AM BOTHAN
SELF CATERING COTTAGE (VACATION RENTAL)
in WESTER ROSS, SCOTLAND

LOCATION in the HIGHLANDS - LOCAL ACTIVITIES - PRICES and BOOKING

Am Bothan, which is Gaelic for 'cottage', is a former croft house providing comfortable accommodation for up to 5 people.  It's non-smoking and no pets. There is a meter for the electricity, which can be topped up by using its key card at the post office or at MacCalls shop in Gairloch. The lounge has a storage heater, electric fire, colour television, Sky TV, DVD, Play Station with games and a comfortable three-piece suite.

The cottage comprises a lounge, central hallway, shower/bathroom/wc, kitchen/dining room, 3 bedrooms (one double, one twin and 1 single) and porches to front and rear. All rooms are doubled glazed and, with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom, have fitted carpets. There are toys in the trunk and a dolls house in the twin bedroom.

The kitchen has an electric cooker, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker and grinder, washer-dryer and iron. It is well-stocked with crockery, glassware, cutlery, pots and pans and has plenty of storage space and work surfaces. The bedrooms all have new electric convector heaters. There is a double, a twin bedded room and a single bedroom, sleeping 5 in total (there is also a cot, bedding and high-chair for a baby). All beds have bedding and duvets provided, there are electric blankets and hot water bottles if needed, extra bedding is in the wardrobes.     Babies The cottage can accommodate one baby in addition to the five people stated. Highchair and cot, with cot linen, are available. We will be happy to babysit if you wish to go out for an evening.   Please note that this is a non-smoking house.

The bathroom has a bath with power shower, wash basin and toilet, with wall-mounted hot air fan, heated towel rail and mirror, light and shaver point.   Fun and Games There is a Play Station in the cottage. Videos, DVD's and board games are provided. There is a basketball hoop in the garden and footballs, tennis rackets, etc. available to borrow. There is a games room beside the cottage which has been upgraded. It has full size pool table, Air hockey and a dart board.     Pets No dogs or cats accepted.

Garden   The cottage shares garden grounds of about two-thirds of an acre with our own bungalow. The garden is completely fenced, so is safe for young children, and the cottage has its own separate, grassy area with garden furniture, washing line and car parking spaces. There is a covered veranda with seating on the front of the cottage, overlooking the garden and the loch.

Bees We keep bees at our end of the garden, and we sometimes have some honey for sale. If you are interested in bees and would like to see in the hives please tell us as we have spare bee suits and would be happy to teach you the basics.  We are members of the Scottish Beekkeepers' Association.

LOCATION and ACTIVITIES

Naast Naast is a crofting community with just eight houses situated on the western shore of Loch Ewe, three miles north of Poolewe. Local services at Poolewe include the general store/Post Office, two hotels with restaurants, a bar, The Bridge Cafe Coffee Shop and Gallery and a swimming pool. Petrol and diesel are available at Gairloch and Laide, but not on Sundays! Gairloch Beach Safe sandy beaches are plentiful, the nearest being Firemore Beach, two miles north of Naast. Other, pebbly beaches lie much nearer, in fact there is the one pictured below in front of Am Bothan, access is by a path via the house on the right of the photo.  It is home to an otter and is frequently visited by seals, herons and Dolphins.  Porpoises and occasionally whales can be spotted in the loch, especially if you take a boat out to Isle Ewe, where the fish farm attracts them.  Sea mammals can also be seen from Rubha Reidh (pronounced Roo-ah Ray) Lighthouse.   View across Loch Ewe from the garden of Am Bothan

Be careful when visiting the caves at Cove. Cove caves At Gairloch there are shops (The Chemistore opens on Sundays), a bank and a leisure centre. There is a nine-hole golf course at Gairloch (with teas and lunches in the clubhouse) and sea, loch and river fishing on the Ewe are available, permits can be obtained from the Poolewe shop. Boats may be hired, and small boats may be launched from Inverasdale slipway, 1 mile away. There is also a small jetty in the bay in front of the cottage.  A glass bottomed boat and marine cruises can be booked at Gairloch harbour. The star tourist attraction of the area is the beautiful Inverewe Garden at Poolewe, it has a gift shop, visitor centre and restaurant.    At Aulbea you can find The Hardwood Cafe for lunch or teas, or go along to Mellon Charles and visit the Perfume Studio. There you can have coffee and lunche in the Aroma Cafe, visit their gift shop or book a session to create your own designer perfume. Cyclists, hill walkers, climbers, bird watchers and naturalists will all find the area ideal.   From the cottage there are magnificent views across Loch Ewe to the mountains by Loch Maree the An Teallach Range and the mountains beyond Ullapool up to Sutherland. Beinn airigh charr near Poolewe

 online tour of the area.

The cottage is well-situated on the north-west coast of Scotland. It is about 2 hours drive from Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, which has an airport and railway station, plenty supermarkets, a victorian market and shopping centre. Trains can be caught at Achnasheen (where there is a jewellery studio, cafe and the Ledgowan Lodge country house hotel.  The train can take you on day trips to the beautiful village of Plockton or down to Loch Carron or Kyle.  The Isle of Skye, which is about 2 hours to the south by car makes a great day out too.  Ullapool is an hours drive to the north where you can catch a ferry over to the western isles. Links to information about these places are given at the bottom of this page.

Local Books & Maps

PRICES AND BOOKING INFORMATION FOR 2010

Prices from weeks beginning UK pounds per week April 3rd April 24th June 19th July 3rd £300 £350 £400 £450 Electric meter key card *