WE could hear the falls long before we could see them. The thunderous noise carried through the woods, telling tantalisingly of the tumult lying in store.

We wandered down the track towards the hidden source of the noise, spotted a gap in the trees, and suddenly we were there – right on top of the torrent, leaning out on a protruding platform and staring straight down into the eye of one of Scotland’s most spectacular waterfalls.

Plodda Falls, three miles south of the village of Tomich, have been popular with tourists since Victorian times and it is not hard to see why.

A winding path leads walkers to the top of the falls then zig-zags down the hillside, passing some of the UK’s tallest trees along the way and offering magnificent views from above and below the falls.

From 1880 onwards, visitors could walk right across them on a simple footbridge, but that was deemed unsafe in 2005 and has now been replaced with a viewing platform, accessible from one side only but offering an exhilarating vantage point nonetheless.

The falls are 46 metres tall and run into a tributary of the River Affric, 15 miles west of Loch Ness, in some of the wildest and most beautiful surroundings in the country.

They were the outdoor highlight of a whistlestop Highland visit for us, an idyllic getaway that mixed unadulterated wilderness with the height of luxury.

I say outdoor highlight, because the comfort of our accommodation at Eagle Brae was itself hard to beat. These seven stunning log cabins opened last August high on a hillside between Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar, following eight years of planning. But if the words ‘log cabin’ make you think of quaint simplicity then think again.These are vast, lavish homes that marry the rustic with the sumptuous.

There are soaring ceilings, mezzanine floors, terraces offering majestic views, wood-burners and all the mod-cons you could hope for (wireless internet and underfloor heating included). If the idea of a Highland break conjures up images of small cottages or tents and camp-fires, then Eagle Brae will blow such preconceptions out of the crystal clear Scottish water.

The cabins are constructed from red cedar logs from British Columbia in Canada and each one is a masterpiece. The wood looks beautiful and it comes from a sustainable forest, retains heat and deters insects – a useful bonus in Scotland. The site has been developed by Mike Spencer-Nairn, whose family has owned the surrounding Struy Estate for 80 years, and his wife Pawana, whose Himalayan roots are reflected in the fine woven rugs and fabrics and in intricate carvings around the cabins.

We had arrived in darkness, oblivious to the stunning scenery around us. There is something particularly tantalising about arriving in a new destination at night, the darkness adding an air of inescapable mystery until daybreak whisks the blindfold away, and so it was here. We wound our way along narrow roads, surrounded by darkness, before finally spotting the Eagle Brae sign in our headlights and heading up the hill.

We were shown to our cabin, ‘Strix’, and immediately sunk into the beautiful homeliness, cracking open a bottle of whisky and the free welcome-hamper in front of the fire. And the next day we set off to explore the surroundings.

It’s impossible to overstate the grandeur of the countryside around here. The cabins come with access to a private road that runs 15 miles through the spectacular Glen Strathfarrar, home to hundreds upon hundreds of deer and unbroken beauty, past the mirror-like Loch Beannacharan and Loch a’ Mhuillidh, on through the remotest of remote scenery.

The surrounding landscape is a paradise for hikers, ramblers, wildlife lovers and anyone who loves the outdoors. Eagle Brae offers around a dozen pre-arranged activities for enthusiasts, such as walks, canoeing, bird-watching, deer stalking or ‘camera stalking’, in which one can ‘stalk’ wildlife but shoot only pictures.

Slightly further afield, visitors can enjoy the romance of Loch Ness, the timeless hospitality of Beauly, dramatic golf courses, Munros by the dozen, the ragged west coast, and acre upon acre of striking wilderness.

Plodda Falls will captivate anyone who appreciates nature, the Bronze Age chambered cairn at Corrimony will appeal to those with a love of history or archaeology, and the Struy Inn, in a tiny village just up the road, provides a warm fire, an impressive menu and decent beer and whisky for those willing to walk home.

We stayed for two nights, scratched only the surface of this enchanting part of the world, and left wishing we could have stayed for a month.

FACTBOX

Eagle Brae opened last year and offers luxury cabin accommodation.

It has already won a gold award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the Scottish Council for Development’s industry award for research and innovation, and five stars from the Scottish Tourist Board.

Guests can choose from a wide range of activities, including fishing and hunting on Eagle Brae’s own private beats, archery, sled-dog rides, hillwalking and camera safaris. Quality wines, home-cooked meals and locally sourced meat are also available for visitors.

For more information or to book, visit www.eaglebrae.co.uk