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Apartment

The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner

Photo gallery for The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner

Property grounds
Room
Exterior
Bathroom
Interior

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Balcony
    A rare find - enjoy views from the balcony.
1 bedroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue
  • Balcony
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Fortrose, Highland
  • Place, Fortrose Cathedral
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Place, Rosemarkie Beach
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Fairy Glen Reserve
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Airport, Inverness (INV)
    ‪31 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner

With superfast broadband, The Hayloft is a peaceful first-floor retreat created within the upper floor of our former stable and outbuilding, offering privacy, comfort and lovely open views across surrounding farmland. Separate from both our home and our daughter’s house next door, it provides guests with their own quiet space to relax and unwind.

Following the Covid lockdowns in 2020, The Hayloft was occupied by family for several years and has recently been refreshed throughout, including redecoration, a new mattress and updated shower facilities, ready to welcome guests again.

Accessed via an external wooden staircase, The Hayloft opens onto a sunny south-west facing balcony, the perfect spot for morning coffee or a glass of wine in the afternoon and evening sunshine.

Just 3½ miles away are the charming coastal villages of Fortrose, Rosemarkie and Avoch, where you’ll find beaches, cafés, restaurants, pubs, takeaways, local shops and an excellent bakery.

Nearby you can enjoy golf, horse riding, mountain biking, dolphin watching at Chanonry Point, scenic boat trips and lovely coastal walks.

Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, is only 25 minutes away, while Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, the mountains, lochs and the spectacular West Coast are all within easy reach for memorable day trips.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking permitted outside on the covered platform.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 8156744
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

About the area

Fortrose

Located in Fortrose, this apartment is in a rural area. Inverness Castle and Fortrose Cathedral are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club and Wildwoodz Paintball and Lasertag Park. Black Isle Wildlife Park and Dingwall Leisure Centre are also worth visiting. Break out the clubs and hit the links on a nearby golf course, or seek out an adventure with ecotours, horse riding and mountain biking.
View more Apartments in FortroseOpens in a new window
Map
Fortrose, Highland

What's nearby

  • Fortrose Cathedral - 5 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Rosemarkie Beach - 7 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Fairy Glen Reserve - 7 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club - 7 min drive - 8.5 km
  • Chanonry Point Lighthouse - 9 min drive - 9.8 km

Getting around

  • Muir of Ord Station - 17 min drive
  • Inverness (INV) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rosemarkie Beach Cafe - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Plough Inn - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Stag And Thistle (Bar And Kitchen) - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Crofters Bistro - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Fort George Café - ‬30 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner?

As of 12 June 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner on 2 October 2026 start from NZ$166, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is The Hayloft | Peaceful Black Isle Retreat Near Fortrose | Balcony & Wood Burner located?

Situated in a rural location, this apartment building is within 6 miles (10 km) of Fortrose Cathedral, Groam House Museum and Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club. Moray Firth and Wildwoodz Paintball and Lasertag Park are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 76 out of 79 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 79 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 79 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 79 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 79 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

mike y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Highland Gem

Lovely and quiet - enjoyed our short stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2020
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Philip M.

Return visit

Usually like to see new places when on holiday so going back to the same area and staying in the same accommodation is quite exceptional for us. The Hayloft is quite simply now our default place to stay for any future holidays in the area. It is well equipped, comfortable, very clean and very peaceful and the owners are very easy to get along with.
Response from VrboOwner on 18 March 2020
It was lovely to see you both again, many thanks for the smashing review, we hope to see you again in the future. Best wishes Su and John
Verified

10/10 Excellent

daniel s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Short break

Lovely place and area. Will return
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Martyn W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exploring the Black Isle

An excellent quiet location in the centre of the Black Isle. The hayloft was comfortable and very cosy with the wood burning stove in January. We had a relaxing short stay and were made very welcome by excellent informative hosts. Thank you.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Oliver T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little lodge

We had a lovely trip - was perfect little break. The lodge had everything we needed and was easy to drive to a number of great walks.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julie R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful short break

We spent 3 nights here and arrived in torrential rain and wind. Our check in was excellent with clear explanations on how everything worked. Every space in the hayloft was well utilised and the facilities were excellent and spotlessly clean. The wood burning stove was just what we needed and despite the weather we were very warm and snug and made use of the many DVDs that were left for our enjoyment. The property is just as the pictures show. There is much to do in the surrounding area although the weather hampered us a little. John and Susan were the perfect hosts and extremely helpful and friendly. I would strongly recommend this place.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

christa v.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place to stay in all seasons.

Good communication, warm welkom, Nice little house, beautiful area. We enjoyed our stay, and hope to come back some day.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nigel P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cozy hideaway

Thoroughly recommend this property. Cozy hayloft with just about everything you could possibly need. The kitchen area was well equipped with all sorts of pots, pans and baking tins. Plenty of utensils and a variety of crockery and cutlery. The whole property was very clean and tidy. We didn’t make use of the outdoor seating area due to the weather but the wood burner in the lounge/bedroom area made everything very cozy. There was a TV and DVD player with a selection of DVDs to watch and also a few books to look at. The bed was comfortable. There were also plenty of electric sockets for charging devices etc. Great place to stay to visit the Highlands. Inverness about 30 mins away, near to Culloden battlefield and Loch Ness and the Cairngorms National Park and Aviemore about an hour away.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Julia G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Perfect Stay

John and Su are the perfect hosts..great communication before our stay and a warm welcome when we arrived with local info.The chalet is lovely...extremely clean and well equipped with a fantastic log burner..lots of logs available to use too.The area is stunning..no need to venture far to find amazing wildlife and fantastic views.we hope to return very soon.Thanks again to you both.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eldrid R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

First class choice

Su and John gave us a warm welcome and although we had some special requests regarding our check in and out was no problem. We would highly recommend this property for it was superb in every way. Thanks again Su and John. Ellie & Thorsten
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Feels like our second home

This is the forth time we have stayed at The Hayloft and we have enjoyed every visit here. A few lovely additions since our last stay and we will be booking again for next year. The owners, John & Su are lovely, warm & friendly and we look forward to seeing them again.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely place to stay

We had a lovely relaxing stay at The Hayloft. It had everything that we needed & was so cosy to come home to after being out all day. Only a 10 min drive into Fortrose & 20 mins to Inverness. So many places to visit in this area , we visited Wester Ross which was beautiful & up to Ullapool., Dornoch & Cromarty to name a few places, also saw the dolphins at Chanonry Point. Su and John were lovely and would definitely recommend this accommodation. Hope to return ourselves one day.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angela und W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

praktische, kleine Ferienwohnung für zwei mit sehr viel Charme

Wir haben den Aufenthalt sehr genossen, da es an Nichts fehlte und die Lage für zahlreiche Ausflüge in die Umgebung ideal ist. Die sehr ruhige Unterkunft ist auch bei kälteren Temperaturen dank des Ofens und des zur Verfügung gestellten Holzes sehr zu empfehlen.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

8/10 Good

Margaret W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ideal base for 2

Property very clean, comfy and compact. Hosts very friendly and accommodating. Exact direction to accommodation not so easy to find. Would return as a base for touring. Beautiful area!
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Louise M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely loved it!!

Absolutely loved our stay here! We arrived late evening, property was left open for us,( didn’t get to meet Sue and John )Great property, spotlessly clean and had everything you could need! Quite remote (and very peaceful which was fantastic!!) but great position for visiting the surrounding area, we visited John O’Groats, Inverness, Blair Castle, Culloden . We also saw dolphins from Fort George which was awesome !!! We had the added bonus of a Swallow nesting in the porch which was lovely to watch, We would absolutely stay here again! 10 out of 10 😁😁😁
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Deborah R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

We have just returned from a weeks stay and what a great time we had. The communication prior to arriving was excellent. Please follow directions John & Su provide you cannot go wrong. They are such a lovely couple, happy to assist in any way to make your stay comfortable. The accommodation was clean, tidy and fitted with everything we required for our time there, simply cannot fault it. The location was perfect for us to use as a base. We did a lot of sightseeing so returning to this peaceful place was bliss after a long busy day. We will certainly be returning here for our next trip to the Black Isle.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Peter W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A fantastic hideaway

Well appointed, comfy and clean. Well placed for touring the area. Owners helpful and friendly, would highly recommend.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anja W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

nette kleine Wohnung

Die Wohnung ist gut ausgestattet und bietet alles, was man braucht. Da sie unterm Dach liegt, ist sie warm und zudem total ruhig. Die Lage als Ausgangspunkt zur Erkundung der Gegend ist prima. Die Vermieter sind zurückhaltend und nett. Wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jaap D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Keurig verzorgd

Gasten waren erg behulpzaam.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amber D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Most amazing place to stay

Great location, excellent hosts, could not of been anymore helpful and welcoming. They went out of their way to accommodate us. Would very highly recommend as a perfect base for the highlands.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jolanta P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Family Holidays

The cottage was very cosy and clean.Ideal as a base for local attractions. Su and John are superb host and make a real effort to ensure that your stay is comfortable.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent.

What can I say. Everything about this property was absolutely spot on. Really clean, excellent location, bed comfortable, nice and quiet and totally fantastic hosts. The property is in prime location for all the beauty that the Highlands and the cairngorms have to offer and supermarkets only a 5 minute drive away. For shopping enthusiasts, Inverness is great which is only a 20 drive. All in all a fantastic holiday and planning to come back to this apartment next year. Thanks very much sue and John for making our stay a memorable one. 😊
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Scott S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Such a peaceful setting

Su and John are wonderful friendly folks, they can’t do enough to help you but leave you in peace unless needed. The loft is spotless and an extremely comfortable place to spend time. Absolutely everything you could need to enjoy a break is there. Also the locals in Avoch and Fortrose are nice and friendly too, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again or to recommend it.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Trevor F.

Well appointed for a perfect stay

Su and John were the perfect hosts making the stay pain free! The accommodation was spotless and well appointed and just wright for 2 and even better for 1! If I could give 6 stars I would!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2019
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Louise S.

Perfect getaway

On arrival John & Su made us feel very welcome. Amazing peaceful location but still close to the coast. Great for exploring the Black Isle and dolphin watching which was amazing. The Hayloft is a perfect getaway for total relaxation and fully equipped, the log burner gave it that cosy homely feel, just perfect and loved the sound of the birds twittering away in the morning. Had a fantastic time, weather great and lovely sunsets. Thanks Louise & Ann P.S. We will be back ❤️
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019

About the host

Hosted by Su and John Hay

Host profile image
We moved to this peaceful corner of the Black Isle over 30 years ago, drawn by the quiet surroundings and beautiful setting. After many years working in television editing, we are now happily retired and, with our family grown up, are delighted to share this special place with guests.

Our daughter Zoe has recently moved back home and, together with her husband David and their two children, has built a house next door. If we are away when you arrive, Zoe will be here to welcome you.

The apartment above our outbuilding was originally created for our son, who now works as a cameraman in Edinburgh. We have since carefully upgraded it to provide a warm, comfortable retreat for visitors.

We love animals and birds, music, cooking, spending time with family, and enjoying life here with our Black Labrador Bella.

Why they chose this property

We have lived at Blairfoid on the Black Isle for 33 years, but our story here began even earlier. We first came to visit friends over 35 years ago and fell in love with the area so completely that we decided to make it home. Even now, there are days when it still feels as though we are on holiday.

What drew us here then is exactly what we still treasure today: the peace and quiet, the open countryside, and the slower pace of life. We love the lack of traffic, the fresh Highland air, and watching red kites and buzzards soaring overhead.

The Black Isle is also perfectly placed for exploring the Highlands, with beautiful beaches, woodland walks, historic villages, and stunning coastal views all close by. Nearby Chanonry Point is one of our favourite spots, where you can often watch the famous bottlenose dolphins from the shore.

For us, it is the perfect balance of tranquillity, nature, and easy access to everything the Highlands has to offer.

What makes this property unique

What makes our property so special is its peaceful rural setting combined with an excellent location for exploring the Highlands. You can enjoy the calm of the countryside while being within easy reach of villages, beaches, attractions and the city of Inverness.

Just 3½ miles away are the charming coastal villages of Fortrose, Rosemarkie and Avoch, where you’ll find gift shops, cafés, restaurants, takeaways, pubs and beautiful sandy beaches. Whether you’re looking for a seaside walk, lunch by the water or dolphin spotting, it is all close by.

We are only 12 miles from Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, offering excellent shopping, dining, river walks and transport links. Inverness Airport is around 40 minutes away, making travel easy for guests arriving from further afield.

Loch Ness and the historic Urquhart Castle are only around 45 minutes away, ideal for a memorable day trip. The mountains, lochs and spectacular scenery of the West Coast are also within easy reach.

Another favourite destination is Cromarty, just 20 minutes away, a charming and historic village with very little traffic, pretty streets, independent cafés and a small seasonal ferry crossing to a quiet sandy beach.

It is this rare combination of peace, convenience, coast, countryside and Highland adventure that makes staying here so enjoyable.

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English
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