3 bedroom cottage in Airor, Knoydart, Nr. Mallaig, Lochaber, Scottish Highlands
West Highland Holiday Cottage by the Sea with Incredible Views
Traditional Scottish House on Remote Peninsular of Knoydart
Sleeps 6/8 (3 Bedrooms)
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Camusblathan (Bay of Small Flowers) is located in one of the most beautiful places in the world, with breathtaking views overlooking the Sound of Sleat to the Garden of Skye and haunting jagged peaks of the Cuillins and Isle Ornsay lighthouse. To the north towards the Kyles of Lochalsh you can see the lighthouse of Gavin Maxwell's ring of Bright Water and to the South the mysterious silhouettes of and the Islands of Eigg and Rhumm. Seals, otter, cormorants and many sea birds can be seen from the house. Dolphins, deer and feral goats, wild cats and pine martins are in the area. The house is not "done up" but has the charm of a family holiday cottage of yesteryear. It is warm and cosy, having central heating, a Rayburn, a log fire and a wood burning stove, and is a stone's throw from many beautiful sandy and rocky coves, and a sheltered bay. Wonderful walks in both directions, and as the name implies, the flora is outstanding.
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| Rental periods | ||
| Christmas, New Year, Easter | £500 | |
| January - March | £300 | + negotiated fuel supplement |
| April | £400 | |
| May - September | £500 | |
| October | £400 | |
| November / December | £300 | + negotiated fuel supplement |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds.
Long winter lets considered.
Changeover day
Because of the ferry times, Fridays are the obvious days but at the moment we are flexible.
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with double bed. Bedroom 2 with double bed and bunk bed. Bedroom 3 (small) with double bed. |
| Bathrooms: | Bathroom with bath, wc and washbasin. Awaiting decoration but fine. Plenty of hot water. |
| Kitchen: | Kitchen has gas cooker and hob, fridge with small freezer space, washing machine, tumble dryer, washing up machine, water filter. |
| Living Rooms: | Dining room has large antique round table to seat 8, two easy chairs by the log fire and Rayburn. Sitting room has 3 sofas (this is where an extra 2 children could sleep) and a wood burning stove. |
| Other: | There is a porch for wellies, buckets and spades, driftwood, garden chairs and fishing nets. |
| Cleaning/towels/ linen/maid service: |
Towels and linen are included. The property is cleaned before each let but we ask you to leave it in a cleaned state. |
Notes on accommodation
The house can be heated by a central heating boiler via the generator which we usually put on for a couple of hours a day, in order to run the dishwasher, washing machine etc. We have an inverter which acts like a giant battery to keep the lights/CD radio going after the generator is switched off. The usual heating method is by the Rayburn that has radiators. This can be supplemented with a log fire and woodburning stove.
- hob/stove,
- oven,
- fridge/freezer,
- dishwasher,
- washing machine,
- tumble dryer,
- iron/ironing board,
- central heating,
- barbecue
Accessibility
Knoydart is the remotest peninsular of the mainland, the last remaining wilderness in Great Britain, and can only be reached by sea, or a 20 mile hike on foot. The passenger ferry from Mallaig to Inverie, Knoydart, goes twice a day Monday-Friday in summer months, and Mon/Wed/Fri in winter and takes 45 minutes - not suitable for wheelchair access. It is not a car ferry: you leave your car in Mallaig. The last part of the single track road is very bumpy and uneven.
Outside
There is a large grass area in front of the house, with a small outdoor table and chairs. There are a couple of sun loungers and a few directors chairs in the porch for outdoor use. There is a rudimentary barbecue. Behind the house is a steep hill but safe enough for children to enjoy scrambling up, and close to that a burn and lots of stone ruins. There are numerous rock pools down by the sea in front of the house, and coves to explore and strange rock formations. Around in the bay there is a sandy beach and some islands to explore and a pier and at this moment a large ex-Falklands Island barge to jump or dive off into the sea. There is plenty of room to pitch tents. There are 2 canoes that can be borrowed and also a white rowing boat.
Coast/Beach
The various rocky and sandy coaches are very close by across a meadow (sometimes with characteristics of a peat bog so wellies needed) or a 5 minute walk around the bay on a dirt track. There is something of everything here, white sand, large slabs of rock and rock pools and pebbles. This is a great place to fish or catch crabs and lobsters. There are 2 canoes that can be borrowed and also a white rowing boat.
Travel
Knoydart can only be reached by sea, or a 20 mile hike on foot. The passenger ferry (Bruce Watts) from Mallaig-Inverie, Knoydart, goes twice a day Monday-Friday in summer and Mon/Wed/Fri in winter and takes 45 minutes - It is not a car ferry: you can either arrive by car to Mallaig and then ferry or by the Caledonian Sleeper train that leaves Euston at 9ish in the evening arriving at Fort William where you get another train to Mallaig. You use our Range Rover in Knoydart to get to Airor
Distances
Ferry from Mallaig takes 3/4 hour. Inverie to Airor is 7 miles and is half an hour drive along a single track road. Pub and Pier House restaurant is in Inverie. You use our Range-Rover which we leave near the ferry at Inverie. Bring your shopping with you or order from Mallaig Cop or Spar and they put it on the ferry. There is spectacular scenery in both directions. It may be possible to charter a boat to go across to Skye or other islands or catch island ferries from Mallaig and Arisaig.
Further details
There are no shops on Knoydart, apart from the post-office selling limited provisions and opening limited hours. The total population of Knoydart is about 100 people. The Old Forge Public house in Inverie, where the Western Isles ferry arrives, is open all day with an excellent restaurant, and the Pier Guesthouse also serves good evening meals to non residents. The Knoydart Foundation will give you information about the peninsular and it's activities and there is a ranger service there. There are woodland walks, a large sandy beach camping and a hostel and bunkhouse, recently opened a tea and snack bar at Inverie. On the way to Airor, there is Doune, with accommodation and boating/fishing trips. The road comes to an end at our house in Airor so there is no passing traffic, just the occasional cyclist and rambler.
Shopping is best brought over with you and then supplemented by phoning the Coop or Spar in Mallaig, (where they put boxes of groceries on the ferry for you to collect) or for more choice Morrisons in Fort William. There is only a small cluster of houses in Airor with about 4 permanent residents, who are helpful should you need them. We supply a full list of helpful instructions and contact details. There are monros to climb, waterfalls to discover, bikes to hire from Inverie. The water comes stright from the burn and is slightly peaty in colour in the bath, but is filtered out for drinking water. We can help you plan your journey.
Booking notes
We require a deposit of between £100 and £200 depending on the season - cheques made payable to Andrew Birtwell.
Guest comments
The house worked it's magic on us and we chilled out totally in the peace and tranquility...Linda.
We had fab weather throughout and fantastic sunsets and night skies that were so entrancing it was hard to do anything else except look at the constantly changing light on the water, sky, and mountains....Kevin and Joy.
I had such a brilliant week in July with fantastic weather, unlike the rest of the country - and I'd love to go back in the winter. Judy.
For booking and further information
Sally Birtwell
Tel: (UK) + 44 (0)1608 684239
Email: Click here
Owners Website: Click here
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and has advertised this property with us since June 2008.
Property Ref SC96
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