Tigh Na Mara

I’m posting this because I can’t reply directly to the owner’s public response to my original review. I booked one night in good faith while travelling. During the stay, I found bugs in the bedding and texted the owner right away. She came to the room, saw them herself, and argued that she wasn’t responsible. I later sent photos and a video of live bugs falling from the shower ceiling vent. In private messages, she said the room “was not as it should have been,” would look into it further, and suggested we could agree on a refund. Her later public accusation that I was using this as “blackmail” to get a refund is false. I left because I no longer felt comfortable there and had to find somewhere else to sleep in the middle of the night. Google doesn’t allow video attachments in reviews, or I’d include the footage of the bugs in the vent. I didn’t leave my review to get a refund. This was the worst hospitality experience I’ve ever had.

Awful stay. I left a work residency and had been camping for a while, then booked here at the last minute hoping for a warm night’s sleep. Instead, I found dead bugs in the bedding. When I told the owner, she argued, denied any fault, and spoke to me terribly. It was 10 pm, and I felt stuck with nowhere obvious to go. Then, while I was in the bathroom, I saw live bugs fall from the ceiling vent into the shower. I left at 1 am and asked for a refund, but they refused. That was abysmal. The host seemed more concerned about being accused of being a bad host than actually being one. I’ve travelled all over for work, and this was the worst stay I’ve had.

Our sea-view room had lovely little touches, including tea, coffee, biscuits, fresh milk, still and sparkling water, chilled glasses and a mini fridge. Helen was friendly and helpful, and her dog was sweet when I asked to meet him. We had breakfast the first morning, then tried Crofters, which was very nice. The Golf Club staff and customers were welcoming too. We saw dolphins one day, along with a mix of sunshine and rain. Tigh Na Mara is right on the beach in a perfect spot, and the stay was so relaxing. We’ll come back in summer for more.

The view across the bay was breathtaking, and we loved seeing Bo the black Labrador in the garden. Helen made us feel very welcome in her beautiful art and craft period house, where we stayed for four nights. Our double room was spotless and comfortable, with everything we needed, including lovely bedding and towels. The ensuite had all we needed too. Breakfast was cooked to order with lovely local produce. Great spot on the Black Isle, and we can’t wait to come back.