COSY COTTAGE ACCOMMODATION WITH STUNNING VIEWS

2019 SEASON

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About 15 Shore Street (1)

Welcome to 15 Shore Street and we hope you enjoy your holiday!We have owned the cottage for a number of years and have recently completed a full scale modernisation. Our aim is to make this a modern and comfortable holiday home which still reflects the traditions of the fisherman’s cottage.

There are two roomy bedrooms a twin and a double (King size bed) and all bedding is provided. There is also a travel cot stored under one of the single beds in the twin room. Both bedrooms have views of the bay and both have modern electric radiators which simply plug in and switch on. The shower room has an electric heated towel rail, the switch to turn it on is on the landing near the floor to the right of the door.

The electric shower is a push button operation with an isolating cord on the left hand side of the door as you enter. There is a shaver point on the wall. Towels are provided.

Downstairs is a single living space with a modern, well equipped kitchen, with an electric cooker, fridge, coffee machine and a

large selection of cookery appliances. The fridge turns on at the wall socket. Dishcloths and towels are provided.

The sitting room area has a modern 2kw electric fire that switches on at the wall to the right of

the fireplace and which has controls under the hood on the left hand side as you look at it. The house is all electric with electric

radiators in the living area and downstairs loo and information on how to program the

radiators (should you need to) is in a booklet in the pink plastic file in the bookcase.

The hot water switch is to the left of the sink above the work surface this supplies very hot water to the kitchen sink and the downstairs toilet and upstairs bathroom. Should you require them, there are cleaning products under the sink, a vacuum cleaner under the stairs and a mop and brush in the downstairs toilet.

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About 15 Shore Street (2)

There is no TV or telephone – although there are a selection of books and games and you do get a mobile signal most of the time.

There is a back garden but it is rather mountainous and the paths are slippery so, unless you’ve got crampons and ropes, probably best avoided.

There is a picnic table and bench on the beach for public use and there is a picnic basket behind the sofa. There are two deckchairs in the cupboard under the stairs.

There is a post office and village shop which is open every day but for varying times and a pub (An Tigh Seinsse) just down the street which serves food. If you’d like to buy fresh crab or lobster you can order them via Laura at the pub.

There are further hotels and restaurants in Port Charlotte (7 miles) and in Bridgend (12 miles).

1: Living Room2: Bedroom 23: Kitchen

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About 15 Shore Street (3)

Terms and Conditions:

• The cottage is also our home – please love it as much as we do and leave it as you found it

• Well behaved pets are welcome• A £100 deposit secures your booking• Please pay the balance 14 days prior to your arrival

Payments can be made by bank transfer:

Details on request

Or by cheque to: Mrs Sheila Millard3 Little Court LaneEdingtonWestburyWiltshire BA13 4PW

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Wonderful Portnahaven

Portnahaven sits at the most westerly tip of Islay, the village is built around a picturesque and sheltered bay and offers wonderful views out to the West with frequent spectacular sunsets.

The sandy is beach just in front of the cottage and offers a safe place for children to play and paddle. The bay grades away gradually and offers safe swimming.

There are great walks from the village around the coast to Claddach and Curry Sands – a beautiful sheltered sandy beach which is privately owned but where people and dogs are equally welcome and where you may well find Choughs whirling on the breeze.

Further on round the coast are Frenchmen’s Rocks one of the best spots for watching seabirds such as Gannets, Petrels and Shearwaters.

Portnahaven was one of the “planned” villages, built during the 19th century, with fishing and crofting as the (then) main employment. Both still take place but on a much reduced scale and the farming aspect has a much more modern air. Portnahaven’s sheltered harbour has a resident seal population and they are often seen playing in the bay or sunbathing on the rocks – sometimes on the rock just in front of our front door.

Opposite the bay and across the fast-running sound is Orsay Island and the Rhinns of Islay lighthouse, which was built in 1825. Also on Orsay island is a chapel with well preserved walls. An early Christian carved stone from Orsay chapel is in the Museum of Islay Life.

The village has its own pub, An Tigh Seinnse, which serves excellent food including fresh seafood and visitors will always find a warm welcome and an even warmer log fire! An Tigh Seinnse also offers a take away service. Tel: 01496 860224.

There is a Post Office and village shop with small stock of essentials but the main shops are in Bridgend and Bowmore.

How to get there:

You’ll arrive by ferry at either Port Ellen or Port Askaig. From either make your way to Bridgend and at the T junction take the road signposted Portnahaven.

You come through Bruichladdich and then Port Charlotte, beyond Port Charlotte the road becomes a single track road with passing places which are well defined by black and white poles. Its a

stunningly picturesque journey and there’s no doubt you’ll want to stop at some point during your holiday to take photographs or just soak up the views. As you come into the top of the village of Portnahaven you’ll see a bus shelter on your left. Turn left in front of the shelter and then, almost immediately, turn right around a very sharp bend with the bay unfolding in front of you.

Come down the hill, parking is limited in Portnahaven but there is a lay-by just opposite the Post Office where you can park.

‘An Tigh Seinnse’

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Welcome to Islay & Goodbye to Care (1)

The Isle of Islay, Queen of the Hebrides, is part of the Southern Hebrides and is well loved by its many thousands of visitors for a huge variety of reasons - from the eight (soon to be nine) distilleries; to the championship links golf course at The Machrie; for its wildlife and birdlife; trout and salmon fishing and for the peace and tranquility of its beautiful beaches, land and seascapes.

Islay is famously important as the historic seat of the Lords of the Isles at Finlaggan. It achieved most fame in the 14th and 15th centuries under the MacDonald Lords of the Isles who ruled the islands and part of the west coast of Scotland, from Kintyre to Lewis, virtually independent of royal control. The Lord of the Isles -ill Innse Gall -was one of the most powerful figures in the country with the small islands in Loch Finlaggan housing the administrative centre.

The visitor centre has excellent interpretation information and artifacts and the main council island is readily accessible. www.finlaggan.org

A holiday on Islay genuinely offers a truly relaxing break, the chance to get away from the hubbub of modern life with clean air and clear skies, a laid back way of life and a warm welcome. There are wonderful sandy beaches, Machir Bay and the Big Strand offer miles of unspoilt and frequently unoccupied beaches.

Islay offers incredible walking with opportunities for guided tours at various times of the year, bikes for hire while the restaurants and hotels serving beautiful fresh seafood and, of course, there is Feis Isla - the famous festivals of Gaelic Music and whisky.

Whisky: From the soft peaty strength of Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg to the smoother silky flavors of Bowmore and Bruichladdich, the granite clear crispness of Coal Isla and Bunnahabain and the fresh, young excitement of Kilchoman, Islay whisky enjoys so many expressions and each of the distilleries has a well organised programme of trips and visits which you can buy

into at different levels – it’s a week’s holiday all on its own!

The Paps of Jura from Port Askaig

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Welcome to Islay & Goodbye to Care (2)

Fishing: Islay offers some outstanding wild brown trout fishing on the lochs from shore or boat while salmon and sea trout fishing is available on the main rivers and permits are available from the main estates. There is plentiful sea fishing from the rocks and beaches around the shoreline with sizeable Pollack (lithe) the principle species.

Bird Watching: The bird life on Islay is fascinating; with Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, Hen harriers, Choughs and several other local residents plus, of course, the geese in winter and the famous corncrakes in summer. Islay Bird Blog is well worth a look to see which birds are currently in the area. Loch Gruinart is a favourite destination with hides available and an excellent interpretation centre.

Golf: The famous championship links course at the Machrie is a renowned golfing challenge rated as one of the most beautiful locations in world golf.

Islay – just so much to offer...

Islay Ultimate Online Guide Information about the Isle of Islay, in the southern Hebrides. Includes photographs, past and present details of popular activities on the Island, distillery listings and a selection of tourist information for visitors. Maps of the Island are also provided, together with details of wildlife, climate and Islay’s historic carved stones.

Islay Blog The Islay Blog is a source of news, events, and background information (history, wildlife, genealogy, and so on) on the Isle of Islay.

Islay GalleryPicture Gallery from Islay.

Ferry to IslayCheck your travel times.