Doune offers myriad ways to spend your time, from the most energetic to the most restful. We have guests who hike, swim, kayak or mountain bike every day. We also have guests who craft, read, write and go no further than the beach outside their bedroom door.
We live on the quiet side of the peninsula, six miles from the bustle of the village of Inverie with its daily ferry and busy pub. Doune is the best place to experience the true wildness of Knoydart.
Bespoke, Guided Munro Bagging Week
From time to time, based on demand and availability, we offer a week-long adventure with the primary aim of bagging Munros. This is a unique opportunity to experience boat access to follow the finest routes into some of the most remote Munros.
Opportunities for 2023 start on the 20 April or 15 June for seven nights.
Click here for further information.
Just Relax
No cars, no blaring radios, just peace and tranquility. There is no need to do anything at all. Being right next to the sea there are always lots of things going on. The changing light, moving water. Birds and seals and sometimes otters or dolphins visit Doune Bay. Read a book, sketch, paint or just watch.
If you would like to explore further afield then take a boat trip up Loch Hourn, probably the most stunning sea loch in Scotland. Wildlife, waterfalls, and mountains. Or perhaps Loch Nevis and a visit to Inverie with it’s vibrant community shop, community pub and superb tea room.
In the evening after your meal why not a few tunes or a song if you’re up for it – bring an instrument.
Hillwalking
Doune offers opportunities to combine mountain and sea; to walk the unfrequented places where it remains unusual to meet other people on the hill.
Knoydart is home to some of Scotland’s finest peaks. Use of our boat gives unequalled opportunities for a variety of walks from mountains tops to beautiful coastal paths and drover’s tracks.
Not many places offer such great variety, with five Munroes in easy reach alongside a range of Corbetts, Grahams, Marilyns and beaches. All are within the daytrip range of our boat, Gripper II. Walkers of all levels and abilities are catered for.
Many fine walks
We think the finest walk on Knoydart is to Ladhar Bheinn and Coire Dhorrcail, now owned and conserved by the John Muir Trust. But there are many others including Sgurr na Ciche, Meall Buidhe, and Luinne Bheinn, all Munroes (>3000ft). Or the tracks and pony paths of Mam Barisdale, Mam Li and Glen Meadail, as well as the little known track to the remains of an old mica mine, high above the shores of Loch Nevis.
Guests staying in Doune Stone Lodges can take advantage of the flexibility that using our boat Gripper gives for exploring Knoydart. No need to retrace your steps at the end of the day, just get dropped off at one end of your route and then collected from the other end when you’re finished.
Guided trips
We work closely with a qualified local mountain guide, Lee Anderson. Lee’s knowledge of the terrain of Knoydart is encyclopaedic and he can join you for the whole day, including any time on the boat. Further details are available at https://not-about-the-summit.business.site
Advice on clothing, footwear, routes and weather is always available, and we will help in anyway we can, but walkers are responsible for their own safety on the hill.
Boat Adventures
Stone Lodge guests have near exclusive use of our wonderful wee boat, Gripper II, built here at Doune and providing safe and reliable passage ever since.
We access drop offs for walking and hiking that can’t be done any other way and allow for a pick up from a different location, so you don’t have to retrace your steps. Your day gets off to an exciting start, often with anchoring and dinghy access to the shore, or laying up alongside natural rock piers.
The Knoydart Munros and Corbetts can all be accessed this way along with numerous coastal and valley walks. We provide full days out on Loch Hourn and Loch Nevis for guests who prefer an easier day, with a tea room stop at Arnisdale or Inverie.
Wildlife is a regular feature of our boat trips, with abundant sea and bird life. Special wildlife watching trips can be arranged.
Each evening we discuss plans for the following day, taking account of the weather forecast, wind direction and tides. The price list for trips on Gripper II are available in the guest book in each room, so there are no surprises and guests can work sensibly within their budget.
Photography & Widlife
This is a stunning part of the world with a photo opportunity around almost every corner.
Visitors to Doune are fortunate to be in the midst of some of the finest wildlife in the country. Lots of wildlife can be seen simply from the doorstep of your room. Walks along the coast and boat trips up beautiful Loch Hourn, Loch Nevis and Skye also provide great opportunities for wildlife spotting.
What we see varies from month to month and from week to week. Seals, porpoises and deer are always present and easy to watch. Throughout the summer there is the chance of also seeing a whale, otter, eagle or a pod of dolphins.
Our weather is best described as changeable, but this can produce amazing light. When the weather is good, it’s very, very good and contrary to popular belief it does not rain every day on the West Coast.
