Newhall Mains is a careful re-invention of the traditional “Mains” building — a Scottish term historically used to refer to the main buildings of a farm or working estate. The family-run property which, until recently, was classified 'at risk', was lovingly restored into a boutique hotel by owner Euan Ramsay and his family before opening in 2021.

Designed by London-based Kelling Designs and refurbished by an extensive team of Highland-based craftsmen, the buildings’ exteriors have been faithfully restored using traditional materials: stone, lime render, lead and slate. Inside, the classic quadrangular layout has been re-interpreted to accommodate the 21st century traveller, including underfloor heating, en suite bathrooms, bespoke furniture and individually crafted fabrics.

Offering five cottages and four double bedroom suites, the accommodation has been individually designed and decorated, incorporating an eclectic yet functional twist on Highland hospitality. It is the only luxury accommodation provider in the UK with its own airfield. Newhall Mains was awarded a Michelin Key in the inaugural awards in 2024.

The accommodation

At Newhall Mains, guests can choose between five individually-themed cottages and four double bedroom suites, each offering elegant interiors in private yet welcoming surroundings.

The hotel and restaurant are open from 1st April to 31st October annually, with the cottages staying open during the winter months for self-catered accommodation at reduced rates.

Cottages start from £600 per night, and bedrooms from £290 per night, all including a farmhouse breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant.

Cottages:
  • Cosy family cottage: Two bedroom cottage overlooking the airfield and Ben Wyvis. Featuring a fully-equipped kitchen, living area with log burner, king-size bedroom, twin bedroom and family bathroom with bath and shower.
  • Charming family cottage: Two bedroom cottage overlooking the hotel’s courtyard, complete with open-plan living area, fully-equipped kitchen, and two en suite bedrooms.
  • Grand family cottage: ‘Red Gates’ is the largest cottage, located in an 18th century coach house with a private garden overlooking the hotel’s Jacob sheep. Red Gates offers two double bedrooms and one twin bedroom, a fully-equipped kitchen, open plan living area, boot room, study with desk, and large main bathroom with bath and shower.
  • Majestic suite: One bedroom cottage suite spread over two floors, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the hotel’s Jacob sheep and walled garden. Features a bathroom with shower and bath, dressing room, king-sized bedroom, fully-equipped kitchen and living area with log burner.
  • Divine suite: One bedroom cottage spread over two floors overlooking the hotel’s courtyard, complete with freestanding bathtub in the bedroom, Louis XIV-style dressing room with chaise lounge, fully-equipped kitchen and drawing room.

During the winter season, Newhall Mains can stock the cottage kitchens with artisan hampers, homemade farm-to-oven meals and pre-mixed cocktails, and the chef team can be pre-booked to cook for cottage guests.

Hotel rooms:

Designed with country house furnishings with a touch of tartan, the hotel’s Fraser Rooms offer king beds, en suite bathrooms with walk-in showers, underfloor heating and seating areas.

Facilities

Facilities at Newhall Mains include:

  • New for 2025 is Newhall Mains’ wellness experience, including a bespoke outdoor sauna designed by Mor & Broze and a cold plunge pool, available to book for private use for up to six guests.
  • Newhall Mains has its own airfield, which is free to use for guests arriving in their own aircraft.
  • Complimentary E-bicycles with helmets and locks are available to use.

Food and drink

Newhall Mains has a standalone restaurant, with a menu showcasing quality British produce, often cooked in the woodfired oven in the hotel’s courtyard. The kitchen team is committed to making the most of Scotland’s larder, with dishes using ingredients foraged from the Newhall Mains estate and surroundings, and the menu changes regularly to celebrate ingredients at their best. Almost everything is made in-house, including bread, named ‘Andy’s sourdough’ after the chef who brought the starter, as well as preserves and honeycomb from the estate’s bees.

A predominantly European wine list complements the menu, including an extensive by-the-glass selection, as well as signature cocktails and a far-reaching whisky cellar with particular attention given to Scottish and Japanese whiskies.

The 35-cover restaurant is housed in a former grain store, overlooking the hotel’s central courtyard and grounds, with expansive windows flooding the space with natural light. Guests are seated on comfortable olive green banquettes and bistro-style chairs for a refined yet relaxed environment, and industrial metal chandeliers and exposed stonework are lifted by bright artwork that has been provided by The Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh.

The restaurant is open for dinner seven days a week from 6pm to 9pm. On Sundays, guests at Newhall Mains can enjoy a Sunday lunch menu, offering classic cuts from the farm, slow cooked outside on the grill. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Newhall Mains also offers an afternoon tea, combining savouries and sandwiches with homemade scones and cakes.

A farmhouse continental breakfast is served in the restaurant from 8am to 10am, including locally-sourced charcuterie, smoked fish, cheese, fresh juice, fruit, bread, yoghurts and homemade granola.

Newhall Mains has an open fire pit and bespoke charcoal parrilla grill, with group feasting menus available upon request for celebrations and special occasions. Picnic hampers are also available upon request.

Newhall Mains offers a standalone Japanese-inspired whisky bar, where guests can enjoy classic cocktails along with a selection of wines, Champagnes, beers and non-alcoholic beverages.

Activities

Guests to Newhall Mains can enjoy the following complimentary activities:

  • Farm Tours: Guests can be taken around the farm’s orchards, beehives and pastures grazed by the hotel’s very own flock of Jacob sheep as well as three Highland cows which have joined the Newhall Mains family for 2025.
  • Sauna: A six-seater sauna is available for exclusive use (bookable at reception), alongside a cold plunge pool and decking to unwind during the warmer months.
  • Croquet: The parasol-flanked courtyard is home to the summer croquet lawn, equipped with mallets, hoops and wooden balls and the team on hand to give beginners a run-down of the rules.
  • E-Bikes: The Black Isle is ideal for cyclists with its quiet country lanes and purpose-built mountain bike trails through nearby Learnie Red Rocks or along the shore road from North Kessock to Redcastle.

The following off-site activities can be organised upon request:

  • Wildlife watching: Guests can take a chartered trip on a RIB from Cromarty to watch bottlenose dolphins and other marine life, or visit Udale Bay to see pink-footed geese. Each year from late September to March, over 10,000 geese pass through the area, often resting in the hotel’s fields. In summer, guests can visit The Falls of Shin and see salmon leaping upstream.
  • Flying experiences: Guests at Newhall Mains can explore the Scottish Highlands from the air by booking a private aircraft flight with Highland Aviation, departing direct from the hotel’s airstrip. Trips can be arranged to overlook natural beauty spots like Loch Ness, Ben Nevis and landmarks like the Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous by Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express).
  • Golfing: Fortrose, Skibo Castle, Tain, Golspie, Brora, Bonar Bridge and Royal Dornoch golf courses are within easy reach of the hotel.
  • Whisky: Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Balblair and Glen Ord distilleries are within a 45-minute drive of the hotel. For those who want to stay in the comfort of the hotel, Newhall Mains can also host whisky tastings in its Japanese-inspired whisky bar.
  • Guided Tours: Explore the Highlands, Northlands or the Isle of Skye with Newhall Mains’ in-house guide and driver. Full day trips can include trips to Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor, Dunrobin and Eilean Donan castles and historic fishing villages along the way.