Two superbly stylish lochside retreats hidden in 25 acres of ancient woodland, offering a truly epic adventure (sleeping 4-6 or 10)
Borradill Cottage
Borradill House
Space & setting.
*Brand new*
If you thought rainforests were confined to the tropics then think again. This is Britain’s most westerly point, the dramatic and utterly remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula — one of the UK’s last true wildernesses and home to some of Europe’s most intact tracts of Atlantic rainforest. True to its name — Ardnamurchan means ‘headland of the great seas’ — this peninsula is pounded by the Atlantic on 3 sides and fringed by white-sand beaches and rugged cliffs. The journey here is half the fun, and once you’ve arrived you’ll be treated to the darkest skies, the wildest views and the most breathtaking wildlife. Those seeking adventure will find it here in spades.
Surrounded by 25 acres of private woodland with vistas that bounce across Loch Sunart to the Isle of Carna beyond, Borradill expertly blends Scandinavian simplicity with luxury living and a Hebridean twist. Choose between the cottage sleeping 4, the house sleeping 4-6 — or book both for a big family gathering or holiday with friends (just imagine; all this space to yourselves). Timber-clad outside and in, both hideaways have a nature-inspired palette, filled with vintage textiles and natural materials, and huge picture windows that draw the gaze outside to endless watery views and vast Scottish skies.
Amble through the ancient oaks to waterfalls and natural plunge pools, let the kids build dens and get back to nature, march up high hills for epic views, and explore the stunning coastline by kayak or swim and snorkel from idyllic beaches. Needless to say the stargazing here is out of this world – but if it’s blowing a hooley, you get to hole up indoors and settle in front of the log burner with a whisky. Unforgettable.
Getting here: Drive, or train to Fort William, then hire a car (1hr 30 mins’ drive) or train/fly to Glasgow and drive (3hrs 30 mins)
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Sustainability.
“We have a long-term vision for the woodlands based on advice from many experts with technical and local knowledge. Our plan is to reinvest the proceeds from lettings into improving and enhancing these woodlands for the long future. The buildings themselves are timber-framed with triple glazing and solar panels which feed back on to the grid. Highest standard storage heaters take electricity from the grid at night (from 90% renewable sources). Water is UV filtered from the burn. All of the timber used in the house has come from sustainable sources. The paints are all eco natural paints with no VOCs; Graphenstone and Brouns linseed oil paints. The fabrics are all natural and where possible organic (linen, hemp, cotton and wool). We have used local antiques and tried to re-use as much as possible on the project – and will continue to do so.”
Surrounds.
- Explore the 25 acres of private woodland, with winding paths, nature ponds, even a secret playground for kids.
- Take to the water on a kayak or canoe with Otter Adventures and discover Loch Sunart’s sheltered bays and incredible wildlife — keep your eyes peeled for otters, porpoises, dolphins and minke whales.
- Snorkel or dive for scallops on Loch Sunart with Ardnamuchan Charters. Andy will take you out for full open-water diving to see the incredible underwater treasures of the Marine Protected Zone, or to snorkel and free-dive for scallops close to shore.
- Forage for seaweed and clams along the shorelines, and chanterelles and wild berries in the woods, before returning home to cook up a feast.
- Charter or self-drive boats around the sea loch; perfect for a day’s nature spotting and picnicking.
- Climb to the top of the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse for spectacular views from the most westerly spot in mainland Britain. It’s also a great spot for whale and basking shark watching.
- Visit the vast, white-sand beaches and coves of Sanna and Bay McNeill, on the opposite side of the peninsula, for swimming and rockpooling.
- The award-winning Ardnamurchan Distillery is just 2km down the road — book onto a tour and find out about the whiskey making process – and make time for a little tipple afterwards!
- Book in for supper at the Mingary Castle Restaurant, a 700-year old fortress on the shores of Loch Sunart — their signature tasting menu features lots of delicious local produce.
- Scale Ben Hiant (528m) for amazing views of the West Highlands, the Small Isles and the rest of the Hebridean islands.
- Take the ferry to Tobermory for a day to visit the Aquarium, famous distillery and incredible Isle of Mull dairy and cheese restaurant as featured in Design the Highlands.
- Staffa tours will take you by boat from local village Kilchoan out to whale watch, visit Fingal’s cave and see puffins on the Treshnish Isles.
Specifics.
- A cottage and house immersed in 25 acres of private woodland, set 100m apart
- Cottage (sleeps 4):
- 2 double bedrooms (one can be twinned)
- Bathroom with walk-in monsoon shower
- House (sleeps 4-6):
- 2 bedrooms: king with ensuite and a double/twin
- 2-person sofabed in the snug
- 2 bathrooms: ensuite with walk-in monsoon shower and family bathroom with shower/bath
- Both hideaways have:
- Fully-equipped kitchen including fridge, freezer, Aga-style Rangemaster oven, gas hob, coffee machine, lobster pot; basic supplies provided
- Lounge with Smart TV (Netflix, Prime, Disney+ and more), books, games and DVDs
- Fast WiFi; strong mobile phone reception for EE but not for other providers
- Outdoor fire bowl with BBQ equipment
- Foraging baskets, picnic blankets, binoculars and flower arranging kit
- 1 well-behaved dog per property; see FAQs
- Beach towels and dog towels
- Soaps and shower gels from The Highland Soap Company
- Also:
- Secret woodland playground (swings and dens)
- Local chefs can be booked in advance
- Touring fishmonger sells down the road on Tuesdays
- Mountain bikes and e-bikes available to hire locally
- Drive to local shops, pubs and restaurants (15-30 mins)
- Local caretaker (for emergencies only)
- Booking conditions: 7-night minimum stay April-September; 4-night stays available October-March (excluding Christmas, New Year and school half terms)
- Remember to pack: walking boots, swimmers, wetsuits and water shoes, wet-weather gear, Pyramid Trek midge and tick repellent, a tick remover (just in case!)
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30% deposit, with the balance due 8 weeks prior to stay.
Cancellations permitted 8+ weeks prior to stay, with deposit refunded minus a £30 processing fee.
No refunds if booking cancelled within 8 weeks of stay.
See our full booking Terms & Conditions
FAQs.
Yes, one well-behaved dog is welcome per property. There is a charge of £50 per stay and dogs must be kept off furniture. There is a dedicated dog sleeping space in each hideaway.
The property is 1.5hrs drive from Fort William, which has a fantastic direct service with the Caledonian Sleeper train to London. It also has excellent bus links to Glasgow train station and Glasgow airport. From Fort William, we’d recommend hiring a car with Easy Drive; they meet you off the train with the keys and car. Great service!
You can drive to Borradill from Fort William 2 ways. Via the Corran Ferry, but also past Glenfinnan and via Lochaline – so even if the ferry is off you can drive here.
Short answer is yes. You could get here without driving (there is a bus service which runs past the gates twice per day from Fort William), but it shouldn’t be relied upon entirely, and then you’d be limited on exploration once here.
Fort Williams has supermarkets but we’d recommend you pre-order groceries from local shop Salen Jetty and pick them up en route. They stock all the usuals as well as being supplied by local butchers and smokehouses and dairies so you can sample all the local delights.
The local fishmonger visits Salen Jetty Shop at 12noon sharp every Tuesday so don’t miss that.
The Ardshealach Smokehouse is excellent too.
The Ardshealach Smokehouse is excellent too.
Yes, these are definitely rentals for all seasons! The houses are extremely well insulated with brand-new hearing throughout, so even if you you choose not to use the woodburners you’ll be very cosy.
There will be a large sack of firewood and kindling to get you going, and if you need more there are 2 more sacks available (cash payment via an honesty box).
Absolutely. The water comes from the burn (river) and is filtered with high tech UV, and annually tested for safety and quality. It is very healthy and mineral rich – but in common with much of the Highlands, because of the peaty soil it sometimes has a slight yellow tinge in appearance. This is perfectly fine and all part of the Highlands experience.
The only really dependable phone network is EE. Others are patchy. There are landlines in the house for emergencies only and WiFi calls work really well. The WIFI is fibre optic and extremely fast.
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