Booked New Year 2010/11

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Contemporary, architect-designed house in Victorian spa village

This newly built, architect-designed, contemporary house is situated in the Victorian spa village of Strathpeffer. The garden is south facing and backs onto woodland through which there are walks on a low level to nearby Jamestown or, slightly more demanding, up the hill known locally as The Cat's Back. This hill has an intriguing stone circle maze, which was created by local artist Helen Rowson, and there is an Iron Age hill fort on the top of the hill from which both hang-gliders and red kites share airspace!

The original Spa Pavilion has been renovated to provide a venue for functions and events, and incorporates the acclaimed Red Poppy Restaurant. We highly recommend dining out at this lovely venue but it is advisable to make a prior booking.

Strathpeffer also offers a golf course that is open to visitors, and several hotels with restaurants open to the public: one, Mackay's Hotel, has a swimming pool available to non-residents.

The keen golfer can travel quite easily to the other courses in this area of the Highlands, including The Royal Dornoch, and Fortrose on the Black Isle is a good links course with a club house.

Fishing on the River Conon can be arranged by day permit from the Model and Tackle Shop in Dingwall.

Sandy beaches are just a 25-minute drive away on the lovely Black Isle, an area well worth exploring with its attractive fishing villages, wildlife park, horse riding centre and, most famously, the dolphins. The Moray Firth resident dolphins can be watched from the shore and never fail to delight children and adults alike.

Make it a perfect day by following your dolphin watching with a meal at one of the most recommended, award-winning restaurants in the Highlands, 'The Anderson'. Here you will find a menu which rivals many London restaurants, but without the price tag! There is also a malt whisky bar stocked with over 200 different malts and an excellent beer selection, including Belgian fruit beers and local organic real ales from The Black Isle Brewery.

Strathpeffer's old railway station has been renovated as a craft centre and the railway line as gardens. Wander down for the papers and sit out on the Victorian platform to enjoy a morning coffee at the station café. There is also a woodcarver, Museum of Childhood, sports shop and craft shop within the station.

This area is a mountain bike haven with an abundance of tracks and trails, specially created and challenging, just a couple of miles away from the house. In January, the gruelling 'Strathpuffer' event takes place on these hill trails - a 24-hour endurance race - regarded as one of the hardest in the UK. Teams attend from all over Britain and only the toughest survive!

Bikes can be hired from Square Wheels Cycles, telephone 01997 421000, which you will find in the village square. Bikes, helmets, trailer bikes and child seats can be hired from here and delivered to the house for your arrival. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable on cycling in the Highlands and can offer advice and maps.

For those who love the west coast, Ullapool and Gairloch are both less than a one-hour drive. Why not take the coastal route out to Gairloch, with its fine sandy beaches, visit NTS Inverewe Gardens, then back via Ullapool to enjoy a meal at the Ceilidh Place before heading home to Strathpeffer - just a 40-minute drive back.