Coul House Hotel

Coul House Hotel is the perfect place to base oneself to rediscover the romance and beauty of the Highlands, certainly a destination where one should plan on staying for more than just a couple of nights. The ancient Mackenzies of Coul picked the supreme setting for this secluded country mansion, with its magnificent uninterrupted views over forest and mountain. This is a family-run hotel offering high standards of personal service with a warm highland welcome. The bedrooms are individually-styled, comfortable and well-equipped. Coul House is a category A listed building, meaning that it is historically significant architecturally. Glance at any of the ground floor ceilings and you will see why; with ornate plasterwork and fine craftsmanship the house is truly unique. The handsome gabled mansion of unusual plan is centred on two octagons with a demi-octagonal porch. The 'lying-pane' (horizontal) window glazing must be one of the earliest examples of this Scottish fashion in the Highlands. The central octagonal parlour is flanked by dining and drawing rooms, all with ornate plaster ceilings. Some of the building stone came from Cullicudden on the Black Isle, and was transported up the Dingwall canal and then by road to Coul; brick came from Brora, Sutherland, and slate from Easdale, Argyll. Dining at Coul House is a real experience. The octagonal dining room has a 18 foot ceiling, a fire place and three ceiling to floor windows with fabulous views of the Strathconon Valley and the mountains beyond.