Moorhen Lodge

The lodge itself is a Canadian cabin set in Craigbreck Wood, a few minutes from the village of North Kessock, and the woodland setting is the first thing that gets under your skin. Trees on all sides, bird feeders pulling in a rotating cast of visitors, and red squirrels darting across the branches while you sit on the veranda with your morning coffee. It is the kind of quiet that guarantees a deep sleep after a long drive.

Inside, everything is on one level. The open-plan living area runs from the kitchen through the dining space to a sitting area where a wood-burning stove takes centre stage on cooler evenings. Fuel and a starter pack are included, so there is no scrabbling around for logs when you arrive. The kitchen has a dishwasher, washer/dryer, fridge/freezer, and enough space to cook a proper meal for four without bumping elbows. A king-size double has an en-suite shower, giving you a bit of privacy, while the second bedroom has zip-link beds that can be configured as a king or as twins depending on who you are travelling with. A separate bathroom has a shower over the bath.

Out on the veranda, the hot tub is tucked among the trees, and soaking in it at night with clear Highland skies overhead is the sort of thing that stays with you long after the drive home. There is a BBQ and outdoor furniture too, and on a still evening, the deck feels like its own world.

Two dogs are welcome, and the setup is genuinely dog-friendly rather than just dog-tolerant. Woodland walks start right from the door, the coastline is close for beach runs, and Nairn Beach is worth the drive for a proper sandy stretch with clear water and rock pools.

Your hosts, Helen and David, have a knack for getting the balance right. There is a welcome pack waiting when you arrive, the lodge is spotlessly clean, and helpful info on local days out is laid out for you, but they give you your space and only step in if you ask. They are there if you need them and completely invisible if you do not.

North Kessock itself is one of those villages that surprises you. It sits on the shore of the Beauly Firth, just across the water from Inverness, and for 700 years a ferry ran between the two until the Kessock Bridge opened in 1982. These days, the village has a small marine Wildlife Research Base where you can pop in and listen to live underwater microphones picking up dolphins and seals in the firth. Inverness is barely 10 minutes by car, so you have supermarkets, restaurants, and everything else on your doorstep without being in the middle of it. A local shop and pub are about 3 miles away for essentials. Off-road parking for two cars.

For days out, Loch Ness is a short drive south, Cawdor Castle and Fort George are within easy reach, and Landmark Theme Park is a great option for families. Chanonry Point on the Black Isle is one of the best spots in Scotland for watching dolphins from the shore, and Rosemarkie Beach has sandy stretches, rock pools, and caves that keep children busy for hours.