Rua Reidh Lighthouse, Gairloch

I remember a time when we had to make it through the day using red telephone boxes, newspapers, postcards and Yellow Pages for our communication, knowledge and research. In only a relatively short number of years, I have mild anxiety knowing that my phone charge has gone below 50% – how will I Google that actor who was in that 80’s film? How will I see what the weather will be on Thursday? Will I ever remember what order to build a lasagne in? These things have become increasingly important to us and why? Are we hungry for more knowledge, have we become bored with boredom or do we all just have a FoMo? I fear I am the latter…

I excitedly and insistently invite myself along on my cousin’s holiday. Mission – Cat-sit a big black cat with 2 different coloured eyes. Duration – 96 hours. Location – Rua Reidh Lighthouse, Gairloch Pack – Gin, waterproofs and binoculars

The road up from Stirling is the rather dull and endless A9 to Inverness then a beautiful and erratic road to Gairloch. Next, a single-track road to Melvaig, high above the ocean offering glimpses of sandy beaches and steep plummets – ‘do not take your eyes of the road’ becomes my mantra. After a few hairy moments involving rocky, sloping corners, we arrive at Rua Reidh Lighthouse physically unscathed. The brilliant blue backdrop above offers a hypnotic performance as white clouds evolve and blow overhead and grey clouds skirt mischievously on the horizon. In the 20minutes of being shown around, we experience rain, strong winds and rainbows – the peninsula’s demonstration offers us a gentle warning of what is possible. We empty our cars of food and clothes and head to the rocky shore below and far in the distance we spot white splashes of commuting dolphin dives. A seal comes to say hello to the new arrivals. Night-time falls, we venture into the winds and our necks stiffen from the evening’s entertainment of star spotted dark skies and a winking lighthouse that refuses to get its picture taken.

There is no TV. No WiFi. No mobile reception. I settle into this simple life of log fires, book reading and gin… My mind wanders as I consider this lifestyle longer term. The accommodation is beautiful – Owners Susan and Kiva have created a unique experience with the luxury of comfortable beds, indulgent shower-rooms and toasty accommodation. The renovation is authentic and creative - the window shutters have been considerately stripped back leaving a history of paint colours, the sandy yellow paint from the external stonework has been brought indoors and lighthouse telephones are still in place. We stay in the 2-bedroom apartment but there are another 4 bedrooms available upstairs that are just as special. It would be easy to paint magnolia, invest in sea-themed bedding and get M&S canvasses on the walls but for a family who have not long moved to one of Scotland’s most remote lighthouses, I get the feeling that ‘predictable’ is just not their style…

After not enough days, I pack my bags, say ‘thanks’ to the building and head to the Gairloch Museum which has a fantastic exhibition of the lighthouse and the history of the whole area. I pull over when the notification pings become too distracting – 150ish WhatsApp messages, many emails and a considerable amount of Facebook updates. I sit with neck bent, reading them for a while and look up to the views before me. We have become so used to the current ‘real world’ where being contactable 24 hours a day is the norm and entertainment is available constantly yet closing the storm doors for a few days was just the prescription I needed.

Could I order a repeat of the same please Doctor...?

Book your stay - https://stayatalighthouse.co.uk/