When I first stepped inside 2 Quail, an attractive sandstone terraced house in the heart of town, I thought that its owner might be a little old lady whose home had become a perfect time warp, for it is neat as a pin and soberly furnished in a way that says ‘Edwardian’ or ‘40s’ or somewhere in between.
An attractive sandstone terraced house in Castle Street, in the centre of historic Dornoch with its traditional open Scottish Square, where Pipe Bands march, its Castle, Cathedral and famous Golf Club overlooking the Dornoch Firth.
When I first stepped inside 2 Quail, an attractive sandstone terraced house in the heart of town, I thought that its owner might be a little old lady whose home had become a perfect time warp, for it is neat as a pin and soberly furnished in a way that says ‘Edwardian’ or ‘40s’ or somewhere in between. Contemporary it isn’t; idiosyncratic, consistent, well executed and refreshingly different from the norm it is. And it’s not a time warp; it’s the deliberate creation of its owner, Kerensa Carr, who is certainly not a little old lady. Much of the furniture – dainty, brown and cream upholstered armchairs, side tables, standard lamps with fringed shades – are family pieces, and the hundreds of erudite hardbacks that line the walls of the cosy, velvet curtained parlour are courtesy of her late mother, a Mensa-member librarian.
Kerensa and Michael are committed, hardworking and welcoming. Ask Kerensa to show you the Dornoch Imp.
There are three bedrooms. Ours was soberly furnished, as downstairs, yet arresting, with its antique wrought iron bedstead (but good Hypnos mattress) and its well equipped bathroom with shower cubicle, Molton Brown toiletries, pile of thick fluffy towels; everything just so, everything you could need.
Great Scottish breakfast: she even peels the tomatoes and bakes the bread.
Like so many b & b hosts, Karensa works very hard for little reward.
Castle Street, Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland IV25 3SN.