Glamping

Inverlonan

Glen Lonan, West Highlands, Scotland

The Inverlonan bothies (cottages) offer the luxury of tranquillity. Here guests can switch off completely, immerse themselves in the Scottish wilderness and get back to basics, and all this in beautiful surroundings. Surrounded by ancient oaks, nature is omnipresent here.

The bothies are all about slowing down — from building a fire to waiting for the water to boil — it's about taking time to enjoy the little things. The huts are simple and at the same time of high quality, ecologically and architecturally well thought out, and independent of the grid. Immersed in nature, they are a modern, luxurious take on the traditional Scottish bothy culture and experience.

Bothy Uisge has green mud walls while Beatha has cream colored ones. Both are furnished with wooden furniture, a cozy linen bed that you can climb up to via a ladder and furniture that will give you many years of pleasure. The bothies are comfortably designed and, thanks to the huge windows, give guests the feeling of being in the middle of nature. As guests sip warm tea, the lake pulsates beneath the huts and the trees sway in the sky above.

The beautiful countryside, surrounded by golden eagles, curlews, red squirrels and deer makes Inverlonan a special place: The mysterious, remote and tranquil Scottish Loch Nell is not far away, where the brave can also go swimming. Elsewhere, rolling hills dotted with ancient monuments await exploration. Walks through the woods around Diarmid's Pillar, the Serpent's Mound and the Rubha na Moine (Crannog) make a wonderful end to the day. Guests also enjoy their own pebbly beach — ideal for bathing days, kayaking, or stand-up paddling.

We also featured this accommodation in Five places with adventurous tiny houses.


Rooms + Rates

per night
Cottagefrom160 €

Sustainable

ArchitectureThe Bothies are a getaway inspired by the simplicity and seclusion of traditional mountain cabins. They are designed for the present but also draw on the past, encouraging slow living and a greater appreciation for the basics of life. They have been designed to blend in with the environment, with large windows that reveal views of the lake, trees and hills. The bothies were designed by a social enterprise and are made from natural materials. They were built using sustainable, innovative materials and construction techniques. They are designed to have little impact on nature.

FoodThe hosts grow their own organic fruit and vegetables. They also bake their own bread and pizzas. The meat on the menu comes from their own farm (beef and sheep) or from their estate (venison). Everything else they source locally as much as possible, including hand-dipped scallops, Great Glen charcuterie, Scottish soft drinks and beers, and eggs from the farm next door. Food waste ends up on their own compost and is returned to the nursery soil. The eight-course tasting menu — a unique dining experience that makes your stay something very special. The chef cooks a menu composed of the freshest, local, seasonal and ethical ingredients he can find, including produce from their own garden and farm meats. The emphasis is on "wild" and "seasonal". Dinner is cooked over an open fire and served in a secret location overlooking Loch Nell surrounded by the beauty of the Highlands. The guests are picked up from the bothies and taken to and from their dining area by boat or buggy. A fairytale experience where guests dine in an original 16th century "Bothy" surrounded by candles, warmth and love.

The staff - consisting of management and cleaning staff - lives within a radius of about 10 kilometers. And the chef has been provided with free accommodation. The hosts financially support the Rockfield Centre, which works to promote education, arts and culture.

EnvironmentThe environment plays an important role in everything the hosts do, and they constantly strive for further ecological improvements. The bothies fit harmoniously into the environment: together with their foundation of ring beams and ground screws, the bothies can be removed again without a trace. All energy comes from solar cells, which charge a 48KV battery. All light bulbs are low wattage LEDs. All cleaning and washing agents are environmentally friendly. In Inverlonan there is a government supported agri-environment-climate scheme which controls the grazing of each habitat on the farm, thereby promoting biodiversity and habitat thriving. This has allowed black grouse to return, for example, and nesting waders are encouraged. The habitats are not grazed during the critical spring months and two years ago an ecologically oriented 100 hectare deciduous forest was planted on Ballygowan Hill, behind the Bothies.

Well-BeingSwim in Loch Nell, the best tonic there is. There is also a sauna, which offers a perfect change from the cold water. Yoga courses can be organized on request. In addition to wild swimming, the rural surroundings are ideal for various hikes, kayaking, stand-up paddling and cycling. In addition, the hosts are happy to arrange contacts for kayak trips, animal observations (puffins, eagles and basking sharks), photo courses or distillery tours and much more.


Characteristics

  • Experience the Scottish attitude to life and pure deceleration in a "Bothy" in the middle of nature
  • Rough luxury, seclusion and switch off from everyday life
  • Located on Loch Nell - the cottages are only accessible by foot, boat or buggy
  • The food is cooked over an open fire (groceries are provided)
  • Eight-course tasting menu featuring wild, fresh local produce prepared by a chef, bookable on request
  • Plenty of places to visit in the area: old standing stones and monuments, the west coast islands of Mull, Kerrera, Lismore, Iona and Islay
  • Perfect for nature and animal lovers: hen harriers, white-tailed eagles, black grouse, merlins and red-necked grebes can be found in the immediate vicinity - even golden eagles live in the region

Bothies (Scottish for cabin)2 cabinsFull supplyno childrenno WiFino disabled accessno PoolNature PoolPets allowed

Features

  • Two cottages for two people each
  • Both cabins with oven, private patio, fire pit, pizza oven, eco-toilet and outdoor shower
  • Farm to Bothy breakfast included
  • Groceries are delivered to the property
  • Sauna
  • Lake for swimming
  • Dogs are allowed in one of the cabins for an additional fee
  • Kayak and stand up paddles on site
  • Parking spaces are about 1 km from the cabins

Testimonials

Visitors to Inverlonan’s two loch-side bothies can expect an experience centered around “rough luxury” and “slow living.”... Their pared-back interiors feature natural furnishings, fabrics, and a wood-burning stove for cooking and heating the space. The bothies nestle between ancient oak trees and open onto private decks overlooking the tranquil waters of Loch Nell. Guests can swim, paddle board, or kayak on the loch before warming up by their own fire pit and cooking their meals using a selection of locally sourced produce.

Alyn Griffiths, interiordesign.net, January 2022

The Inverlonan estate near Oban has two contemporary cabins on the shore of Loch Nell... Interiors have been created from local ash, the shower is outside and the wifi nonexistent. The rustic retreats are accessible only by boat, quadbike or on foot. As well as swimming in the loch, guests can use a double kayak, two paddleboards and lifejackets, and there’s a fishing rod under each bothy for catching (and cooking) brown trout or Arctic char. Explore the surrounding woodland, hike to a nearby stone circle, then sit by the fire and gaze up at the stars in glorious seclusion.

Lucy Gillmore, theguardian.com, January 2022

A Highland retreat offering chic touches and seclusion: Combining off-the-grid ruggedness with tantalising luxury extras, Inverlonan in historic Glen Lonan has reimagined the bothy escape

Gabriella Bennett, thetimes.co.uk, January 2022

Boat, foot or buggy: these are the only methods by which you can reach these two minimalist bothies by the shores of Loch Nell near Oban. Nestled between ancient oak trees, Uisge and Beatha are off-grid and perfectly placed for a few days of wild swimming, hiking and fishing. Built around the concept of ‘wild wellness’, both have a private eco toilet, outdoor shower and deck with an open fire pit and wood-fired pizza oven. Guests are given the option to order in produce from Ballygowan Farm and the surrounding area, and even more excitingly, the opportunity to hire a Michelin-trained chef to cook a private, seasonal meal over live fire. You’ll never forget it.

Natasha Radmehr, heraldscotland.com, January 2022
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Rooms + Rates

per night
Cottagefrom160 €

Location + Directions

By car

From Glasgow it takes about 2.5 hours to drive to Inverlonan (156 km). It takes a good 3 hours from Edinburgh (198 km). The exact address can be found on the website.

With public transport

The nearest train station is in Oban. From there by taxi or rental car to Inverlonan (approx. 6 km). Crianlarich (about 40 miles away) has a night train connection to London.


Availability