“The finest view in Britain”
As told by Clare Winskill
“From being a tiny child, I have always wanted to live in the Highlands. My grandparents moved to Nedd in Sutherland in the 1960s and I inherited their passion for this magical part of the world. When I met my partner Iain, we were both lawyers in London. Our first holiday as a couple was spent at Mary’s Thatched Cottages, right next door to Coruisk House.
In 2009 we started the process to purchase Coruisk House in the spectacularly scenic fishing village of Elgol on the Strathaird peninsula of Skye. We completed the purchase in 2011. It was an existing B&B with a restaurant. The house was run down. With only two letting rooms we knew we would have to continue to run the restaurant to fund an extension or purchase of an additional property. In year one I continued to work in London as a lawyer while Iain ran the B&B and restaurant. The first year remains a blur but we got through it…. and started generating our now established reputation for great food and service.
In 2014 our dream of purchasing the property that had formerly been part of Coruisk House was realised. The Steading was purchased and two years of total renovation followed. We now had the two additional luxury suites that we needed.
I had been inspired by a two Michelin star restaurant with rooms - ‘The Altnaharrie Inn’ across Loch Broom in Ullapool. I visited The Altnaharrie once as a teenager and remembered every detail from the white walls, the wrought iron beds, the white linen and the exquisite food prepared by Norwegian self-taught chef Gunn Erikson.
In 2015 the Michelin inspector arrived at Coruisk House. We were invited into the Michelin Guide and have remained there ever since.
We have always been passionate about wine - well specifically French Burgundy… In 2020 we started our new off sale wine business to complement our wine sales through the restaurant.
The preparation and service of Skye local ingredients for our breakfasts and delicious four course set dinner menus remain the driving force and primary attraction for our guests. Our location is second to none. Coruisk House has been welcoming guests for nearly 200 years as the closest guesthouse to the wonder of the world that is Loch Coruisk. Loch Coruisk is the loch that sits in the crater of the 70-million-year-old Cuillin, the magnificent craggy ridge beloved of mountaineers and photographers. Loch Coruisk is reached by the boat trips that run from Elgol harbour or after a long walk from Elgol. Incredible wildlife, eagles, dolphins, whales and basking sharks can all be seen. The scenery and landscapes around the house are superb - and still relatively undiscovered and unknown. Wild swimming, climbing and kayaking can all be enjoyed from our doorstep.
We welcome our guests with comfortable rooms, little touches of French inspired vintage linen, antique chairs, real fires, ambrosial food, fresh bread, the best wine, the best coffee, the most comfortable king size beds with luxurious linen and handmade mattresses. Guests from across the UK and around the world return year on year. It is our passion and pleasure to serve our guests the best of every ingredient we can source in an environment where peace, tranquility, open air, mountains, clear water and joy of life can be savoured and very special memories created”
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10 Ballifeary Road,Inverness,
IV3 5PJ
07920 404 163
info@beourguestscotland.co.uk