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Remote Highland Country Cottage Tighnabruaich, Kyles of Bute PA21 2AG
A Stunning, Rustic, Secluded Cottage in the Western Highlands
Hill Cottage offers the Great Escape or Romantic Getaway from reality
Offering a unique Escape from reality this Remote Cottage does not have central heating let alone electricity. However the cottage is beautifully constructed, maintained and insulated with thick stone walls and there is as much fresh mountain spring water, fire wood for the two Open Fires, lamp oil and candles available during your stay. A Calor Gas cooker and back up heating is also provided. Situated in a stunning scenic sheltered setting in an elevated position over looking the sparse western shores of the Isle of Bute. With distant views of the island of Arran and it's Holy Isle. The view is most dramatic in winter and spring months when the leaves have fallen from the trees. The cottage is a wonderful place to stay for rest, relaxation and recreation. The cottage is located close to Tighnabruaich on the West coast of Scotland less than 2 hours from Glasgow. Situated 1.5 miles north of the villages of Tighnabruaich and the adjoining Kames, Hill Cottage feels serenely remote yet all services required are close at hand. In the villages are 2 excellent supermarkets, freshly caught, fish, garage with petrol and workshop, 3 hotels, sailing school, Kyles Shinty pitch, Tennis courts, and 9 hole golf course with spectacular views over the Kyles of Bute.
Discover the true beauty and history of Scotland
Once you have arrived and settled in at this beautiful remote cottage, it is unlikely you will want to leave in a hurry. However if you enjoy lot's of beautiful scenery, seabirds, seals and boats and if you love the tranquility, Argyll is perfect for your needs. Tighnabruaich abounds in wildlife. Seagulls, Cormorants, Gannets, Eider Ducks and Swans are frequent passers-by. During the long summer evenings the holiday taker oftens enjoys the company of a Seal or two, curious to see what is going on.
"If you want to see all the best highlights and delights of scotland.... ....stay in Cowal for a week or two"
The Spectacular Kyles of Bute
The spectacular Kyles of Bute as seen on television (Scottish Gaelic: Na Caoil Bhòdach) are a narrow sea channel separating the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal peninsula, part of the Scottish mainland. The narrowest strait is only some 300m across and is spanned by the Calmac ferry from Rhubodach to Colintraive. The Kyles are split into the east and west kyles. The east kyle (An Caol an Ear) runs from Rothesay Bay north west up to the entrance to Loch Riddon. Here at the northern end of the east kyle are the Burnt Islands and the island of Eilean Dubh. The west kyle (An Caol an Iar/An Caol Ceathrach) runs from here south west, past the village of Tighnabruaich out to the Sound of Bute. The Kyles are designated as a National Scenic Area.
The Kyles are reflected in the name of Tighnabruaich based shinty team "Kyles Athletic" The spectacular Kyles of Bute (looking south towards Bute and the Firth of Clyde)
The magical Isle of Bute Combine these spectacular views of the Isle of Bute...with a trip to the captivating Isle of Bute a beautiful little island about 15 miles long and nearly 5 miles wide and within 20 minutes of Hill Cottage, always a favorite day trip with much to offer with hills in the North and plenty of sandy beaches, ruined chapels and castles, yachting, fishing, golf, etc. Bute's many gardens benefit from the Gulf Stream which gives the island a mild climate enabling palm trees and other exotic plants to grow here. One of the main visitor attractions is the spectacular Mount Stuart house and gardens. Canada hill offers the best views from this island. Bute Castle (left) and "Mount Stuart" and it's gardens (centre) and the short ferry crossing to the Isle of Bute (right)
Activities on your doorstep or less than one hour's travel
The Benmore botanic gardens
Within a most scenic 30 minutes drive lie The world famous Benmore Gardens, a specialist garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is a magnificent woodland garden set amidst the mountains of the Cowal Peninsula. Its 140 acres are renowned for the wide collection of trees and shrubs, which includes over 250 species of rhododendrons. One of the most spectacular views is the avenue of Giant Redwood trees (pictured below) which greets every visitor on entering the garden. Throughout there are way marked walks, which lead to a beautiful pond and formal garden which display a wide variety of Himalayan and Oriental plants. Continue up the richly planted hill slopes, which rise to 450 feet to a dramatic viewpoint overlooking the Eachaig valley and the Holy Loch. Refreshments are available. The Botanics Shop sells a range of books, gifts and plants some of which can be found in the garden. Facilities are also provided for those less able, including wheelchairs.
The Pucks Glen forest and waterfall walks While visiting the Benmore gardens it is well worth visiting Pucks Glen and a choice of 3 mouth watering woodland trails all Pet Friendly and sign posted and marked out. Offering a sometimes tropical rainforest feel with magnificent views from the summits. The waterfalls walk (below) features a meandering tour up the valley involving a series bridges crossing streams, cascading waterfalls and pools, particularly delightful after a strong downpour of rain!
"The wonderfull "Pucks Glen" woodland trails within an easy 30 minute drive
The endangered Red Squirrel
Around the Cowal peninsula, you will see many of the endangered Red squirrels they have a typical head to body length of 19 to 23 a tail length of 15 to 20 cm and a mass of 250 to 340. The red squirrel is slightly smaller than the common eastern grey squirrel, unfortunately the grey squirrel is the main reason for the red squirrels decline and you will see particularly in this area of Cowal, the many measures taken to try to preserve this endangered species such as their own rope bridges and tunnels across the busier roads!!
Inverary....the castle, the old Jail, the Puffer and museum
Well worth a visit during your stay and less than 60 minutes drive is the lovely town of Inveraray (Inbhir Aora in Gaelic) a former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, located on the western shore of Loch Fyne near its head. One time traditional county town of Argyll and ancestral home to the Duke of Argyll, who founded the town in 1745, alongside his new home, Inveraray Castle. Its distinctive white buildings on the loch shore make it very photogenic and it is a very popular tourist destination, with a number of attractions in addition to the castle. The Georgian Inveraray Jail in the burgh is now a museum. Other attractions include the Argyll Folk Museum at Auchindrain. The Celtic Inveraray Cross can also been seen in the town. The Arctic Penguin ship Maritime Museum is moored at the pier, along with the Clyde puffer VIC 72, renamed Eilean Eisdeal.
Panorama of Inverary (left) and the high street (right)
Dunoon and the Cowalfest The highly popular October walking festival know as the Cowalfest is now firmly established as a highlight of the year in the Cowal calender, with all the walks graded and numbered. There are also cultural and social events to accompany this event, which usually last about 10 days around the middle of the month - A 'must' for walkers! and based around the popular capital town Dunoon, which offers all services, including 2 x supermarkets, high street shops include giftware, electrical, grocery, health, woolworths. One local hospital (Dunoon general), doctor, vet. Numerous leisure facilities include crown green bowling, tennis courts, swimming baths, quad biking, golf and crazy golf. There are 2 ferry regular ferry crossings to Gourock and the Waverley Puffer calls in the summer Panoramas of Dunoon, the high street and square
Mountain bikes and Walking Holidays
For walkers and mountain bikers...you may choose to sample a part of the Cowal way. The Cowal Way is a long distance footpath split into 6 sections, running the length of the Cowal Peninsula. It starts at Portavadie, beside Loch Fyne, and finishes in at Ardgartan, by Loch Long. It is 47 miles (75 km) long, climbing 5050 ft (1540 m) on the way. The route follows existing rights of way and public roads, most of which are extremely quiet, or cross Forestry Commission land, which includes a good deal of open hill. Access is not an issue. For more information on guided walks, please contact Nikki Dayton Tel 01369 860324 or For further information please click here. You can hire bikes daily / Weekly from either Quadmania Ltd 01369 810246 Or ProAdventure Scotland 01369 707456
The Locality
The villages of kames and Tighnabruaich lie by the Shores of the Kyles of Bute in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Local amenities include a sub post office, Well stocked spar shop, Golf club and Tennis Courts. Lless than 2 miles away Tighnabruaich is popular for sailing and yachting and has its own boat hire and sailing school Tighnabruaich, Tel: 01700 811717. Fax: 01700 811717. Tighnabruaich also has a Spar shop for your groceries and wines etc, a gift shop, art gallery, post office and a couple of coffee shops. village centre of Tighnabruaich which has a village shop, doctor’s surgery, bank, hotels, restaurants, sailing club, sailing school, and arts and craft gallery. There are many local handicrafts being made in the village with a number of craft fairs being organised each year.
An evening out
Eating out The An Lochan Tel: 01700 811239 offers top quality local fish, meat and game to guests wanting to sample the best of West Coast produce. There is also the Kames Hotel Tel 01700 811489 serving excellent food using local produce – freshly caught fish and shellfish, as well as fine Scotch beef and wild venison. This Edwardian hotel has a restaurant overlooking the water and its bar offers real ales, good malts and local history with their extensive collection of Edwardian and Victorian photographs.
Hill Cottage is accessed via remote single track (1 1/2 miles) off the main A886 Tighnabruaich road and offers you very basic, clean, dry country accommodation. The Cottage sleeps 5 people comfortably, is a wonderfully rustic place constructed of stone and slate in 1896 for use as a gamekeepers abode for the old Caladh Estate. The interior has stone walls and pine clad roof and wooden floor boards. Heating is by virtue of Two log fires and there are additional calor gas heaters for those cold nights. One of the log fires has a back boiler which produces piping hot fresh water from a wholesome mountain stream in which you can bathe in a wonderful deep Victorian cast iron bath. Take the candles in with some wine and music and a good friend and keep topping up the hot! Lighting is by virtue of oil lamps and candles, and there is a torch and battery powered light for late night visits to the WC. Kitchen for cooking there is a gas cooker with oven and grill with all the necessary modern equipment including Cooker, Hob, Fridge, kettle. Other essentials such as glasses, crockery, cutlery and a corkscrew are also provided for your convenience.
There is also a stereo cd radio cassette. Please note there is no electricity or land telephone line, and be assured you won't miss them. The main bedroom has a pine double bed with tall boy chest of drawers, two small bed side chests of drawers a recess for hanging clothes and log fire. The second bedroom has a bunk bed with double bed on the bottom and single up top and a small wardrobe for hanging and storing clothes.
Additional information
Two of the cottage boundaries are small streams with a small wooden bridge to the front of the cottage over the Alt Dubh (Gallic for black water) to an open area where it is possible to cut wood and build fires outside should you be inclined. Should you wish to stay at Hill Cottage you will be forwarded an information sheet which will provide information of must do's, time permitting; amazing secret beaches to visit and have a picnic, scenic rambling routes, the best routes to walk up the mountain to the rear of the cottage - stunning views of peninsulas and islands, cycle routes - a couple of older adult bikes are in the shed - excellent places to eat and have coffee and cake, and does and dont's for those not familiar with log fires and oil lamps, etc. Also note that the cottage is a really beautiful place to visit all year round and winter is a favourite time for getting warm a cosy and spending some quality time. Repeat bookings receive 10% discount.
Pets
We are very pet friendly and you pets are welcome by prior arrangement only, but must be kept under control at all times. Regret no smoking please. The total package...'no hidden extras' All Towels, Duvets and bed linen are all included in the cost of hire
"The view"
Satisfied Customers
Open all year round
How Much?
Scale of (7 day) weekly hire charges
Hire charges include all Towels and bedding
"Pet Friendly"
This cottage is pet friendly by prior arrangement only and up to 2 well behaved Pets are welcome at an additional cost of £10 per Pet
Or for more information please complete this short questionnaire
For further information of any kind / special requirements and to reserve directly with the owners by Credit / Debit card, Cheque, Postal order or other. Please complete the short form and press the submit button below and we will contact you by return. In the event of this Holiday home not being available for the dates you require, we will email you details of all other available holiday homes in this region suiting your requirements.
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