Millness
Croft
Glen Urquhart
Inverness
IV63 6TW
01456 476761
Toys to suit; both in & outdoor.
Stunning Glen Affric.
Summer skies at Millness.
They don't come much fresher than this!
A crisp Winter's day at Millness.
Rowan Berries.
Meet the Akeroyd's.
Kids just love it here!
Free-ranging!
About Millness Croft
Millness Croft is a small working croft, of over 120 acres, with Highland cows, sheep and chickens. Imagine the Highlands of Scotland...wild, unspoilt, majestic, peaceful and beautiful...we are all of this, and much more! The land is a variety of pasture, moor land and mountain with a burn (a wee river) running right through it, including our very own water falls, and surrounded by forest on two sides.
The burn is shallow enough in places to paddle and fish with nets, particularly in the area running along the bottom of the cottage gardens. It then flows into our wee private lochan, where you are welcome to fish for salmon and trout.
You are encouraged to walk around the croft and explore the waterfalls, lochan and moor land alike. Look out for wild deer, eagles, buzzards, pine martens, and a whole host of other inhabitants that reside here alongside us. As we have the old 'A' road passing through the length of the croft walking can be fairly easy going. Wellies and boots are always recommended around here out of summer, or if you wish to explore off the beaten track!
The luxury cottages of Fraser, Grant and Chisholm are situated some way from the main house, but use the same shared entrance. They are quietly nestled into the natural lie of the land, over looking the forest and burn, but not each other. They are very private and benefit from this peaceful, unpolluted, beautiful setting at the top of Glen Urquhart. Just enough away from the busy tourist routes for you to escape, but within easy reach of the rest of the Highlands of Scotland to make this a really perfect central base. You will not be disturbed by sirens or awakened by car alarms here.
Welcome to our rural idyll.
As this is a working farm we do have animals that have to be tended to daily, so expect us to be around and about most of the time. We have Highland cattle, sheep (with lambs in spring) and chickens. Our animals are all allowed to free range, pretty much where they like. There are also wild deer around the place all the time, particularly in Autumn and Winter.
Being members of the The Green Tourism Business Scheme, with a silver award, we are naturally as environmentally friendly in as many ways as we possibly can be. (We recycle as much waste as possible, we save energy, we only use 'green' cleaning materials, Ecover and others, and Fair Trade products in our welcome packs. We encourage you to use your legs and public transport. We help and encourage a natural and safe habitat for wildlife and plants...to name but a few of the many good practices we have here).
It really is 'the good life!'
The weather here in the Highlands is generally a misconception. Rainfall in Scotland varies widely; the Highlands area compares favourably to the English Lake District and Snowdonia in Wales. However, here at Millness Croft we have our own micro-climate. As far as we're concerned the weather here seems to be dramatic, we don't suffer from miserable, grey days very often. The summers are pretty warm and dry, with long days, (in the height of summer it's only dark for a few hours!), and in winter we do experience some serious cold with heavy snowfall from time to time. Just as we like it, all very romantic!
The infamous Scottish midge is worth a mention, as you'll probably be wondering about it. They truly aren't as bad as the picture painted; if there is a breeze at all, or sunshine, they're not out, and they're only around from June to September anyway. To make life more comfortable and so that you can enjoy your beautiful garden we have installed midge-eating machines, they eat up midges at a fantastic rate; honestly they really work and we can't enthuse about them enough.
The nearest shop to us is a Spar shop and post office at Cannich (5 mins) where you can buy almost anything, or into Drumnadrochit (12 mins) again for a couple of 'supply-everything' shops and post office, plus the doctor's surgery, a few pubs and restaurants and garages for fuel. There are many pubs and restaurants around the area, mostly providing good, local food and drink, and usually with log fires too!
This is a family run small holding where Neil and Justine Akeroyd look forward to meeting and offering you a warm welcome. They have made Glen Urquhart their much loved home and love to share it with you. Originally from Yorkshire, they both have the grit and determination to work hard and provide for you the very best quality and value for money that they can. The very best of customer service is a given here.
Neil and Justine are wholly determined to make Millness Croft something 'really special', a FIVE STAR holiday where you will want for nothing, and that you'll return to year after year. 'Your bolt hole in the Highlands'. There isn't anything else like it in the area, if at all in Scotland. Nothing short of perfection and a totally unique holiday is the ultimate aim for you.
~~
The origins of the name Glen Urquhart is believed to be partly Pictish and partly Gaelic. 'Glen' is of Gaelic origin and means 'a valley narrower and less level than a strath'. 'Urquhart' means 'wood side' in Pictish. There is evidence that man settled here from 1800 - 1500 BC. (Also see information about Corrimony cairn on the 'Interests' page).
During the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie to France he trekked many hundereds of miles across Scotland. At one stage he actually stayed in nearby Cannich; the Glen Urquhart men were great sympathisers and would have made him most welcome and we feel sure that at some stage he must have laid his weary bones down on our croft!
© 2005-2009 Millness Croft, Glen Urquhart, Inverness, IV63 6TW 
Tel: 01456 476761 info@millnesscroft.co.uk