Dun Brae Cottage, Dornoch

Dun Brae is Gaelic for “castle on a hill”. Dunny is no castle, but its perch on its hill above Dornoch affords one of the best and most enjoyable views of the town that can be found. The cottage’s situation is simultaneously private and central, placing guests mere yards from the center of town and the first tee box at Royal Dornoch.

Dun Brae is a multi-generational family holiday cottage. The thick, centuries old sandstone walls create a quiet and comforting atmosphere, and the interiors provide the comforts of a home-away-from-home for everyone—a great base for a few days or a few months. Over the decades, the house and gardens have undergone constant planning and improvement by a dedicated team of local artisans. The cottage is filled with antique furniture and art from years of travel in Scotland and pays homage to the country charm that is quintessentially the Highlands. While traditional in its core, Dun Brae affords all of the luxuries and comforts of a fine 21st century country home. All of the rooms proudly boast tartan and tweed furnishings from ANTA, Scotland’s premier outfitter of Scottish country lifestyle, and paint and wallpaper from Farrow & Ball.

ROOM DESCRIPTIONS:

Kitchen/Dining: Fully fitted modern kitchen with Bosch and Neff appliances: gas oven and hob, dishwasher, fridge/freezer, microwave, kettle, toaster, Nespresso coffee maker. Full suite of hotel silver cutlery, crockery and utensils. Country dining table with views of the front garden and town, seating for four (4) people. Adjacent to the kitchen is a utility area with an excellent Bosch washing machine and tumble drier (powders provided). The limestone floors from ancient Scottish quarries are a nod to the heritage of the area.

Cloakroom: Adjacent to the kitchen WC and wash hand basin appointed with Fired Earth tiles.

Library: Tweed loveseat, nursing chair, desk and office chair. A SMART flatscreen TV on the desk can function for entertainment or a second monitor for work. The brass coffee table contains a selection of books on Scotland, while the library shelves offer various works of literature.

Cozy Room: The large grey tweed sofa with foot-rest (deep and comfortable!) proves a great place to lounge at the end of an active day, gazing out the window, sampling the fine Classics library or stacks of periodicals, or drawing the curtains to enjoy the large SMART flatscreen TV (with basic UK cable).

Master Bedroom: The cozy, coffered bedroom contains a super-king size bed with a top-comfort Emma mattress dressed in White Company sheets. The fitted wardrobe and chest of drawers round out storage. Views of the front garden, town and Cathedral, and Dornoch Firth in the distance. Various artwork from Cambridge, England, on display.

Garden Bedroom: Twin beds and duvets are made up with White Company sheets. The fitted wardrobe and desk-drawers round out storage, while the desk and chair provide a lovely place to read and look out over Dornoch Cathedral and the garden.

Family bathroom: The shared bathroom shower suite at Dun Brae is luxurious, comfortable and light-filled: every surface of the room is tiled in marble and glass from Fired Earth, all of the plumbing fixtures are Lefroy Brooks, and the accessories are from Perrin & Rowe.

Outside: The large and mature front garden is paved with a wide Caithness slab terrace, with a wrought iron table with 4 chairs positioned to view the town and Cathedral. In the rear of the Cottage, there is a limestone gravel driveway and parking for two cars, as well as an amble yard for fun and games. The ever-growing hedge is maturing to provide wonderful