Set on Dunnet Head overlooking a landscape of beaches, distant islands and moorland encompassing 1,800 acres of nature in Scotland’s northern Highlands, the spectacular 5-star estate known as House of the Northern Gate is now open to travelers.

© House of the Northern Gate

Original construction on the property was completed in 1906, and the estate has been through incarnations that include a private home that once welcomed Elizabeth, the Queen Mother as a guest; a hotel; and a near miss as the recording studio for mega rock band Led Zeppelin.

In 2018, it was purchased and subsequently renovated by the Dunnett family, who contracted with skilled local craftspeople to repair and update its features. These include the use of Caithness stone and locally salvaged slate, along with the addition of a fitness center, movie room, games room, study and walled garden. Today, the magnificent estate sleeps up to 18 guests and is fitted with luxury textiles and options that include spa services, itinerary planning, luxury transfers, personalized yoga sessions and fully catered stays with a private chef.

© House of the Northern Gate

While the setting may feel remote, there’s plenty to do. Guests can enjoy tours and tastings at whiskey and gin distilleries; guided excursions around the region; visits to historic castles and “brochs” (Scotland’s Iron Age stone towers); daytrips to explore Viking tombs; and watersports such as canoeing, paddleboarding and surfing (there’s even a surfing school on Dunnet Bay).

Other pastimes include golf at one of the region’s famed courses, including Royal Dornoch; shooting expeditions on the moorland; and salmon fishing on world-class Thurso River. The estate itself is home to three lochs, a wide beach and a hidden cave.