West Highland Holiday Cottage By The Sea With Incredible Views
Traditional Scottish House On Remote Peninsular Of Knoydart, Use Of Vehicle Included In Price
Sleeps 8-12 (5 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. Use of red mini-bus and 60 miles of fuel included in price.
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| Rental Period | Per Night | Per Week | Per Month | Min. Stay (Nights) |
| 6 January 2012 - 6 April 2012 | £400 | 7 | ||
| 6 April 2012 - 13 April 2012 | £750 | 7 | ||
| 13 April 2012 - 20 July 2012 | £650 | 7 | ||
| 20 July 2012 - 31 August 2012 | £750 | 7 | ||
| 31 August 2012 - 28 September 2012 | £650 | 7 | ||
| 28 September 2012 - 26 October 2012 | £500 | 7 | ||
| 26 October 2012 - 2 November 2012 | £600 | 7 | ||
| 2 November 2012 - 21 December 2012 | £400 | 7 | ||
| 21 December 2012 - 4 January 2013 | £750 | 7 | ||
| 4 January 2013 - 29 March 2013 | £400 | 7 | ||
| 29 March 2013 - 11 April 2013 | £750 | 7 |
Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in UK Pounds. Long winter lets considered.
These prices are for the main house without the annexe. To hire the annexe as well please add an extra:
£200 extra for High Season (Christmas, Easter, Bank Holidays, School Holidays Half Terms)
£150 extra for annexe from May - September
£125 extra for annexe Mid Season (April and October)
£100 extra for annexe Low Season (Jan-March, Nov, Dec)
Changeover day
Because of the ferry times, Fridays are the obvious days but at the moment we are sometimes flexible in winter
Accommodation
| Bedrooms: | Bedroom 1 with double bed. Bedroom 2 with double bed plus bunk beds. Bedroom 3 (small) with double bed. In annexe Bed 4 double bedroom Bed 5 kitchenette with double sofa bed Travel cot and roll-up futons also available |
| Bathrooms: | In main house. 1 bathroom with bath, wc and washbasin. Plenty of hot water. In annnexe. 1 bathroom with bath, washbasin and wc. |
| Kitchen: | Kitchen has gas cooker and hob, fridge with small freezer space, washing machine, tumble dryer, washing up machine, water filter. Annexe kitchen has gas cooker, and fridge. |
| 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. |
| Amenities/Facilities: | hob/stove oven fridge/freezer dishwasher washing machine tumble dryer iron/ironing board central heating barbecue |
| Location Type: |
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.
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. It is not a car ferry: you leave your car in Mallaig. There is an alternative ferryThere is only 7 miles of road on Knoydart. A red min-bus is included in the price, with limited mileage.
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 kayaks that can be borrowed and also a white rowing boat at your own risk - they cannot be insured for you so you have to sign a disclaimer, and insure yourselves.The use of the red mini-bus is included in the rental, and 60 miles of fuel (there are only 7 miles of road).
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 if you insure yourselves 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. Included is the use our red mini bus with limited mileage. There are only 7 miles of road in Knoydart.
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. The Old Forge Pub is in Inverie. You use our red mini-bus 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. 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 £200 depending on the season - cheques made payable to Andrew Birtwell.
Please note the prices are for the main house, which can be hired without the annexe, and the annexe is extra as per the notes. If the annexe is not being used, the owner, or the owner's guests reserves the right to be there (but will not have use of the garden). The annexe has it's own entrance and can be sealed off from the main house.
Guest comments
The position of the house with its ever changing views was truly a magical,you are very blessed - Loraine
The cottage was great. Loved the views, sunsets, and the drive to and from the village. Just fell in love with the place-
Ann
Thanks for the brilliant time we spent at Airor. The place is absolutely stunning - we'll definitely be going back - Steven and Claire.
The holiday was fabulous, the house, scenery, weather, wildlife & walking. We really enjoyed it, which is a real feat on holiday with 4 children. Found the scenery and sunsets absolutely stunning. We all decided it was well worth the drive and would like to go back again - Rebecca.
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.
Owner profile
Sally having the time of her life
About the owner
Sal and Andy live in and run a Healing Retreat Centre in the Heart of the Cotswolds but we seem to have acquired two other houses, because we have a passion for restoring ruins in beautiful places! We have 6 children who are all grown up and doing interesting things, and Andy is trying to sell his water purifying business in Hitchin (a long way from home). We have lived in the area for about 39 years and our 5 grandchildren live up the road. We spend our time running our businesses and seeing our family and visiting our houses in Spain and Scotland to 'get away from it all', but whatever 'it' is seems to come with us! Andy loves tinkering with his old cars and mowers and actually mowing on some ancient machine and Sal loves singing and dancing and a million other things.
Year purchased: 2001
Why the owner chose a home in this location
Andy's great passion is for the West Coast of Scotland, and when he visited Knoydart when he was 17 he vowed to buy a house there one day. We stayed in a friend's house there for several years in the 90's and we knew the house well. At the Community Buy Out it came up for sale, and despite it's dilapidated state we bought it and have been making it comfortable ever since. It has given Andy his greatest satisfaction ever to be able to see Rhum and Eigg and the Cuillins of Skye from his property, and watch the amazing sunsets and differing weather, with the sound of gulls and cormorants and the sight of seals and otters and sometimes dolphins right outside the window. It's remoteness and the wilderness around and impressive mountains and heather and lack of 21st century madness call us back.
Unique benefits of the property
This house must have one of the best views in the world, and be one of the remotest as well. It really is an amazing escape. Time to be, and experience the elements, collect shells, make a collage, climb a waterfall on the burn or snuggle by the fire. A regular 'Ring of Bright Water' experience including otter spotting. Reading and painting for me, and Andy loves tinkering in his workshop or just staring at the changing moods of the sea. The grandchildren jump off the pier in their wetsuits and we have wonderful beach barbecues with freshly caught mackerel. Walking up the mountain behind our house, watching the boats in the Sound of Sleat, canoeing to the island, climbing a Munro - maybe spot the golden eagle nesting nearby, it all feeds the soul, as does a meal in The Old Forge!
For booking and further information
Property Ref SC96
Contact Name:
Sally Birtwell
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 1608684239
Mobile number only works away from home
Alternate Contact Details:
(UNITED KINGDOM) +44 7771983738
Mobile number only works away from home
Owners Website: Click here
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Property Ref SC96
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