Experience the best stays on the Cromarty Firth, close to the NC500 and just 20 minutes from Inverness.
Dalvey House is a nine-bedroom Adam-style mansion in Moray, Scotland, sleeping up to 18 guests across beautifully appointed rooms four with en-suite bathrooms. Every guest review scores a perfect 5.0. The oak-lined dining room, wood-panelled hall and gorgeous landscaped grounds set a standard few large holiday properties can match.
Brodie Castle is 5 miles away. Findhorn Beach is 6 miles. Cawdor Castle is 14 miles. An on-site housekeeper and optional catering service make Dalvey House the ultimate base for a milestone celebration or large family gathering in Scotland.
Coorie Doon is a stone cottage in Nairn's atmospheric Fishertown quarter, two minutes on foot from miles of golden sandy beach on the Moray Firth coast. The sitting room has an original stone wall and a wood-burning stove fuel included.
The Moray Firth holds one of only two resident dolphin colonies in the UK, visible from the beach. Fort George, Cawdor Castle and Culloden are all within 25 minutes. Owner Paul's local knowledge alone is worth the trip.
Firthview is a single-storey Highland cottage near Auldearn with views across the Moray Firth that guests describe as truly spectacular. Deer graze outside the lounge window, the Northern Lights have been spotted from the patio and the dark skies make stargazing exceptional.
Inside, it is genuinely five-star luxury linen, underfloor heating, a wine chiller, coffee pod machine and a kitchen guests call a dream. Brodie Castle is 3 miles away. Nairn Beach is 2.7 miles. Firthview is the kind of place people return to again and again.
Moray Firth View is a second-floor coastal apartment in Nairn with views that genuinely stop you in your tracks. The Moray Firth stretches out in front of you, the Black Isle sits on the horizon and the resident bottlenose dolphin pod passes close to shore binoculars are provided.
The beach is 110 yards away. Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield and Loch Ness are all under 30 minutes by car. Rated 4.9 out of 5 and a Customers' Choice winner four years running.
Isla's Cottage is a genuine original stone fisherman's cottage in Nairn's Fishertown conservation area renovated to keep its original features while adding proper modern comforts. The woodburner in the original fireplace is reason enough to book on a crisp Highland evening.
Two sandy beaches are within a mile. Cawdor Castle is 15 minutes away. Dogs are welcome. It holds a 4.8/5 guest rating and a Customers' Choice 2025 badge. This is Highland Scotland done properly.
Henry's Lodge sits on the edge of Delnies Wood in Morayshire, just 3 miles from Nairn and less than a mile from the coast. Deer and pine marten pass the windows regularly. Walking trails start at the front door.
This 5-star, award-winning wood-lined lodge sleeps four across two double bedrooms with a large verandah, decked barbecue area and uninterrupted farmland views. Cawdor Castle and Culloden are both under 20 minutes away.
Bow Fiddle is a five-star rated detached bungalow in Nairn on the Moray Firth one of Scotland's finest coastal towns. Two kingsize bedrooms, a sunroom with garden views and everything on the ground floor make it a genuinely easy and comfortable base.
Bottlenose dolphins in the Firth, two sandy beaches within a mile, Cawdor Castle eight miles away and Inverness just 20 minutes by car. This is Highland Scotland at its most accessible.
Braehead is a detached, award-winning holiday home sitting in the heart of Nairn on the Moray Firth coast. The beach is a quarter of a mile away, a pub is 100 yards from the door and Culloden Battlefield is 15 minutes by car.
Sleeping six across three bedrooms with a fully equipped kitchen, Smart TV and on-site parking, this is a brilliant Highland base. Loch Ness, Fort George and championship golf are all within easy reach.
Redburn Steading is a three-bedroom woodland cottage in the Scottish Highlands, 7 miles from Nairn and within an hour of Cairngorm National Park. Red squirrels visit daily, bottlenose dolphins patrol the Moray Firth coast and Culloden, Cawdor Castle and Fort George are all under 30 minutes away.
Every bedroom has its own bathroom access. Hosts Ben and Nix live next door and have a perfect five-star rating across every single guest review. This is Highland Scotland done properly.
Garden House is the former Head Gardener's residence on the Brodie Castle Estate in Moray a three-bedroom cottage managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Guests get exclusive access to the estate outside public hours and a complimentary castle tour is included with every stay.
Two dogs are welcome in the fully enclosed gardens, the woodburning stove is brilliant on cool Scottish evenings and Findhorn Bay is just six miles away. This is a genuinely special base for exploring the Highlands.
Reay House is a Customers' Choice 2025 Victorian villa in Nairn, sleeping 8 with a 4.6-star rating. Two Blue Flag beaches are under a mile away. Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield and Fort George are all within 15 minutes by car.
Inside, sweeping staircases, high ceilings and two woodburners set the scene. Pets stay free. Inverness Airport is 15 minutes away. This is the Scottish Highlands at its most accessible and most stylish.
Aurae is a four-bedroom luxury log cabin on private farmland near Cawdor in the Scottish Highlands, sleeping eight with a private hot tub and six-person barrel sauna on the deck. Two ground-floor king-size en-suite bedrooms, a five-burner Rangemaster and a wine cooler set the standard.
Cawdor Castle is two miles away. Culloden Battlefield is fifteen minutes by car. This is Highland Scotland at its most accessible and most comfortable.
Sandy Beach is a detached four-bedroom bungalow in Nairn, sleeping eight on the Moray Firth coast of the Scottish Highlands. The sandy beach is a short walk away, dolphins are spotted regularly offshore and Nairn Dunbar Golf Course is within walking distance.
Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle and Fort George are all under 20 miles away. The large lawned garden has a barbecue and patio and the whole property is on one level perfect for families.
Read the reviews and see why guests return to Balblair Cottages year after year.
The views across the Cromarty Firth from the cottage were something else. We woke up each morning to complete quiet, watched dolphins from the shore, and drove the North Coast 500 in stages from the door. The cottage was spotless, warm, and had everything we needed. We will be back next year.
We had no idea how beautiful this part of the Highlands was until we stayed here. The firth is stunning at low tide, Tain is a great little town for food, and Inverness is an easy drive. The cottage was well-equipped and the beds were very comfortable. Highly recommended.
We came for five nights and the time flew past. The cottage was exactly as described — clean, cosy, well-stocked kitchen and fast wifi. The dog loved the walks along the firth. We spotted bottlenose dolphins on three separate occasions. Cannot recommend the area or the cottage highly enough.
Stayed here with my husband and two teenagers. The cottage had plenty of room for all of us and the location was perfect for day trips. We visited Chanonry Point for the dolphins, drove north along the NC500, and spent a day in Inverness. The cottage itself was spotless and beautifully set up.
Very well equipped kitchen with good facilities throughout. The bedrooms were a great size, the bathroom had a lovely shower, and the views across the firth from the living room were stunning. A welcoming message had been left on arrival — a nice touch. Would definitely book again.
An easy drive to Inverness for a day out, and the Black Isle is right on the doorstep. The local area is full of walks and the firth is gorgeous on a clear day. Wonderful scenery all around — a great place for a few nights in the Highlands.
The cottage is every bit as good as it looks. Warm, well-appointed, and in a setting that is hard to beat. Nothing was missing — the kitchen had everything, the beds were very comfortable, and the garden was a lovely place to sit in the evenings. We will definitely be returning.
The area around Balblair in Easter Ross is one of the quieter and more rewarding corners of the Scottish Highlands. The Cromarty Firth stretches out to the south, the Black Isle sits across the water, and Inverness is only 20 minutes away. It sits right on the North Coast 500 route — and once you are here, you quickly see why people keep coming back.
The Cromarty Firth is one of the best places in Scotland to see bottlenose dolphins — head to Chanonry Point on the Black Isle for close views from the shore, particularly around the incoming tide. The firth itself is excellent for birdwatching, with large numbers of wading birds feeding on the mudflats at low tide. The Balnagowan Woods and the hills above Easter Ross offer good walking country with views across the firth. The area is ideal for guests who enjoy coastal scenery, wildlife, and long walks on quiet paths.
Balblair sits on the route of the North Coast 500, Scotland's most famous scenic driving route. From here you can head north through Tain — a handsome town with good cafes, a whisky distillery, and a medieval collegiate church — and on around the north coast to Dornoch, Dunrobin Castle, and the far north. Heading south takes you across the Cromarty Bridge and into the Black Isle, a broad peninsula with its own distillery, beaches, and the dolphin-watching spot at Chanonry Point. Dingwall is a short drive west and has a good range of local shops and restaurants.
Inverness is only around 20 minutes south of Balblair and makes an excellent day trip. The city centre has good restaurants, a castle, a lively bar scene, and easy access to Loch Ness via the A82. Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness is worth a visit, and the Falls of Foyers on the south shore of the loch are a popular stop for walkers. From Inverness you can also take the train north along the Sutherland coast — one of the best railway journeys in Britain. The Cairngorms National Park is available within an hour's drive east for those wanting mountain scenery and outdoor activities.
Balblair Distillery, one of Scotland's oldest working distilleries founded in 1790, is right on the doorstep — tours and tastings are available and well worth booking during your stay. Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain is another excellent option nearby. Dunrobin Castle, the magnificent seat of the Earls of Sutherland, is around 45 minutes north and one of the largest houses in the Highlands. For info on local lodges, holiday homes and availability across Easter Ross, the VisitScotland website is a good starting point. There are also some fine luxury holiday homes near Balblair for those looking for something a little special.
All our Balblair holiday homes are fully equipped and ready for your stay — here is what you will find when you arrive.
Every home has a well-stocked kitchen with an electric oven, hob, microwave, fridge, toaster and kettle. The kitchen dining area has seating for all guests, so you can sit down to a proper breakfast or a home-cooked dinner after a day out exploring the area.
Bedrooms are comfortable and well-presented, with beds made up on arrival. Most homes have two or more bedrooms, including both double and twin rooms. Each has one or more bathrooms, with a shower room available across the range. Bed linen and towels are included.
Fast wifi is included in every home at no extra charge. Whether you need to work remotely for a night or simply want to stream something in the evenings, you will have reliable connectivity throughout your stay.
Many of our Balblair cottages welcome pets, so there is no need to leave the dog at home. Check the individual listing for the pets policy. Most have a garden or outside space, and car parking is available at every home for easy arrivals and low-stress day trips.
The open living room in each cottage is warm and well-furnished, with seating for the whole group. Several homes feature a fire or log-burning stove — perfect for cosy nights in after a long day on the coast. Electric heating is included in the price.
Dedicated car parking is included at every home, making arrivals easy. Our cottages are within easy reach of Balblair and the wider Easter Ross area, most sitting just a short drive from the Cromarty Firth, the North Coast 500, and the centre of Tain.