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Barevan Schoolhouse is a self catering holiday cottage 3 miles south-west of Cawdor near Nairn in the Highlands of Scotland, set in a quiet corner of the wooded hills above the Moray Firth. It is very much our own second home - Mrs Thompson's family have always lived near Cawdor and we and our own children go up there whenever we can. We have therefore made it as comfortable and easy to run as possible, without letting it become a slick and impersonal holiday apartment. Barevan is remote and a car is essential. The nearest bus-stop is in Cawdor, which has a church, a pub, a licensed general store/post office and a castle. The nearest doctor, chemist, railway station, petrol and bigger shops are 9 miles away in Nairn. Barevan Schoolhouse cottage is within easy reach of a large and beautiful stretch of the Scottish Highlands, an ideal centre for the nature lover, sportsman, tourist or the hassled city-dweller who wants a rest from traffic jams and diesel-fumes. Cawdor Castle, open to summer visitors, is just down the hill; the seaside resort of Nairn has excellent sandy beaches, two golf courses (one championship), restaurants etc. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, about 13 miles away, has a regular rail and sleeper service from the south, as well as frequent flights from the airport at Dalcross (8 miles). The Aviemore Centre, 35 miles away, provides a full range of holiday activities in summer as well as in winter. The ski-ing season normally lasts from December to April. Aviemore, Elgin, Dingwall, and Fort Augustus at the far end of Loch Ness are all within the hour and great day trips can be made for example, to the west coast around Inverewe, the far north-east by John o' Groats or the castles of Aberdeenshire. The Ordnance Survey Landranger Series 1 :50000 sheet 27, Nairn & Forres, grid NH 823 469 gives the exact location. Barevan School was still running in the 1950s but was then closed and we have entirely modernised it. The old schoolroom now has big windows facing south and is divided by a central fireplace into a sitting-room at one end (with a long wide built-in sofa bench down one wall) and a dining area at the other with payphone and colour TV. A hatch opens through to the kitchen, which is small but fully equipped from fridge and dishwasher to cake-tins and corkscrews and very easy to run. There are two separate lavatories, one with bath and WC and very large drying cupboard and the other with WC shower and washing machine. One downstairs bedroom has a large double bed, the other has two full-size bunks. Upstairs, there is one room with two large beds, and one single child's bedroom. Pillows and blankets are provided, as well as Continental duvets (sleeping quilts ). We can arrange linen hire on request. There are fitted carpets throughout the house and night storage heating on the ground floor. The heating and all electricity are by coin meter, set at about the local standard tariff. The tiled porch has a small freezer and plenty of room for boots and coats. The former playground, about 60 yards by 40, is now mostly grass and heather with a hard standing for cars and plenty of room for children's games. Beyond the fence is woodland and forest. We don't mind well behaved dogs, if they are kept under strict control, because there are a lot of livestock nearby. They must bring their own bedding and be kept off the furniture. Fishing and horse riding are available locally. Click here for directions and a map. Click
here for more photos of the cottage and the gardens. | |
