Heron Lodge

There is something about pulling up to a proper log cabin in a Scottish woodland that makes you exhale before you have even got out of the car. Heron Lodge sits in Craigbreck Wood, a quiet stretch of forest near the village of North Kessock, and the setting genuinely delivers. Fir trees shelter the lodge on all sides, the veranda catches the sun, and the only real noise comes from the birds working their way through the feeders just a few metres from your window. One couple counted fourteen different species during a single stay, and red squirrels are regulars, as is the lodge's namesake heron.

Inside, the quality hits you straight away. The furnishings, the kitchen kit, the linen on the beds, right down to the curtains, everything feels considered rather than thrown together. The open plan living space flows easily from the kitchen to the dining table to the sitting area, where a wood-burning stove takes the edge off cooler evenings. There is a starter pack of logs included, so you can get it going without hunting for fuel on your first night.

Both bedrooms are on the ground floor. The king-size double has its own en-suite shower room, and the second bedroom has zip-link beds that can be configured as a king or as twin singles, depending on your group. A main bathroom with a shower over the bath rounds things out. The whole place works well for two couples or a small family, and having everything on one level keeps it simple.

Out on the veranda, the hot tub is surrounded by trees and birdsong rather than other properties, so late evening soaks feel genuinely private. There is a BBQ out here too, and the sheltered position means the deck acts as a proper sun trap when the weather plays along. Off-road parking for two cars sits right next to the lodge.

Dogs get a proper welcome here. There are treats in the welcome pack, a water bowl set up outside, poo bags provided, and a dedicated bin, which sounds like a small thing until you realise how much easier it makes a dog-friendly break. Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, and there are woodland walks straight from the door. Ord Hill is worth the short wander, and the trail down to the small Loch Lundie is a quiet favourite.

The welcome pack itself deserves a mention. Heather ale, local treats, and a genuinely useful envelope of ideas for days out, not a generic leaflet but proper recommendations with dog-friendly options included. Your hosts, Helen and David, live on site but are refreshingly hands-off. They are there if you need anything and invisible when you do not.

North Kessock sits about 10 minutes from Inverness by car, so you are close to supermarkets, restaurants, and the bars in town without being on top of them. A local shop and pub are about 3 miles away if you need the essentials without the drive into town. Loch Ness is a short drive south, Culloden Battlefield is nearby, and Chanonry Point on the Black Isle is one of the best spots in Scotland for watching bottlenose dolphins from the shore. Rosemarkie Beach is another strong shout, with sandy stretches, rock pools, and sea caves that keep children busy for hours.