I always amuses me that people think “running an Airbnb” is passive income. It’s busy, it’s fun, and I love it. But passive, it isn’t! Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes to a particularly manic Monday last month… 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 10:00 11:00 12:30 13:00 15:30 16:15 …
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Scotland is great to explore in a car, or even a camper van or motor home. But our roads may be a bit different from the ones you are used to even if you live in the UK. Here are my top tips for driving safely on our …
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Caithness on the North Coast 500 is a dog-friendly and family-friendly place for a holiday – there is so much to explore when you get out from behind the wheel, and a lot of it is free. Believe it or not, this list is just a taster! Pins …
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Guests who’ve travelled to Scotland often comment how good the food is here. Scottish livestock are typically reared outdoors, our seafood is legendary, and our fruit and vegetables are delicious too. Scots away from home really miss our traditional brands like Tunnocks and Irn Bru, and we have …
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It’s International Women’s Day, so this is a tribute to the women married to lightkeepers here in Scotland. Margaret Aitken was not exceptional, which is why I chose her voice to celebrate today. Born in Orkney, married in the mid-1950s, she and her husband lived in Stroma, an …
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We are often asked “can we see the Northern Lights from the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage?” The answer is “Yes”… and “No”! Yes – we certainly have darks skies and a low clear horizon; when you look North, there is just John o’Groats and Orkney, and neither of them …
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You want to find the perfect places to stay for your Scotland trip so you’ll have great experiences and wonderful memories. But the hidden gems are truly hidden because Google shows big sites and chain hotels before anything else. So how can you find quirky or unusual places …
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We’re just delighted to have been awarded the Scottish Tourist Board’s Four Stars for Self-Catering. It’s a great tribute to Joy, Steph and Kim who look after the Cottage, and to Steve and Paul who do the maintenance. And to the Cottage itself! The star rating shows we …
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A lovely thing happened yesterday. I was about to follow a recovery vehicle down the road to the tyre fixers when a car drew up to the lighthouse. We don’t encourage cars unless they have a blue badge and the driver or passenger has mobility issues. This is …
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October is Black History month, so I am sharing some of the stories of black lightkeepers in the UK and the USA In the days when British lighthouses were manned (and I use that word advisedly) light-keeping was a white affair. The people of colour who have been …
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