Birchwood Cottage is a cosy, Scandinavian-style chalet nestled in woods on the banks of the pristine River Glass in the majestic Scottish Highlands, in the heart of some of the most beautiful glens in Scotland: Glen Affric, Glen Cannich, and Glen Strathfarrar. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty, home to some of the last remnants of the ancient Caledonian pine forests, and host to diverse wildlife, such as deer, pine martens, badgers, owls, red squirrels, ospreys, otters and the newly returned beaver. Easily accessible from Beauly or Loch Ness via Glen Urquhart, this is the ideal getaway from city life.

Birchwood is a year-round home away from home, with a fully equipped kitchen, and warm and cosy bedrooms and dining space, ideal for a small family, couple, or small group of friends. We are only a short distance from Loch Ness and the majestic forests and munroes of Glen Affric. Guests are free to relax on the riverbank or swim in the bracing (!), peaty water of the Glass.

Guest access:

Guests are welcome to explore the grounds and riverbank, and they are of course free to use Kerrow as a base for exploring the majestic forests of the neighbouring glens and Loch Ness. This is a walker’s paradise. The more energetic are encouraged to explore the summits and monroes of the nearby Affric hills.
We own nearly 6 kilometres of river bank, and guests are welcome to fish for trout free of charge (fly only). Salmon fishing can also be arranged. The River Glass, one of Scotland's prettiest rivers, invites canoeists for a gentle drift downstream.

Birchwood is situated discreetly in twelve acres of wooded grounds of Kerrow House, formerly a hunting and fishing lodge built by the heads of Clan Chisholm, constructed in the 18th century by the clan chief a few decades after the battle of Culloden.

Transport:

Occasional buses run from the nearby village of Cannich to Inverness, but the truth is that Kerrow is at the end of the glen and that's the way we like it! This is a place to get away from it all and relax. Though the cottage is fully connected with high-speed internet, and with good mobile reception, the only noises you will hear are the running of the river, the wind in the trees (and the occasional splash of a salmon, or hoot of an owl). We are 20 minutes' drive from Drumnadrochit, and 45 minutes from Inverness.

Kerrow and the Golden Dogs

In the 19th century, Kerrow House was the scene of an important chapter in dog history, for it was here that Lord Tweedmouth's keepers bred the dogs that in due course founded the Golden Retriever breed, when Kerrow was part of the nearby Guisachan estate. We know from the kennel records of the estate that the first "golden pups" - ie the first Golden retrievers - were born at the main house at Kerrow. Guests are welcome to bring their dogs, or simple visit the birthplace of the second most popular breed in the world!