholding used for growing food and/or grazing sheep and cattle. Historically, crofters were small tenant farmers in the Highlands and Islands, although more recently some families (such as ours) have bought their crofts and become owner-occupiers. Most Highland crofts still have their traditional stone-built cottages (croft houses), although many have fallen into ruin. In recent years, some croftland has been turned over to grass. Our croft has woodland, wild meadow and some cultivated areas, and you are welcome to wander at your own risk.
Where is Coille Bheag?
It's on the shores of Loch Ewe, a few miles from the village of Poolewe. Loch Ewe itself is a large sea-loch on the west coast of Scotland. Twenty minutes away by car is the larger village of Gairloch, and the port of Ullapool is an hour's drive. Inverness is the nearest big city, and you can fly to its airport and hire a car to drive the rest of the way (about two hours). We will give you detailed directions when you book so that you don't get lost!
We don't know which house to book - what's the difference between the two properties?
It really depends on what kind of experience you want! The Cottage offers you the chance to stay in a traditional 19th century croft house with all its associated quirks! It's rustic, homely and has masses of character - with its three bedrooms, solid fuel fireplace and fun conservatory area it's ideal for families who want to enjoy a typical farm-style holiday. It's not a standardised luxury-style property but it's friendly, cosy and individual. The Lodge is a modern, semi open-plan building and offers a more luxurious environment for a holiday, ideal for couples - although it will sleep up to 4 in its two bedrooms. It has fantastic all-electric heating and cosy eco-friendly insulation, wooden floors, double glazing and enjoys exactly the same spectacular views as The Cottage through its huge picture windows.
What do you provide? Are there any hidden extras to pay?
Because of the extra cleaning and disinfecting necessary between bookings to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus, we have added a £10 cleaning fee to all our future bookings to cover time and materials. Everything else is included in our prices regardless of size of party. We won't charge you extra for electricity or fuel for the cottage fire, and linen and towels are provided as well as free wifi. If you have a baby, please bring your own travel cot and bedding, although there's a high chair in each of the houses, We also supply coffee, tea, milk and condiments, plus shower gel, shampoo and hand soap in the bathroom. We also welcome you with a bottle of wine and, when available, a sample of seasonal produce from the croft. We can also usually sell you new-laid eggs at £1.50 per half-dozen, plus more produce if we have it available.
Can we book short breaks or does it have to be a full week?
You don't have to book a full week, although we'll give you a 10% discount off your total if you do! If you want to be more flexible, that's fine - just choose your dates from those available on our calendar and add up the cost of the days you want. Minimum stay two nights, and we require a clear day before and after each booking in order to complete the extra cleaning and disinfecting necessary to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus
How do we pay? Do you take credit cards?
Unfortunately we don't accept credit cards at Coille Bheag, but you can transfer your payment direct to our account, or pay by cheque in sterling (make cheques payable to Alasdair Wright). We ask for 10% deposit at the time of booking with the remainder payable one month before you arrive. Alternatively, you can book instantly via Airbnb and pay via their site using your credit or debit card. Head over to these listings for The Lodge or The Cottage. (Different daily rates may apply).
What about phones and the internet?
Free wifi is available in both the Cottage and the Lodgei. There is no little or no 4G in rural areas such as ours, but we do get a good signal on most mobile networks for voice calls and texts.
Do you accept pets?
We're happy to welcome families with well-behaved pets. Let us know on the booking form if you'd like to bring your animals with you. We have a large dog, a cat and some chickens! There's plenty of room on the croft and on the nearby beaches and common land for you to exercise dogs, but please keep them on the lead while on the croft, and keep them under control elsewhere - don't let them chase the sheep and other livestock who roam free in the area, and please don't let them sleep on the furniture.
What about shops and restaurants?
You can stock up on groceries in Inverness on your way to us, but there are lots of good local shops to support! The nearest is the Village Stores in Poolewe, which also sells alcohol and acts as our Post Office, but there are also excellent food shops (one with a deli counter) in nearby Gairloch (15 mins drive) - try Strath Stores on the village square (opposite the car park), or alternatively the Wildcat Stores or the Farm and Garden Stores on the main street. There's also a great butchers, Kenneth Morrison, just up the street from Strath Stores - they also sell fruit & veg. Opposite them is Crumb, which sells home-made desserts and sweets. You can buy fresh fish on the harbour in Gairloch during the season, and from Spring to Autumn there's an indoor market selling produce as well as crafts in Poolewe Village Hall on a Tuesday morning. There are also takeaways offering fish & chips and Chinese food. The medium-size Tesco supermarket in Ullapool is one hour's drive away -and it's a particularly lovely drive if the weather's good! Depending on the season, we can usually sell you some fresh organic produce, or free-range eggs, and one family who stayed with us in 2010 also produced this excellent guide to foraging for wild food in the area around Coille Bheag. NB: During the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants, pubs and many non-essential shops remain closed.
What is there to do, besides walking?
Plenty! If you're looking for some indoor activities on rainy days, there's always the local museum in Gairloch or the wartime Arctic Convoy Museum in Aultbea. We're very lucky to have our own indoor heated swimming pool in Poolewe and the loch is also great for swimming or snorkelling in warm weather, or any time if you have a wetsuit. You can also go riding at the Gairloch Trekking Centre at Red Point, which has access to some splendid beaches with wonderful views. If you're interested in rare plants from around the world or just want a pleasant walk in gorgeous surroundings, across the loch from us is the world-famous Inverewe Garden. You can launch a kayak from the beach or the Inverasdale slipway, and there are great sea trips to be had from the harbour in Gairloch. If you head a little further afield, ferries from Ullapool will take you on a cruise to the Summer Isles or over to the Hebrides. Mountain bikers can find plenty to interest them on our hills and tracks, too. NB: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these attractions may remain closed.
What clothes should we bring?
Dressing in layers is best as the weather is changeable. As well as summer things for sunny days, bring a good waterproof coat or jacket, and a warm jumper or fleece for chillier spells. Everyone will need wellies, plus good walking boots if you plan any serious expeditions on foot. A midge hood (available locally) and/or some insect repellent is a good optional extra in the summer months. If you're heading for the peaks, you'll need proper clothing and equipment if you don't want to become a Mountain Rescue statistic!
We don't have an e-mail account - how do we contact you?
Coile Bheag is a family-run croft owned and maintained by Alasdair and Clare Wright, with the help of our elder son Callum. You can phone us on +44 (0)1445 781783 to check availability or make a provisional booking and we can send the necessary forms to you by post if you prefer! Alternatively, you can make enquiries or book via Airbnb . (Different daily rates may apply).
It's not a house as many people think - it's a kind of smallholding used for growing food and/or grazing sheep and cattle. Historically, crofters were small tenant farmers in the Highlands and Islands, although more recently some families (such as ours) have bought their crofts and become owner-occupiers. Most Highland crofts still have their traditional stone-built cottages (croft houses), although many have fallen into ruin. In recent years, some croftland has been turned over to grass. Our croft has woodland, wild meadow and some cultivated areas, and you are welcome to wander at your own risk.
Where is Coille Bheag?
It's on the shores of Loch Ewe, a few miles from the village of Poolewe. Loch Ewe itself is a large sea-loch on the west coast of Scotland. Twenty minutes away by car is the larger village of Gairloch, and the port of Ullapool is an hour's drive. Inverness is the nearest big city, and you can fly to its airport and hire a car to drive the rest of the way (about two hours). We will give you detailed directions when you book so that you don't get lost!
We don't know which house to book - what's the difference between the two properties?
It really depends on what kind of experience you want! The Cottage offers you the chance to stay in a traditional 19th century croft house with all its associated quirks! It's rustic, homely and has masses of character - with its three bedrooms, solid fuel fireplace and fun conservatory area it's ideal for families who want to enjoy a typical farm-style holiday. It's not a standardised luxury-style property but it's friendly, cosy and individual. The Lodge is a modern, semi open-plan building and offers a more luxurious environment for a holiday, ideal for couples - although it will sleep up to 4 in its two bedrooms. It has fantastic all-electric heating and cosy eco-friendly insulation, wooden floors, double glazing and enjoys exactly the same spectacular views as The Cottage through its huge picture windows.
What do you provide? Are there any hidden extras to pay?
Because of the extra cleaning and disinfecting necessary between bookings to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus, we have added a £10 cleaning fee to all our future bookings to cover time and materials. Everything else is included in our prices regardless of size of party. We won't charge you extra for electricity or fuel for the cottage fire, and linen and towels are provided as well as free wifi. If you have a baby, please bring your own travel cot and bedding, although there's a high chair in each of the houses, We also supply coffee, tea, milk and condiments, plus shower gel, shampoo and hand soap in the bathroom. We also welcome you with a bottle of wine and, when available, a sample of seasonal produce from the croft. We can also usually sell you new-laid eggs at £1.50 per half-dozen, plus more produce if we have it available.
Can we book short breaks or does it have to be a full week?
You don't have to book a full week, although we'll give you a 10% discount off your total if you do! If you want to be more flexible, that's fine - just choose your dates from those available on our calendar and add up the cost of the days you want. Minimum stay two nights, and we require a clear day before and after each booking in order to complete the extra cleaning and disinfecting necessary to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus
How do we pay? Do you take credit cards?
Unfortunately we don't accept credit cards at Coille Bheag, but you can transfer your payment direct to our account, or pay by cheque in sterling (make cheques payable to Alasdair Wright). We ask for 10% deposit at the time of booking with the remainder payable one month before you arrive. Alternatively, you can book instantly via Airbnb and pay via their site using your credit or debit card. Head over to these listings for The Lodge or The Cottage. (Different daily rates may apply).
What about phones and the internet?
Free wifi is available in both the Cottage and the Lodgei. There is no little or no 4G in rural areas such as ours, but we do get a good signal on most mobile networks for voice calls and texts.
Do you accept pets?
We're happy to welcome families with well-behaved pets. Let us know on the booking form if you'd like to bring your animals with you. We have a large dog, a cat and some chickens! There's plenty of room on the croft and on the nearby beaches and common land for you to exercise dogs, but please keep them on the lead while on the croft, and keep them under control elsewhere - don't let them chase the sheep and other livestock who roam free in the area, and please don't let them sleep on the furniture.
What about shops and restaurants?
You can stock up on groceries in Inverness on your way to us, but there are lots of good local shops to support! The nearest is the Village Stores in Poolewe, which also sells alcohol and acts as our Post Office, but there are also excellent food shops (one with a deli counter) in nearby Gairloch (15 mins drive) - try Strath Stores on the village square (opposite the car park), or alternatively the Wildcat Stores or the Farm and Garden Stores on the main street. There's also a great butchers, Kenneth Morrison, just up the street from Strath Stores - they also sell fruit & veg. Opposite them is Crumb, which sells home-made desserts and sweets. You can buy fresh fish on the harbour in Gairloch during the season, and from Spring to Autumn there's an indoor market selling produce as well as crafts in Poolewe Village Hall on a Tuesday morning. There are also takeaways offering fish & chips and Chinese food. The medium-size Tesco supermarket in Ullapool is one hour's drive away -and it's a particularly lovely drive if the weather's good! Depending on the season, we can usually sell you some fresh organic produce, or free-range eggs, and one family who stayed with us in 2010 also produced this excellent guide to foraging for wild food in the area around Coille Bheag. NB: During the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants, pubs and many non-essential shops remain closed.
What is there to do, besides walking?
Plenty! If you're looking for some indoor activities on rainy days, there's always the local museum in Gairloch or the wartime Arctic Convoy Museum in Aultbea. We're very lucky to have our own indoor heated swimming pool in Poolewe and the loch is also great for swimming or snorkelling in warm weather, or any time if you have a wetsuit. You can also go riding at the Gairloch Trekking Centre at Red Point, which has access to some splendid beaches with wonderful views. If you're interested in rare plants from around the world or just want a pleasant walk in gorgeous surroundings, across the loch from us is the world-famous Inverewe Garden. You can launch a kayak from the beach or the Inverasdale slipway, and there are great sea trips to be had from the harbour in Gairloch. If you head a little further afield, ferries from Ullapool will take you on a cruise to the Summer Isles or over to the Hebrides. Mountain bikers can find plenty to interest them on our hills and tracks, too. NB: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these attractions may remain closed.
What clothes should we bring?
Dressing in layers is best as the weather is changeable. As well as summer things for sunny days, bring a good waterproof coat or jacket, and a warm jumper or fleece for chillier spells. Everyone will need wellies, plus good walking boots if you plan any serious expeditions on foot. A midge hood (available locally) and/or some insect repellent is a good optional extra in the summer months. If you're heading for the peaks, you'll need proper clothing and equipment if you don't want to become a Mountain Rescue statistic!
We don't have an e-mail account - how do we contact you?
Coile Bheag is a family-run croft owned and maintained by Alasdair and Clare Wright, with the help of our elder son Callum. You can phone us on +44 (0)1445 781783 to check availability or make a provisional booking and we can send the necessary forms to you by post if you prefer! Alternatively, you can make enquiries or book via Airbnb . (Different daily rates may apply).