Family House, Isle of Carna

Self catering holiday cottage on the Isle of Carna - 600 acres of unspoiled natural habitat and spectacular highland scenery views. Perfect for fishing, exploring etc. Carna's 600 acres is free from traffic (there are no roads) so if you want to bring your pets they can wander freely in perfect safety.

There are just three houses on the island.

Carna is traffic free having no road and few paths and can be muddy. Good Wellington boots are essential.
The motorboat and dinghy give good safe transport around the coast of the island and also to other secluded spots up and down the loch for access or fishing. A basic knowledge of handling boats and reading charts is an advantage.
The island's shoreline, and that of the loch, is pebbly and rocky but generally safe for landing. There are sandy beaches, but they are on the mainland at Ardtoe and Sanna.


Included in Price:
* Transfers to and from Carna
* 16 foot fibreglass boat (capacity 8 people) powered by an outboard engine. There is also a very serviceable dinghy.
* Lifejackets for all ages
* All cooking, heating, lighting and water heating fuel
* Linen and tea towels - But bring your own towels and bath mat

The Cottage
* Downstairs: Big porch, Kitchen, Dining Room and lovely well-lit Sitting Room, Double Bedroom, Small Bedroom with two bunk beds, Bathroom and separate flush toilet.
* Upstairs: Two twin-bedded bedrooms.
* Cooking: There is a 4-ring gas stove with grill and oven. There is also a large gas refrigerator
* Heating: The Kitchen is heated by a Multifuel stove, which also heats the water. There is an open fire in the Dining Room. In the Sitting Room there is a small multifuel closed stove. All the bedrooms are kept amply warm by the heat from these sources.
* Lighting: Gas lighting is in the Sitting Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Bathroom and Lavatory. Lighting is by candles or battery lanterns in the Bedrooms.
* House Fuel: The Caretaker maintains supplies of Coal and Bottled Gas on the island. This is included in your rent. Firewood can be obtained for the Sitting Room and Dining Room fires from fallen trees on the island or from driftwood.
* Equipment: The Cottage is well stocked with furniture, bedding, china and cooking equipment. There are books, games, puzzles and sewing things in the Sitting Room. Detailed instructions for the Stoves and the Refrigerator are in the Kitchen, together with instructions for disposal of rubbish. There are also particulars of the many local expeditions and information about the island and the area.
* Bedding: There are duvets and pillows for the beds. Duvet covers, sheets and pillowslips are supplied.
Tenants are only required to bring their own towels and bath mat. There are three twin bedded rooms and one double bedded room.
* Starter Kit: In the house we provide the following: Six boxes of matches, a packet of twelve candles, two lavatory rolls, one kitchen roll, one J cloth, one clean rollertowel, bath cleaner, fairy liquid, one box of firelighters, and salt & pepper.
* Boats: There is a very seaworthy 16ft open fibreglass boat (capacity 8 people) powered by an outboard engine. This is kept moored at the Jetty on the island. There is also a very serviceable dinghy. If you are going ashore on the Mainland at a place where there is no Jetty, you will need to anchor the big boat as it cannot be beached. On those trips you will need to tow the Dinghy with you. Lifejackets are provided for all ages.
* Fishing: Sea fishing, mainly saithe (otherwise known as cuddy or lythe) and mackerel, although conger have been inadvertently brought to the surface by tenants! Also dogfish, sea trout and escaped farm salmon are to be had. If you are a keen fisherman it might be wise to bring your own tackle as ours is very basic and sometimes missing if the previous Tenants were a bit accident-prone. We usually just trail a line behind the Boat. Andy Jackson - our caretaker, can hire at a reasonable cost, Rods and Creels (to catch your own Lobster).
* Shopping and Provisions: There are good General Stores at Acharacle, Strontian and also at Kilchoan. Please bear in mind that the nearest shop is 10 miles away over single-track roads after reaching the mainland by boat, and that although goods can be put on the bus (there is a charge for this), this involves some prior planning. Milk is the commodity that can cause most problems.
* MIDGES: The famous Scottish Midge is kept at bay around the house by our "Midge Eating Machine".
* Caretakers: Andy and Allison Jackson live at Laga Bay (10 minutes away by boat) in sight of the Island. They visit Carna 3 to 4 times a week. They can be contacted by Radio Link to give advice or come across to help at any time.
* Telephones: You may find a Mobile handy, though it only works reliably from the top of the island due to poor reception. There is nowhere to recharge it!

Address : Family House, Isle of Carna Glenborrodale, Acharacle. Argyll.

Zip / Postal code : Glenborrodale, Acharacle. Argyll.