How to Visit the Pink House on Loch Glass in Scotland

I did the North Coast 500 back in 2020, but I’m constantly discovering new places to visit in this beautiful part of Scotland. After seeing loads of photos on Instagram, I decided to break up the drive down south (on my way back from Orkney) with a walk out to Loch Glass, to see the pretty pink house located on the shore of the loch near Ben Wyvis.

What is the Pink House?

The Pink House doesn’t have a name listed on OS Maps, but it’s sometimes called Culzie Lodge, which is listed further down the loch on OS Maps. I use this app on every hike I do in the UK! The place is exactly what it sounds like – a pink house, with castle-like turrets. Some of the charm is lost as the windows are boarded up (or broken), and there’s no access to the inside of the house. According to the internet, no one has lived there for many years, so I suspect it’s just ruins inside. It might not be the most impressive place to visit off the North Coast 500 – a lot of people have said it’s a bit underwhelming. But I thought it was a pretty cool spot and loved taking a lot of photos here.

Where to Park to Visit the Pink House

The nearest place to park is at the white gates at Eileanach Lodge. This is about 5.5 miles from Evanton, and 26 miles from Inverness. Inverness is the nearest airport – I use Skyscanner to book flights. There is no public transport here, so you’ll need to have your own set of wheels. Most of the road from Evanton is a single-track road, so be prepared to use passing places. There is room for at least 4-6 cars at Eileanach Lodge, please park considerately to allow space for other visitors. Keep in mind that Eileanach Lodge is a private residence – make sure to be respectful as you pass the property.

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Hiking to the Pink House

It’ll take about 30 minutes to hike from Eileanach Lodge to the Pink House on Loch Glass. Go past the white gates, cross the bridge, and carry on the track. When you reach a junction, go right and hike along the track which leads to Loch Glass. Most of the hike goes through the forestry plantation, but soon it opens up when you reach Loch Glass. You can see the easily recognizable Pink House in the distance.

The area around the loch is dramatic – a backdrop of mountains and forest. You can do a full circuit of the loch if you like, although I’m unsure if there is a path along the northwestern shore. A circuit of Loch Glass would be just over 9 miles (plus the mileage to get from Eileanach Lodge to the loch shore and back).

The walk to the Pink House took me just under 1.5 hours. This included over 20-30 minutes taking photos at the house itself. Overall, it’s about 3.5 miles from Eileanach Lodge to the Pink House and back again.

Planning Your Trip to the Pink House

There are more exciting places to visit on the northeast part of Scotland if you’re doing the North Coast 500. I loved the hike up to the Fyrish Monument, and would absolutely recommend that over seeing the Pink House at Loch Glass. If you’re visiting Evanton, you can also stop at the Black Rock Gorge – this was used as a film location in Harry Potter! But if you’re just wanting to see the house and get a short walk in, this is a good one.

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. I always recommend sturdy hiking boots (I love my Scarpa Mistrals!), a waterproof rain jacket, and plenty of snacks and water on any hike in the UK. You can check out my outdoor gear guide here. Don’t forget to download the OS Maps app for this hike – there’s an annual fee of £29/year for the app, but they do offer a 7-day free trial.

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