Lochbay Boathouse sits in a fabulous location on the seashore of Loch Bay in the north-west of Skye, and has its own small tidal harbour. Seals, otters, dolphins, gannets and eagles can often be seen. Stone-built as a boathouse in the late 18th century, it was converted into a two-storey house by the singer Donovan in the 1970s. The Boathouse website includes a photo of Beatle George Harrison with Donovan at the Boathouse in 1972, shortly before its conversion.
It is furnished in the Arts and Crafts style, with much of the furniture dating from the early 1900s, and is full of character, interest and quality. There are numerous paintings in the house, many inspired by the rugged west coast.
The house is completely on its own, and has no near neighbours, but is only a few minutes walk from the delightful village of Stein. The village contains the Stein Inn, which is the oldest inn on Skye, and serves meals, local real ales and a wide range of malt whiskies, and also the Michelin-starred Loch Bay Restaurant, serving fresh locally-caught fish. The Boathouse is a perfect distance from the village: far enough away for privacy and peace, but near enough to go for an evening out without having to drive.
Other attractions in this part of Skye are the famous Three Chimneys Restaurant at Glendale (15 miles away) and Dunvegan Castle (7 miles). There are frequent boat trips from both Stein & Dunvegan and there is the beautiful white Coral Beach near Dunvegan. There are good shopping facilities at Portree (25 miles).
The house sleeps 6, and the accommodation is comfortable and spacious. The large kitchen/dining room is roofed with the original old beams. The kitchen is well equipped, with cooker, fridge, freezer, microwave, washing machine & tumble dryer. The dining area has a large oak table seating six people in comfort.
Two bedrooms have genuine antique four-poster beds, and all three bedrooms have Arts and Crafts furniture and wonderful sea views. You can lie in a four-poster looking out over the waves.
The comfortable living room, with well-stocked bookcase, extends to the full height of the house, with a multi-fuel stove in the fireplace in the stone gable wall. A staircase leads up to the first-floor gallery, which is a large open-plan area with stunning sea views from panoramic windows – a perfect place from which to observe the wildlife. Half of the gallery is laid out as a generous second seating area and the other half as a bedroom with a double and single bed.
Off the living room downstairs is another bedroom. This is a large bright room, with a window seat overlooking Loch Bay. It has a lovely Arts and Crafts oak bedroom suite with a double and a single bed, and an en-suite toilet and washbasin.
There is a lawned garden directly adjoining the rocky beach, and there is ample private car parking – the house is some distance from the road, down a private track.
Facilities include satellite TV, DVD player and CD player/radio/iPod dock. There is also free Broadband internet access (BT wireless hub). All bed linen is provided, & towels can also be provided for a small charge. There is a telephone, and calls to UK land lines are free. The first £100 of fuel costs (oil fired central heating, electricity & coal) is included in the price, with any excess being charged at cost.
