Near the mainland’s northern tip, Ian and Sabine Richards’s Georgian mansion is surrounded by woodland and waterfall on the Forss river, a fishing hotspot. Readers in 2018 ‘arrived expecting a wonderful country house hotel, and were not disappointed’. Warm hospitality and angling anecdotes are provided by ‘delightful’ manager Anne Mackenzie. Guests also come for the shooting, deer stalking and many single malts. The main house’s grandest bedrooms have a high ceiling, generous en suite bathroom, river views. A Guide regular appreciated a ‘huge, really comfortable bed and red sofa, and floral-patterned decor. The bathroom had a vast bath, more like a swimming pool, plenty of hot water, excellent towels.’ A ‘highlight’ was Andrew Manson’s ‘superb’ locally sourced, seasonal food. ‘A starter of crab, apple gratings, capers, salmon and Melba toast, and a main of lamb two ways, pea purée, peas and asparagus, were delicious.’ ‘We rated it the best food of all the very good hotels we visited along the NC500 route.’ ‘I could have done without the dining room’s tacky piped music, but I highly recommend this delightful hotel.’ (Chris Elliott, and others)’