Ian and Sue Nicolson's B&B - Brief Article

Though we spent a large amount of our SCOTLAND trip camping when the weather was dry or staying with friends, two bed-and-breakfasts certainly deserve accolades.

* The first is Ian and Sue Nicolson's B&B in Glencoe village, just west of the dramatic valley of the same name. (Contact Sue Nicolson at 12h Carnoch, Argyll PA39 4HS; phone/fax 01855 811735.)

Sue couldn't have been more hospitable, as a pot of tea and biscuits were waiting for us as we dried off from the heavy rain. She was helpful with her knowledge of the Glen Coe area and the road north to Fort William and Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles. She is also an avid hiker.

The rooms were warmly decorated with cedar trim, and the shared bathroom was opulent in its country decor. We paid [pounds]15 ($24) per person for this accommodation. (September '99)

* The small hamlet of Durness, the most northwesterly settlement in mainland Britain, makes a great base for exploring the wild and windswept north and west coasts as well as the geologically diverse interior.

Few tourists make it up this far, but it is well worth it. Those who do will be rewarded with fine accommodation should they choose to stay at Glengolly Bed & Breakfast (Durness, Sutherland IV27 4PN; phone 01971 511255).

Proprietor Martin Mackay has three rooms in a lovely farm home. We paid [pounds]15 per person for a private room for each of us. The rooms have private sinks, tea/coffee pots (plus biscuits) and great views of the north coast -- enchanting on a moonlit night. Full baths are found in the hallway just a step or two away.

We awoke early in the morning to walk out to the end of the promontory at the end of Martin's sprawling property, garnering suspicious looks from his many sheep. The views from there are extraordinary as Faraid Head and Cape Wrath can be seen.

Martin also cooked up a deliciously satisfying breakfast. (October '99)

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