Wildland Sutherland encompasses Eriboll, Polla, Hope, Loyal, Kinloch, Braesgill and Strathmore. It is a wild land full of potential, with a rich culture and storied history. There’s something about these places, nestled between the dramatic peaks of world-famous Munros and the crashing waves of the northern seas. It’s visceral - it pulls you in and never lets go.
Ben Loyal
If Ben Loyal’s twin peaks could talk, they would have some spectacular stories to tell. This mountain has kept watch over Tongue and the surrounding area for millennia. Today, the mountain and the land surrounding it present an important conservation opportunity. In addition to the fantastic hiking, stalking and fishing offered by the Ben and the loch, Wildland is developing Loyal Lodge to join our family of unique places to stay. However, with its close proximity to the boat house on the shore of Loch Loyal and to the deer stalking on the wider hillsides, Ben Loyal with its refurbished lodge will be the epitome of a Scottish sporting estate – and is already a popular destination for guests staying at nearby Kinloch. The décor for the restored lodge will again offer our signature Scandi-Scot twist that means you will relax in modern comfort at the end of your strenuous day hiking, fishing or stalking the hills that surround you.
As well as shooting and stalking, Loch Loyal also offers exceptional trout fishing and nearby Loch Hackle is a great location to learn dapping for wild trout – it’s a super treat! The estate is ideally sited for sea trout and salmon fishing on other Wildland properties too and we keep boats available on the Loch so that guests can make the most of their time on water.
Breathtaking beauty.
Eriboll & Polla
Including one of the Highlands’ most dramatic deep water lochs, Wildland’s vision for Eriboll is likely to lead to it becoming a jewel in the crown of this project. A beautiful house in an established yet derelict garden setting, vernacular steadings that could lend themselves to artistic, craft or other uses, the Church already under renovation, the extraordinary Tombolo of Ard Neakie, the renovated Foulain Cottage and a couple more with potential comprise the built heritage. Integrating farming with conservation is underway and the exciting Polla spate river rounds off this wonderful place.
The estate still boasts areas of native woodland, and peatlands too. With deer numbers now being managed back from an unsustainable 20 per square kilometre to 4 per square kilometre today, there are already remarkable signs of a new healthier tree growth. Birdlife is abundant across the estate and, of particular interest, our rangers and guests have recently enjoyed observing sea eagles soaring from the cliffs of nearby Strathmore. This has certainly been a highlight of many visitor’s stay.
Eriboll Church is an old Presbyterian church on the former Eriboll Estate. Many local residents were christened or married here and funerals also took place. There are strong connections to the past. There is even a memorial to HMS Hood, dedicated by Lord Mountbatten, commemorating the many visits by this historic battleship to the Loch. A full restoration of the church completed in November 2019. It is our hope that such opportunities will arise here once again.
Braesgill & Hope
Hope is a very, very special place indeed. We have plans to overhaul and lovingly restore Hope Lodge to become a signature hotel destination, situated halfway around the North Coast 500. The property will be extended and will sleep up to 20 guests when completed, offering commanding views north over the famous Loch Hope and River Hope. This is an exceptional project, even by Wildland standards, resulting in a remarkable and significant hotel destination in the north. Commitment to conservation is never far from the surface of our projects and, working with West Sutherland Fisheries Trust, we have evolved a novel and now award-winning solution to ensuring safe construction close to pristine watercourses of trout and salmon through our watercourses. The River Hope courses its way from Loch Hope below the lodge to the sea.
Hope is home to the UK’s most northerly birch wood and home too to nesting Golden Eagles which can be seen every day, especially in the summer months, soaring the warm air thermals. Also a part of the Northwest Geopark, Hope is home to the Mhoine Thrust; a wish-list destination for every geology student the world over. The Moine Thrust is a linear geological non-conformity in the Scottish Highlands which runs from Loch Eriboll on the north coast 190 kilometres (120 mi) south-west to the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye. The discovery of the Thrust in 1907 was a milestone in the history of geology as it was one of the first thrust belts discovered.
Hills that tell a story.
Kinloch
Kinloch – Wildland’s first major restoration – is, by virtue of its remoteness, vastness and sheer beauty, moving and inspiring in equal measure.Once a private lodge of the Duke of Sutherland, Kinloch – in the Kyle of Sutherland – has been restored to offer a fabulously eclectic blend of the Highlands and contemporary Scandi-style; a classic sporting lodge given a whole new lease of life.
With fields as far as the eye can see, rivers bordered by ever-increasing woodland, and set amidst some of Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes, this is the ideal retreat offering solitude and comfort up in the rugged north. Kinloch’s beautiful conservatory offers a view of the spectacular castellated north face of Ben Loyal, one of the Highlands’ most challenging and rewarding Munros – a mountain of over 3000’ – it’s the perfect base from which to stalk Red Deer and keep an eye open for Golden eagles flying above. Kinloch is such a transcendently beautiful landscape it has already been designated a National Scenic Area (NSA). With space enough to sleep twelve, this magical place comes with its own housekeeper and chef, and a focus towards simple traditional fayre sourced locally and prepared fresh just for you. It’s all about the simple things; a place to relax with family, friends, or even to surround yourself with silence and solitude if that’s what you crave.
Strathmore
Strathmore Estate is a truly epic landscape, boasting awe-inspiring ancient structures, the most northern Old Caledonian Pine Forest remnants, with rivers and a loch rich in fish. Strathmore is the gateway into the majestic Hope Estate with its iconic Munro Ben Hope and Loch Hope. It is a place to escape, a hideaway, deeply rooted to the land and connected with nature.
Whilst still in the design/development stages of the project, Wildland’s longer term vision for Strathmore cluster includes the restoration of four traditional dwellings providing self-catering accommodation for up to six people.The first of these, Strathmore Lodge, is now ready offering three fine double bedrooms, a cosy living room with a feature cast iron fireplace and a truly lovely kitchen. It’s a wonderful space and why don’t you be amongst the first to experience its unique charm.
Strathmore is the perfect base for those that love the outdoors and all of the traditional Highland’s pursuits. The fishing here is exceptional. The Strathmore River is renowned for its salmon runs and the south end of Loch Hope is rich with sea trout. Wildland keeps boats on this loch for the use of those that wish to fish here.
With an eye towards our conservation work across the whole of Wildland, it is interesting to note that the most northerly remnant of the Old Caledonian Pine Forest is on this estate. We shall be considering carefully the steps we can take to allow this forest to gain an ever greater hold on its landscape. Historically too Strathmore is important. Dornaigil Broch is one of the most famous of these ancient structures. It’s awe-inspiring and compelling in equal measure and makes one want to know more about what these stone monuments were once used for. Wildland is proud to have become its custodian and is committed to ensuring that it will still be a feature of the landscape for many more years to come.