Through a Photographer's Lens

Wes Raitt takes it all in at Cuilcheanna House

Some guests arrive with walking poles. Others with a good book, a bottle of whisky, or a wish list of hills to climb. Wes Raitt arrived with a camera - and an eye for beauty.

Wes is a photographer and filmmaker currently travelling Scotland and quietly documenting what he finds along the way. You can follow his progress on his Instagram account, @wes.livin, where he shares cinematic glimpses of his travels.

This winter, he spent a few days with us at Cuilcheanna House and the video diary he created beautifully captured our spirit of wandering and wondering.

The View He Found Here

We're biased, of course, but seeing Cuilcheanna through Wes's lens reminded us how lucky we are to live here. He made the film without breathing a word of his plans and sent it to us as a wonderful and welcome surprise.

His footage moves between the vast and the intimate - the drama of Loch Linnhe stretching south towards Glencoe, the stillness of a winter morning on the water, and the quieter details inside: the warmth of a room after a wet walk, the quality of light through the windows, and the sunset that aligns with the view down to Mull at this particular time of year.

Winter in this part of the Highlands has a character all of its own. The visitors are few, the midges are asleep, and what's left is something elemental: big skies, cold clear air, and a landscape that feels entirely yours.

What a Few Days Here Actually Looks Like

Wes's trip is a good illustration of the rhythm that many of our guests fall into if they stay a few nights.

Days tend to start slowly. Breakfast, the view, a coffee while the light changes on the loch. Then out: perhaps along the shore towards Onich, up to the Inchree waterfall behind the house, or further afield to Glencoe, Ben Nevis, or the road north to Kinlochleven.

Evenings come early in winter, which is its own kind of gift. There's time to sit, to read, to eat well, to watch the sky turn colours over the water.

Follow Wes's Journey

Wes is continuing his travels around Scotland, sharing his photographs and films as he goes. We'd encourage you to follow along at @wes.livin - his work captures his love of this beautiful country.

We're proud and grateful that Cuilcheanna House features in his story. If you’d like to share the experience book your stay today.