Achuaran House self catering West Coast Scotland

Achuaran House
Isle of Lismore
Argyll
Scotland

Sleeping 8

Island escapes have always been popular. Some people prefer them to be simply an extension of the mainland, with all facilities and conveniences. Others like to get completely away from it all, living for a week without shops, roads, cars and the other intrusive trappings of modern living.

Sometimes, just sometimes, however, you can have the best of both worlds, and the island of Lismore, where Achuaran House is situated, is surely one of these. Easily accessed either by a short car ferry crossing from Oban or an even shorter foot ferry from Port Appin, about 20 miles further up the west coast, it has one wee road which runs the length of the island.

There is, however, one well stocked general store on the island and one small, but excellent Heritage Centre, which also houses a café/restaurant. The island hall is also a very lively place with many ceilidhs and dances, to which all are welcome. If you do crave the odd gourmet meal, however, you have the Pierhouse Restaurant and Aird's Hotel, both rated among the leading eateries in Scotland, just at the jetty on the other side of the foot ferry. (Ferry tickets £1.50 per person, so not exactly bank breaking.) You can eat and drink your fill there and roll home again without worrying about breathalysers.

The house has a lovely situation just a few hundred yards from the Port Appin ferry pier, flanked by woodland to the rear and with wonderful views across the water to the mainland on the other side. Inside, it is spacious and comfortable, in a traditional, homely, farmhouse style, where families of all ages can relax and enjoy the lovely surroundings.

Achuaran is surrounded by a sloping grass garden, with woodland to the side and rear extending to two acres, and enclosed by a low wall. The shore is just across the quiet, single track road from the house. Parents will delight in the fact that children can play, cycle and explore in safety (always remembering that the water is close by). There is secure storage for cycles, for the island is fairly level and cycling is an excellent way of getting around. There is also cycle hire on Lismore itself. You can fish for mackerel off the rocks, or explore the raised coastline and cliffs.

Both historically and geologically, Lismore is a fascinating place and has been inhabited since neolithic times. (An arrowhead of Appin stone dating from 3500BC was found in 1974 and is now in the Heritage Centre.) The well preserved Broch at Tirfuir bears witness to Pictish occupation some 2000 years ago, and there is also a most interesting walk over to Coeffin Castle, named for the Viking prince who first built a stronghold there.

Naturalists will be interested to learn that Lismore is a geological oddity, being comprised of Dalradian limestone with basalt dykes crossing from south-east to north-west. With no mountains, surviving peat bogs and little heather, the ground is fertile and home to many species of flora and fauna not found elsewhere.

Heating is by electricity and open fire. Bedlinen, towels (not beach towels), and electricity are included in the rental. Up to two well behaved pets are welcome by arrangement. Smoking is not permitted within the house.