What to see

With activities and highland attractions close by, the local area has a wide variety of interesting an fun activities for all ages.

A 5 minute drive or 30 minute walk west will take you to the historic Victorian spa village of Strathpeffer with its vast array of hotels and restaurants, or turn east to arrive in the bustling market town of Dingwall with its swimming pool, supermarket and takeaways serving up all types of traditional and foreign fare.
Strathpeffer is not only home to the Pavilion, a music and arts venue, but also the Museum of Childhood based in the old Victorian railway station, which charts the history of children growing up in the Scottish highlands.
Further afield but still less than an hour away are the Falls of Shin where you can see Salmon leaping upstream. The Black Isle Wildlife and Country Park is also a short drive away.

www.strathpeffer.org
www.list.co.uk/events/Dingwall/
www.highlandmuseumofchildhood.org.uk
www.dingwall.org.uk
www.fallsofshin.co.uk
www.blackislewildlifepark.co.uk

History

The highlands are steeped in a rich folklore and history going back thousands of years.

Some of Scotland’s most famous historic attractions are only 30 minute drive away, such as Loch Ness with its legendary monster and the bloody Culloden Battlefield, final confrontation of the Jacobite rebellion.
If you are interested in a more pre-historic timeline, you can step back millions of years to the Jurassic fossils that are readily found on Eathie beach only half an hour east of the cottage. Search for fossils hundreds of millions of years old including fully formed ammonites and sometimes even fossilised shellfish.

For more information, click one of the links below:

www.groamhouse.org.uk
www.nts.org.uk/culloden
www.lochness.com
www.eathie.ukfossils.co.uk

Wildlife

For those seeking out the wildlife of the highlands, Ivy Cottage offers a unique perspective of the native animal population.

Why not relax outside and catch a glimpse of the wild red kites swooping down to feed on the croft within the comfort of the fully enclosed garden.
With a keen eye, you can regularly spot grouse, golden eagles, red deer and roe deer up in the hills above the cottage.
If the weather’s nice you can use the outside picnic table with seating allowing you to eat “al fresco” in the summer months if you so wish.
If you are searching for sea-life, then why not go seal spotting in the Moray or Cromarty Firth with their active dolphin population, or for a trip on the Highland’s only glass bottomed boat to spot underwater creatures. Trips and boat excursions are readily available from the nearby Cromarty and Moray Firths or travel over to the west coast and experience a greater adventure.

Trips can be arranged at the following tour companies:

www.ecoventures.co.uk
www.seaprobeatlantis.com