Dolphin View Cottage

23/03/2025

During the summer months there's a handy wee ferry running between Cromarty on the Black Isle and Nigg in Easter Ross that makes for a fine day out. The ferry run by Highland Ferries operates between the beginning of June through to the end of September. These photos were taken from the Nigg side.
www.dolphinview.co

20/03/2025

Retriever pals. A regular guest, Inga has made a new friend with Ardersier resident Charlie who’s only 9 months old. Looks like there’s some mugging going on here.

19/03/2025

Cancellation list?

Dolphin View Cottage is fully booked until the 25th October, and already has seven weeks booked for 2026.

Sometimes I do get unexpected cancellations, if you would like advance notice before I advertise such cancellations on the cottage page, please let me know and I will add you to the cancellation/late availability list.

Photo taken last December by Mike Birch. Rainbow over Ardersier.

https://www.dolphinview.co/availability

18/03/2025

We visited the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre near Glenmoriston a few days ago, a fascinating initiative by the Trees for Life charity it makes a good day out. It is free to enter, has a lovely cafe and four trails to explore, we chose the longer heather path that was the wilder option and would be fabulous when the heather is in bloom, the pine path, juniper path and oak path are shorter and in the case of the latter two are well surfaced. I was especially impressed by the 4.5m high Tree of Life sculpture by Helen Denerley in the foyer of the visitor centre.
https://visitdundreggan.co.uk
https://www.dolphinview.co

15/03/2025

The woodland trails in Abriachan are well worth a visit at any time of the year - these photos are from November, there's lots of shelters if needed, these range from a replica of an illicit distillery (this one) a shelling, several tree houses and a thatched bronze age hut. Most of the trails are hilly with a nice loop to the summit of Carn na Leitre for those feeling energetic. Abriachan lies between Drumnadrochit and Inverness. This link will take you to the Walk Highlands description
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochness/Abriachan.shtml

www.dolphinview.co

12/03/2025

18 miles from Ardersier you will reach Lochend - at the end of Loch Ness - rather obvious name really, so Loch Ness is in easy striking distance of the cottage. At 23 miles long it's a very impressive body of water, deeper than the North Sea it holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined - and of course some interesting wildlife...
Well worth a visit, a circular tour will give you many different viewpoints and makes a great day out especially if you stop off at the Falls of Foyers, Fort Augustus and Drumnadrochit. www.dolphinview.co

09/03/2025

A short walk near Rosemarkie on the Black Isle takes you down to the old Eathie salmon fishing bothy close to where Hugh Miller the geologist discovered Jurassic era ammonites in the nearby shale beds. It's a lovely quiet spot and usually good for wildlife spotting so well worth taking binoculars as well as your camera. Photo taken 7/4/23 www.dolphinview.co
For details of this walk; https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochness/Eathie.shtml

07/03/2025

Did you know that Ardersier now has a railway stop? To be honest it is actually at the Airport, but buses call at the stop and then go past the airport to Ardersier village. The railway line runs between Inverness and Aberdeen and there is free parking at the station so it is very handy if you want to let the train take the strain. Now when I wait for a train, I just generally mooch around on the platform, this group of teenagers dancing to Beautiful Sunday whilst waiting for the Aberdeen train at Ardersier take train travel to a whole new level. www.dolphinview.co

06/03/2025

From fresh water to salt water. This is the end of the Caledonian Canal at Inverness. The canal was constructed in the early nineteenth century by Thomas Telford. 60 miles long, it runs from the west coast at Corpach near Fort William, through the Great Glen before meeting the Moray Firth at Clachnaharry in Inverness. It's quite an engineering feat with 29 locks, 4 aqueducts and 10 bridges including 2 railway swing bridges. The canal is a haven for wildlife, we have often seen otters on this particular stretch as otters like fresh water after fishing in the sea, it's also a good spot for kingfishers. It's just a short drive from the cottage with free parking in either Clachnaharry village or at the turning circle near the Merkinch Nature Reserve, good lunch spots are the Clachnaharry Inn or the Jammy Piece cafe, both are dog-friendly. The photos were taken last March. www.dolphinview.co

22/02/2025

Are you fancying a Spring break? Dolphin View Cottage has two lovely Spring weeks available - choose from either 7 nights commencing 29th March or 6th April, the price for either week is only £675.00 with no extra charges for up to three dogs.

Dolphin View Cottage is located in the coastal village of Ardersier which lies between Inverness and Nairn in the Highlands of Scotland. It makes the perfect base for exploring the quieter North East coast (nae midgies), Loch Ness is just the other side of Inverness and of course, the Moray Firth is famous for the dolphins!

The cottage sleeps two, has enclosed gardens, sea views over the Moray Firth from the cottage windows, walks from the door, a cosy log-burning stove, private parking and full kitchen facilities. Village amenities including shops, pubs, and cafes are within walking distance. Up to three dogs are welcomed free of charge.

Book direct and book with confidence. SHORT TERM LET LICENCE NO: HI-60006-F. Issued by The Highland Council on 06/04/2023 (three year licence). EPC.E

For more information, photos, availability and prices please visit the cottage website at

Dolphin View Cottage in Ardersier, a dog-friendly self-catering holiday cottage in the Highlands of Scotland with stunning sea views over the Moray Firth.

14/02/2025

Fort George from Ardersier Common today www.dolphinview.co

08/02/2025

So many snowdrops! We went to The Cover in Drumnadrochit this morning. The paths were badly damaged and ground washed away in the January floods, despite that, the snowdrops have flourished and were putting on a lovely display today www.dolphinview.co

03/02/2025

Did you know that today is National Golden Retriever Day? The first Golden Retrievers were born locally at Guisachan House in Glen Affric in 1868 bred by Dudley Coutts Majorbanks later known as Lord Tweedmouth. They have certainly become very popular and I do have quite a number of Goldie's who come to stay at Dolphin View Cottage, This is Inga who brings her owners for a holiday to the cottage at least twice a year. Lovely gentle dogs www.dolphinview.co

01/02/2025

Dolphin View Cottage is very nearly fully booked already. There is still good availability for this month - (and a special offer for holidays taken during February - 9 nights for the price of 7 for the fixed price of £650). The remaining availability is as follows:

7 nights from Saturday 29th March - £675.
7 nights from Saturday 5th April - £675.
7 nights from Saturday 19th July - £750
Good availability from 18th October onwards.

The cottage is located in Ardersier, a small coastal village between Inverness and Nairn on the Moray Firth (famous for the dolphins and lovely fishing villages) in the fabulous Highlands of Scotland. It sleeps two, has sea views over Ardersier Bay towards Chanonry Point Lighthouse on the Black Isle, enclosed gardens, WiFi, a smart TV, a log-burning stove, and private parking. You can safely walk from the door along the pavement and then onto a well surfaced level coastal path to Ardersier Common and Fort George. Within the village of Ardersier there are shops, a pub with restaurant plus convenience stores, a hairdresser/beautician, a pharmacy, and a dog-friendly cafe.

We welcome up to three dogs free of charge, our gardens are enclosed with a high wooden fence at the back and a lower fenced garden at the front (so you can enjoy those sea views from the front windows). All of the beaches in the area are dog-friendly all year round. Our prices range from £650 low season to £750 for seven nights.

We do have a number of special offers available, including the very popular 9 nights for the price of 7 for holidays taken during the months of November through to the end of February, (excluding Christmas and Hogmanay). Also, if you wish to extend your holiday and book two consecutive weeks there’s a £50 discount on the price of the second week. Visitors to the cottage are also able to get free entry to Fort George, the impressive defensive fort built after the Battle of Culloden, there’s a museum, cafe and ramparts with amazing views over the Moray Firth. The cottage pass allows two people free entry during their stay.

Book with confidence. Dolphin View Cottage complies with all the safety measures and conditions as set out in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and has been authorised to operate as a short term let holiday cottage. SHORT TERM LET LICENCE NO: HI-60006-F EPC E

For more information, photos and up-to-date availability, please visit the cottage website. https://www.dolphinview.co/availability

30/01/2025

More photos from yesterday. Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns. Culloden is only 7 miles from the cottage and Clava Cairns is a further 2 miles on. History buffs will know that Culloden Battlefield was the scene of the last pitched battle on British soil where Bonnie Prince Charlie leading the Jacobite uprising were defeated in 1746. Clava Cairns and standing stones date back 4000 years. For Outlander fans, Clava Cairns were the inspiration for Craigh Na Dun in the books. If you are planning a visit, you can park at the free car park for Clava Cairns, and walk along the quiet road to get good views of the Culloden Viaduct posted yesterday - there is no parking near the viaduct as it is a single track road with passing places, but it is only about half a mile to get good views along a quiet road. Culloden Battlefield is under the stewardship of the National Trust for Scotland, it has an excellent visitor centre with toilets and a cafe. The three places make an interesting day out and are very local too. www.dolphinview.co

29/01/2025

After doing some painting at the cottage today, I ended up with a short day as there was so much wet paint around and I didn't want to get myself covered in paint. Being a nice day I decided to return home via Culloden. This is Culloden Viaduct, at 1800' (549m) it is the longest masonry viaduct in Scotland and was opened in 1889. The 100' central arch spans the River Nairn with 14 arches on either side all 50' wide. It is still the main railway link into the Highlands, unfortunately I didn't get to see a train on it whilst I was there. I also visited Clava Cairns and Culloden Battlefield as the three places are very close together but I will add those photos tomorrow. Great weather for January! www.dolphinview.co

28/01/2025

Lighthouses come in all shapes and sizes. From the cottage you are looking over to Chanonry Lighthouse on the Black Isle, a traditional lighthouse well situated to show safe passage through the Moray Firth to Inverness. At the other end of the scale you have smaller inland lighthouses. This Pepperpot lighthouse is at Fort Augustus and marks the start of the Caledonian Canal from the south end of Loch Ness. It was built in 1840 and is one of the smallest lighthouses in Britain, two other Pepper Pot lighthouses can be found on the Caledonian Canal at Corpach and Gairlochy. www.dolphinview.co

27/01/2025

This sounds like a good evening, a Connage cheese platter to finish too