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Our Recent Tripadvisor Reviews

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Emma W profile picture
Emma W
9 October 2026
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The most perfect get away. . A wonderful stay at the Pig Shed. Kasey was welcoming, the accommodation was superb. Spotlessly clean with all amenities needed available. Incredibly peaceful, an amazing view and the most comfortable bed ever. A short walk to Mr Eddy’s Pit Stop for friendly service and wonderful food. The pizza is highly recommended. Thank you to all for such a perfect get away xx
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Adele M profile picture
Adele M
6 October 2026
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Outstanding! Everything about our two night stay at Burnside Cottage was outstanding! Kacey has a lovely friendly approach and looked after us really well. The food was first class too….have no hesitation in recommending on all fronts! 🌟
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Helen TT
28 September 2026
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Unreal stay - the best! Unreal visit. Had the best night’s sleep which was needed after a long day of driving and walking. Beautiful supper and stunning breakfast. Very comfy bed, lovely strong hot shower. I forgot how soft the water is up here, wonderful. Kacey has thought of everything and will make your visit feel like heaven. It is so quiet and lovely to just sit in peace and watch the birds out the window. We wish we could stay every night of the NC500 at Kacey’s.
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Angela profile picture
Angela
15 September 2026
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A real retreat on the NC500 Burnside was a real retreat from a long day travelling the NC500, we stayed in the Blue Room - the bed was comfy and the room was cosy. Kacey was brilliant, from when we first made the reservation to checking out she made us feel so welcome. The food was exceptional. The Buddha bowl was delicious! Breakfast served in the room was a real treat and the porridge was fab!
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Julie B
31 August 2026
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Lovely place lovely food Kacey was so welcoming the room was clean and homely everything you need plus a bonus of homemade cookies Food was all homemade and delicious served to the room which we liked as more relaxing! Would highly recommend ☺️
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PeriwinkleFoolery
25 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
Excellent in every way My husband and I chose Burnside Cottage primarily for its location near the ferry terminal and it was the perfect place to stay the night before traveling to Orkney. Owner Kacey is a delightful conversationalist as well as an excellent chef, and we thoroughly enjoyed our short time at this welcoming, peaceful B&B. Overlooking the moody moors of Caithness with the North Sea on the horizon, we relaxed in the Raven Room before a delicious dinner served en suite. We enjoyed watching sheep, cattle, and a myriad of birds from our window, grateful for the quiet and peaceful atmosphere. We found Burnside Cottage to be an excellent value, impeccably maintained, and appreciate the owners’ thoughtful commitment to sustainable practices and local sourcing, something that requires true dedication in the hospitality industry. We slept comfortably, enjoyed a tasty breakfast, and left with every intention of returning to this lovely and special place.
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Clare T profile picture
Clare T
15 August 2026
Tripadvisor star 1Tripadvisor star 2Tripadvisor star 3Tripadvisor star 4Tripadvisor star 5Verified
The perfect start to our Orkney adventure The perfect start to our Orkney adventure! From the moment I booked, Kacey was absolutely wonderful. She kept in touch, checked on us before we even arrived and left the loveliest surprises for our dogs, Daisy and Cookie. It was such a thoughtful touch and made us feel incredibly welcome. The accommodation itself was beautiful, and the food was honestly out of this world. After travelling such a long way, it was exactly what I needed—comfortable, relaxing and completely stress-free. The location is also perfect, just three minutes from Gills Bay Ferry Terminal, making it an ideal place to stay before travelling to Orkney. If I could give The Pig Shed at Burnside Cottage 10 stars, I would! It was an amazing experience from start to finish and the perfect beginning to our Orkney trip. We would return in a heartbeat!
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Maria Rosaria I
4 August 2026
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A fantastic evening "up up up in the North" We were guests of Kacey during our trip in the North of Scotland. We were welcomed in a fantastic way by the hostess who gave us excellent advice! We spent a splendid evening in a cozy, very clean room where we found great attention to the environment and sustainability. A mention also to the photographs of Kasey's husband, a true artist! We were also very impressed by the fresh flowers that Kasey had us find upon our arrival. We found it a truly kind gesture! And finally, the culinary experience was also excellent! We both had dinner and breakfast at the property, tasting excellent dishes. We will not easily forget the desserts, especially the chocolate cake! Highly recommended!!!!
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Anne K profile picture
Anne K
4 August 2026
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Highly recommended! We had a brilliant stay with Kacey. She was a wonderful host, the rooms were excellent and her meals were absolutely delicious and fresh. I loved her homemade granola for breakfast!
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CRISTINA T profile picture
CRISTINA T
31 July 2026
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Prestigious cottage immersed in peace Wonderful cottage in the far north of Scotland. Warm and comfortable, you feel at home as soon as you step inside. The rooms are spacious, well-kept down to the smallest detail, and tastefully furnished. The bathroom is perfect. The room has large windows opening onto the Scottish countryside and offers truly relaxing views. Kacey is a perfect host, kind, helpful, and attentive. She gave us a 5-star stay. The dinner and breakfast served in the room are sublime, cooked with genuine and, above all, homemade ingredients. Truly a highly recommended place, perfect. Stop by if you are planning to travel to the north of Scotland, you will not be disappointed... on the contrary, it exceeds expectations. Cristina and Dario

Stylish Bed & Breakfast + Self Catering Studio in Caithness

Kacey and Stephen would like to offer you a warm inclusive welcome to Burnside Cottage Bed & Breakfast + The Pig Shed Self Catering Studio.

Burnside Cottage is an eco-friendly stylish bed and breakfast situated in Caithness in the far north of Scotland. We are proud to have received the Gold Award from Green Tourism.  Located just between Dunnet Head and John O’Groats, and 800m off the North Coast 500 route (NC500). It is also an ideal stop for those travelling to Orkney being just a couple of minutes from the Gills Bay ferry (Pentland Ferries).

The property, developed from a former croft house, offers two spacious ground floor suites, along with a self-catering studio flat ‘The Pig Shed’. Decorated in an individual style, with Stephen’s carving & photography throughout, it is warm and cosy even on stormy winter Caithness days!

Extensive building and redecoration work has been completed in 20/21 to enable guests to be more self-contained.

There is now a guest entrance for the two suites, which contain comfortable seating & dining areas. We also offer an optional evening menu (Meat, Fish & Vegan) & all meals are served via room service.

The Pig Shed is a Self Catering Studio for two. It is fully self contained and attached to the guest wing of Burnside Cottage.

The property looks out over open countryside and the isle of Stroma with the Orkney Islands in the distance.

Burnside Cottage & The Pig Shed benefit from ample parking & free (fiber) Wi-Fi.

We welcome dogs but we do charge a supplement which we donate to a dog rescue (we support – Balkan Underdogs) – B&B £20 per dog & in The Pig Shed £30 per dog per stay.

We also have a garage and drying room for motorbikes and cycles along with storage for sports equipment. 

Burnside Cottage is an Inclusive business. We have also signed up to Apartheid Free Scotland in solidarity with the Palestinian People.

As from February 2024, we have a drinks licence and are delighted to offer a range of local spirits and beers plus wines to our guests.

Photographs and Woodcarvings

Stephen (a.k.a. Mr Burnside) is a Photographer & Woodcarver who takes great inspiration from the nature, wildlife & scenery surrounding him in Caithness.
 
Visitors to Burnside Cottage are generally on their way to somewhere else, often the West Coast or Orkney, but are rarely aware of the wonders of Caithness itself.
 
Kacey & Stephen are passionate about where they now live. Burnside Cottage therefore is decorated throughout with examples of Stephen’s work which showcase the beauty of the local area.
 
From the guest entrance gallery of his photographs (there are others in both suites) to the bespoke carved wall panels which so many of our guests love…..if you would like to view more of his creations take a look at the Mr Burnside website.

Location

Burnside Cottage is located just off the NC500 in Gills, Canisbay, a scattered former crofting and fishing township on the far north east coast of Scotland. Gills bay overlooks Stroma and the Orkney islands.

 John O’Groats is close to the east & the Castle of Mey is 4 miles to the west. We are situated approximately half way between Wick & Thurso & are conveniently located for those travelling to the Orkneys as the Pentland Ferry harbour is around ½ a mile. The nearest airport is 17 miles away in Wick.

Big skies, rugged cliffs, spectacular sea-stacks, mysterious moors, long summer nights……these are just some of the natural features that give Caithness its special appeal. These are the lowlands beyond the Highlands, a county described by its most literary son, Neil Gunn, as “The land of exquisite lights”.

GPS Coordinates (unsure) Latitude 58.6329   Longitude –3.1751      what3words verse.pokes.divorcing

Bus Travel

Stagecoach provides local bus services to and from Canisbay, making your visit easy and affordable. For more information on ticket prices and services nearby, visit their Guide to bus travel in North Scotland page

Burnside Cottage - Location

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