Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head For Rent

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FOR RENT – STEVENSON COTTAGE

DETACHED, FORMER LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER DWELLING

1 To 4 BEDROOMS

Available For Holidays & Residential Lettings

Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Approaching Midnight In June.

Holiday Self Catering…

As of 1st October 2018 the newly refurbished Stevenson Cottage can be contacted to arrange bookings via…

Tel/Text: 07733 443037

(Alternatively please call: 07771 702089 AND 01955 605 336)

Discounts available for regular/repeat visit guests. 

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Stevenson Cottage at Noss Head Lighthouse station is located adjacent to a particularly photogenic lighthouse tower, as can be seen in this aerial picture…

Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Compound, Wick, KW1 4QT

Photo (c) 2018 Courtesy of Maciej Winiarczyk

Stevenson Cottage is directly opposite the main light tower. To help illustrate the internal keeper’s house layout, a floorplan is provided… 

 ^^ Tower Hotel & Clan Sinclair Study Centre ^^

Noss Head Lighthouse Station:

Floorplan For Guidance.

(Now Named: Stevenson Cottage)

Please note, this is an old, historic Grade A listed building. some of the walls are 3 foot thick, and so WiFi broadband can sometimes be a tad temperamental in on or two of the bedrooms. The internet does work for the majority of the time; and almost always in the main lounge by the router.

Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Compound, Wick, KW1 4QT

Photo (c) 2018: Oracle Drone Services.

 

PLEASE DO NOT JUST ‘TURN UP’. WE HAVE QUITE A FULL SET OF BOOKINGS AND DO NOT WISH TO DISAPPOINT ANYONE.

PLEASE TELEPHONE FIRST TO CONFIRM YOUR BOOKING BEFORE TRAVELLING. THANK YOU…

Tel/Text: 07733 443037

(Alternatively please call: 07771 702089 AND 01955 605 336)

MUCH APPRECIATED

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INTERIOR OF STEVENSON COTTAGE

The interior of Stevenson Cottage at Noss Head Lighthouse Station is now illustrated here in photographs taken during 2018. We start at the front door which is accessed across what will be the new owner’s courtyard, leading into the main hallway…

Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station – Entrance Hallway

From this hallway, there are two of the five bedrooms plus the kitchen door and, lounge door. At the end of this corridor is the bathroom/WC door.

We move onto the bedrooms. All have modern large screen televisions (available, along with other furniture and electrical goods via separate negotiation). All have a very good signal and full suite of Freeview and terrestrial television channels. 

Bedroom 1 – Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station  

Bedrooms 1, 2, and 4 have just been freshly redecorated from the 1997 version of interior finish. With new carpets fitted and new beds + new mattresses installed during January 2018. Bedroom 3 had this completed during 2017.

^^ Bedroom 2 – Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station ^^

Doorway at left hand side of the photograph shown above leads to a small closet room.

The new pine bedframes and mattresses along with bedroom furniture and wall pictures are not included in the sale price, but a mutually amicable agreement can be reached about including what the new owners may need.

^^ Bedroom 3 – Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station ^^

^^ Bedroom 4 – Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station ^^

^^^ Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station – Main Lounge ^^^

^^^ Main Lounge – Looking From The Southern Doorway ^^^

^^^ Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station – Kitchen/Diner ^^^ 

 ^^^ Bathroom & W.C.1 ^^^

 ^^^ Bathroom & W.C.1 ^^^

^^^ Shower Room & W.C.2 ^^^

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The Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) have just completed a first rate job at renovating the lighthouse opposite to Stevenson Cottage…

NLB LIGHTHOUSE TOWER “BEFORE” REPAINT…

Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) Contractors Preparing Main Tower For Repaint

Photo (c) 2018 Unique Property Bulletin

The Northern Lighthouse Board are renowned for over-engineering their lighthouse building construction and maintenance – and this extends to the NLB high standard of repainting. The current owners of Stevenson Cottage believe it is well worth emulating the meticulous preparation and painting that was applied by the NLB to the main tower…

NLB LIGHTHOUSE TOWER “DURING” REPAINT…

Specialist & Highly Qualified Rope Access Teams At Work.

Photo (c) 2018 Unique Property Bulletin

This trio of: “before”, “during” and “after” photographs illustrate the work undertaken on the Northern Lighthouse Board’s Tower at Noss Head…

NLB LIGHTHOUSE TOWER “AFTER” REPAINT…

Noss Head Lighthouse Tower: Completed Paint Work.

Photo (c) 2018 Unique Property Bulletin

The NLB paint comes from a specialist supplier and the systems used generally last 8 to 12 years between repainting. This is all the more impressive as lighthouse towers can be situated in some fairly exposed places with “interesting” weather.

Noss Head Lighthouse Tower – Completed Repaint Work: 2018

This tower forms part of the amazing views here.

In the 1990s when an absentee owner acquired Stevenson Cottage, it became badly neglected and the building suffered as a consequence. In 1997 Mr Ian Sinclair and Joan Burton bought the property and spent a great deal of time, effort and money restoring the various lighthouse buildings at this site. There was significant liaison with Historic Scotland on how best to protect and restore the neglected building.

Once habitable again, Ian and Joan established Stevenson Cottage as the “Clan Sinclair Study Centre” within these premises (opening in 1999). This was a B&B with an educational element. Residential courses were frequently run at the property.

Noss Head Lighthouse Station.

Stevenson Cottage is the large detached building and courtyard immediately behind the main tower. This photograph was taken in March 2017 long before the refurbishment works. The tatty appearance has been banished, as has the derelict caravan!

In 2006 Stevenson Cottage was purchased by the Earl of Caithness, plus Viscount Thurso and H.R.H. Prince Charles via their registered charity, the Clan Sinclair Trust.

This was to assist those visiting nearby Castle Sinclair Girnigoe and wishing to avail themselves of the facilities at Stevenson Cottage. As part of the project, Mr Ian Sinclair had a life rent at Stevenson Cottage and provided archivist plus clan librarian and host  duties at the Clan Sinclair Study Centre in Stevenson Cottage.

HRH Prince Charles At Noss Head

Adjacent Castle Sinclair dedication ceremony. Between 2006 & 2017, HRH Prince Charles, Viscount Thurso and the Earl of Caithness were custodians of both Castle Sinclair and the Noss Head Lighthouse buildings.

By 2012, Ian Sinclair had become terminally ill and the residential bed and breakfast + educational study centre he had been running from Stevenson Cottage became challenging for him to upkeep. In 2014 this gentleman passed away at hospital and the building was left empty relatively dormant for 3 years until Viscount Thurso, the Earl of Caithness and HRH Prince Charles took the decision to sell the lighthouse compound part of the estate, and concentrate their efforts and the funds raised by the lighthouse station sale, on the primary project of stabilising and restoring the adjacent Castle Sinclair. Noss Lighthouse compound was sold on 23rd May 2017.

The current owners operate their website company for the nearby Engine House. The actual website you are reading right now is based in the Engine House. A quirk of fate. When built, the Engine House powerd heavy machinery and electrical circuits. Now it is powerful in a different way: housing search engines and helping establish new websites and create local employment.

When the current owners bought the lighthouse compound in 2017, Stevenson Cottage was looking somewhat forlorn…

Stark Contrast: Can You See The difference?

Tired Stevenson Cottage (Left). Freshly Refurbished Lighthouse Tower (Right).

BEFORE REPAINT

Actual M25 Motorway Lamps Affixed To Stevenson Cottage

These have been carefully removed and the rust-stained areas made good. The specific Northern Lighthouse Board original pantone ‘bamboo’ colour has been restored to the 1984 official Grade A listing exterior cornices.

AFTER REPAINT

No More Motorway Lamps!

“BEFORE” STEVENSON COTTAGE HOUSE REPAINT

Stevenson Cottage: North Gable End Before The 2018 Repaint.

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“AFTER” STEVENSON COTTAGE REPAINT

Stevenson Cottage: North Gable End Before The 2018 Repaint.

MAIN ELEVATION OF STEVENSON COTTAGE: “BEFORE” REPAINT

Stevenson Cottage Immediately Before 2018 Repaint.

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MAIN ELEVATION OF STEVENSON COTTAGE: “AFTER” REPAINT

It should be noted that extensive preparation, sympathetic to the structure was followed by a Northern Lighthouse Board approved process of high quality long life paint layers to produce this significant reinstatement to how the building should look.

BEFORE…

AFTER…

Stevenson Cottage After The 2018 Repaint.

Temporary fence in the foreground to comply with Health & Safety regulations whilst the main tower was being repainted during 2018.

It is of significant good fortune that the main lighthouse tower was being refurbished during a time when Stevenson Cottage was requiring some sympathetic work.

Stevenson Cottage. Photo Taken From Atop The Lighthouse Tower

This photograph soon was taken after the major roof overhaul. 

The Northern Lighthouse Board’s main tower refurbishment is now complete and this iconic building is looking the best it has in a decade… 

Noss Head Lighthouse Tower & Quarterdeck Building

Major refurbishment completed: May 2018

General enquiries about renting accommodation at Stevenson Cottage can be made via…

Tel/Text: 07733 443037

(Alternatively please call: 07771 702089 AND 01955 605 336)

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LOCATION + CONNECTIVITY & LOCAL FACILITIES

Connectivity Is Good In This Area

Wick Airport is just a 10 minute drive from Noss Head. It is a very civilised facility with none of the Terminal 5 at Heathrow pandemonium. You can get parked near to the airport terminal without any great hassle, and 3 to 4 scheduled flights a day is not noticeable in the town of Wick nor surrounding areas.

Wick Airport. Flight Destination Information: Click Here.

Onward flights to London, Europe, America & All International Destinations

Wick Airport

It is also worth mentioning that Wick is on the North Coast 500. This Highland route has become a modern day phenomenon and consists of a 500 mile tour around some of the most spectacular and interesting parts of the country.

North Coast 500. Further Reading: Click Here

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Noss Head Lighthouse Station

Photograph (c) 2017 Oracle Drone Services

Other guests roam around these grounds too…

Puffins Make Excellent Candidates For Painting & Photography

Though please don’t get too close to the birds, especially in breeding season when they protect their eggs. Besides, you might not want to look like Tippi Hedren after a date with Alfred Hitchcock (here).

Castle Sinclair Girnigoe: Another Excellent Artist Candidate – Photo or Canvas

Copyright: Grant Golding

Another thing to look out for is Castle Sinclair Girnigoe.

The castle neigbours close to the Stevenson Cottage grounds and can be visited by an access track just before you reach our main gate. Castle Girnigoe Sinclair is very popular and well worth a visit when you are up here. Further details of the castle: here.

Whilst on the subject of paintings and photography, it would be remiss not to include sufficient photographs of the main lighthouse tower…

Noss Head Lighthouse Tower at Sunset.

A rare picture illustrating the temporary LED lights affixed to the external balustrade. The beautiful main rotating light that has been turning since 1849 was extinguished in 2017.

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NOSS HEAD LIGHTHOUSE – BEAUTIFUL LOCATION

Stevenson Cottage, Noss head Lighthouse Station, Wick, KW1 4QT.

It isn’t just the lighthouse that is a spectacular building to see. The location is none too shabby either.

Amazing for photographers, artists, bird watchers, walkers, drone enthusiasts, private pilots – Wick Airport is a great wee landing spot just 7 fields away. We have whale watchers, purpoise-peerers, and dolphin devotees looking out over our cliffs to the sea – some days as far as Orkney, which is usually visible from the Noss Head Lighthouse Station.

A crown jewel at Noss Head during winter is the Aurora Borealis. This far north, the purity of vision between the Earth’s surface, upwards to infinity and beyond, gazing at the rich night sky.

 The Aurora Borealis Over Noss Head Lighthouse and Loch Mor

Photo: Gordon Mackie – British Astronomical Association

The Aurora Borealis is a brilliant treat during the mid-winter months at Noss Head. 

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PLEASE PHONE/TEXT BEFORE TRAVELLING UP TO NOSS HEAD LIGHTHOUSES

If, after reading this page, you would like to visit our lighthouse keepers’ buildings, please PHONE OR TEXT BEFORE coming up.

Tel/Text: 07733 443037

(Alternatively please call: 07771 702089 AND 01955 605 336)

Or write to:

Stevenson Cottage, Noss Head Lighthouse Station, Wick, Caithness, KW1 4QT.

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