Noss Head in the News

A vase of flowers on a dining table

POV: Working hard so you can relax :)

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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How to use passing places

8 top tips for driving in Scotland

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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Horse on Dunnet Beach

The NC500 with children and dogs, exploring Caithness

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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A plate with a piece of salmon surrounded by sauce and peppercorns and decorated with fresh herbs.

What is Scottish food like?

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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International Women’s Day – The Lightkeeper’s wife

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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Will my Scottish B&B or Holiday Cottage be cancelled?

The short answer is “you will probably be fine”. You can always make a back-up booking at a chain hotel with a fully-flexible cancellation policy –  you can cancel it as soon as the licence comes through for the B&B, Apartment, or Holiday Cottage. This blog post explains …
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The Northern Lights at Noss Head Lighthouse

Photographing the Northern Lights with your mobile phone

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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How to find the perfect place to stay in Scotland

You want to find the perfect places to stay for your Scotland trip so you’ll have great experiences and wonderful memories. But Google shows big sites and chain hotels before anything else so the hidden gems are truly hidden, so how can you find quirky or unusual places …
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Scottish Tourist Board - Four Stars

BLOG: Shooting Stars!

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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The Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage is Chamber of Commerce Member of the Week

NEWS: Chamber of Commerce Member of the Week

I am really chuffed that the Lighthouse Cottage team of me, Joy and Kim have been recognised by our local Chamber of Commerce for the work we’ve been doing on Green Tourism and spreading the word about Eco Travel. Here is the announcement by the Caithness Chamber of …
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