Country House Holidays - The Carnegie Rooms at Aultnagar Lodge

Lairg sits at the crossroads of the Flow Country and the valleys that lead south into Sutherland, making it a natural base for exploring the peat bogs and moorland of the far north. The village itself has a primary school, a hotel and a few shops; nearby Bonar Bridge has more amenities, and Inverness is roughly 90 minutes away. Aultnagar Lodge, a Grade B-listed mansion built in the early 1900s, occupies grounds four miles outside the village. The Carnegie Rooms occupy one wing of the house, accessed through a shared entrance, with eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms across ground and first floors.

Downstairs there is a living and dining room with a smart television, a kitchen equipped for proper cooking, a games room with a pool table, a study with a woodburner, and a bathroom. Four of the eight bedrooms contain a kingsize and a single bed; one has a four-poster kingsize with a single; two hold kingsize beds only; and two are single rooms. All bedrooms have ensuite bathrooms, most with baths and showers. The property is heated by electricity, with initial fuel for the study's woodburner included; essentials such as bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi are provided. Parking for six cars is on site, and one pet stays free of charge. The shared grounds offer garden furniture and sitting areas. No smoking is permitted indoors.

The layout suits large family groups or gatherings that want the independence of a self-contained space but the reassurance of a staffed property. It works well for those planning outdoor days in the Highlands, whether walking, fishing or simply moving between the nearby glens, lochs and villages.