Hope Lodge

Set in a 19th-century hunting lodge, Hope Lodge in Scotland is a luxury wilderness retreat in Sutherland, at the northern tip of the Scottish Highlands. It’s part of a vast estate operated by Scottish conservation organisation WildLand, which focuses on peatland restoration and native tree planting.

Its buildings are spread throughout dense woodland that stretches down to the dune-backed coast. Some rooms overlook Loch Hope and have views of Ben Hope, the most northerly of Scotland’s Munros (mountains over 3,000 feet). Decor is warm and earthy with dark wood furniture, nature-inspired art and layered textures of raffia and tufted wool.

Common spaces include a cosy living area, the Den, and the Conservatory, restaurant and dining room, which has floor-to-ceiling windows framing mountain views. The entire estate, which has seven rooms, a standalone, glass-fronted cabin and two self-catering lochside cottages, can also be booked out for exclusive use.

Activities are both bespoke and rooted in nature, with hosts arranging stand-up paddleboarding along the coast, conservation walks and trips to wild swimming spots. You can also trek in the mountains, join foraging trips and end days stargazing under inky skies, accompanied by a storyteller sharing Highland folklore.