My name is Ben. I fell in love with the Lighthouse and then with Caithness when I first came here in 2017. I realised I wanted to make Caithness my home, and I wanted to help others discover this unique place.
You want everything to be thought of before you arrive. You can always tell when a holiday cottage is run by someone who’s never stayed in a holiday cottage themselves: there isn’t a chopping board, or there’s nothing to read. And we’ve all booked soulless places with generic pictures on the walls, and no love for the place or their guests.
I want you to have the best time here, so I put everything I’ve learned into the cottage, and took advice from the best. I knew a lot of the pitfalls because I always choose self-catering when I go away myself! I am still making improvements every single year, so that the cottage is always fresh, up to date, and the sanctuary you deserve.
You deserve a warm welcome and a perfect stay, and I could not do this without a great team. Joy, Kim and Roz take great pride in making sure the Cottage is a light and cosy home from home…
… and Steve and Paul restored the Cottage back in 2018, and come back every year to give a quick refresh, and are on hand for fixes or repairs.
Our actions make a difference, especially somewhere as beautiful and fragile as this. So I buy as green and as local as possible, and upcycle wherever I can. You can find out more in my interview on the Green Path Podcast. I love supporting local artists by showcasing their pictures of the wildlife and buildings you can see here on the headland, and many of the books are by local authors too.
You can always tell the difference between check-box inclusion and a place that has actually done the work. This is something I care a lot about because of neurodiversity in the family, and with friends and family who are part of the rainbow community, and my own occasionally wobbly hip. Unfortunately, we aren’t suitable for wheelchairs, but we are on one level, and you can read more here, and of course you can always ask me about accessibility.
Giving back to local projects and charities is an important part of how I say “thank you”. Because of the cottage, I am able to donate to:
Don’t just take my word for it. We have had some great recognition over the years.
I am truly proud of the Cottage, the team that help me run it, and the support it provides to local businesses.
I love working with other people – I truly believe “if you win, I win”.
Get in touch if you would like to explore ways that we can work together to
