Beach at the bottom of the garden at the substantial character home that is Traigh Bheag East - a colourful mixture of old/new-NOT a sleek purpose built holiday house-on the Scottish Island of Islay. 9 single malt whisky distilleries, festivals, walking, cycling, birdwatching/wildlife, music and an almost private safe beach with uninterrupted views of the Antrim coast. Complimentary staples; Starter pack includes coal/logs; all linens (inc towels) provided. Oil fired central heating/open fire.

The space
Traigh Bheag East (TBE), Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll, Scotland is first and foremost a family guy home. We hope you agree it has all the comforts you would expect from a much loved and valued home as opposed to a rented house. TBE is a large, spacious character property and is a colourful and creative mixture of old and new, not a sleek, contemporary space if that is your preference!

TBE is in a totally unique location on Traigh Bheag (little beach in Gaelic), a small private beach that is owned to the high water mark by the five surrounding properties. In an area of the island rarely available for holiday lets, Traigh Bheag East has arguably one of the most sought after settings on the whole island with an idyllic little white, fine sandy very private beach at the bottom of the garden! Swimming is possible in safety as are all other beach and sea activities.

TBE has a tranquil, relaxing atmosphere, which will very quickly lull you into the island way of life. It is a semi detached Victorian villa over three floors. The entrance porch has views to the sea with a traditional Stag's head on display. The ground floor has a kitchen (electric cooking/dishwasher/fridge), dining/living room (table for 6) with Freeview TV/firestick, games and books for use by guests and an inset stove for inclement weather or evenings. The house has oil fired central heating in addition to the stove and open fire. Off the kitchen there is a second shower room/toilet.

The main sitting room (free view TV/firestick ) has an open fire and leads into a conservatory facing south west over to the pier where the ferry comes in, The Oa, Rathlin Island and the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland. 180 degrees of uninterrupted views of the sea and Traigh Bheag (wee shore).

On the first floor there is a large shower room and three bedrooms - a king sized bedroom overlooking the sea, a twin room and bunk bedded room with a travel cot

Free on site parking is available in the drive and the garden leads down to the beach which is beautiful all year round. From the conservatory there are 180 degree unobstructed views to the Antrim coast on Ireland, Port Ellen harbour, the photogenic Carraig Fhada Lighthouse, the awe inspiring cliffs of the Oa - the atmospheric haunt of Islay's magnificent Golden Eagle and Kilnaughton Sands, with its fascinating mediaeval chapel and graveyard.

Free wifi with unlimited download available throughout the house.

A unique setting with amazing views - sit and watch otters, heron, seals and much more from the conservatory. A warm, cosy colourful, comfortable mixture of traditional and contemporary, enclosed garden with gate that leads directly on to a beautiful safe beach.

We have another property right in the heart of the village, a smaller two bed terraced house on School Street also beside the sea/beach but in the heart of the village that sleeps 4 comfortably with a fold down bed for occasional use by a 5th person - Peaceful Seaside Home - on Airbnb.

PLEASE NOTE: I live next to Traigh Bheag East in a private section of the garden. My accommodation and studio are totally separate from the main house. I have a separate entrance to the beach and my garden is fenced off from that of the main house. Occasionally I will share the parking space with guests.

Guest access
Where possible I will meet you at the property arranged in advance. Otherwise the door will be open (key in inside lock) for you to go in and start your holiday!

Other things to note
4 night bookings available November - March.

Week long bookings only Saturday to Saturday the remainder of the year as far as possible.

A STARTER pack of some dishwasher tablets, sticks, coal, wood and toilet paper are provided. Anything further required can be purchased locally.

The Hebridean island of Islay in Argyll has been named "Queen of the Hebrides" and is the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean islands of Scotland. The Isle of Jura (a 5 minute boat journey from Port Askaig on Islay), the Kintyre peninsula and Northern Ireland are neighbours.

By the way, the proper pronunciation for Islay is Isle-la!

Port Ellen is the second largest village on Islay after the capital Bowmore and is situated in a sheltered part of the island round two beautiful bays. The village has several shops, hotels, restaurants and pubs, a garage and post office.

From time to time the travelling cinema, Screen Machine, visits the island and parks for showings opposite The Ramsay Hall, which is located next to the Port Ellen Playing Fields.

The Islay hotel is a popular place to eat, hear live music and sample a local ‘dram'. Seasalt an excellent restaurant, the Ardview a lively and sociable pub and No 1 Charlotte Street occasionally serves food in the pub.

The Port Ellen Marina provides a safe comfortable haven for yachts passing through the Sound of Jura or sailing up the west coast.

The earliest known reference to the Isle of Islay comes in Adomnan's, Vita Columbae, a biography of the Irish Saint, Columba in about 720 (website hidden) who visited the Isle of Islay on his way north, prior to founding the famous monastery on the Isle of Iona, off the south-west tip of the Isle of Mull.

Adomnan, St Columba's biographer, wrote Islay's name as "Ilea", describing Islay as an inhabited island, which was later transformed to Islay through anglicised spelling. In Gaelic the island's name is spelt Ìle and pronounced EE-leh by native Gaelic speakers.

Some figures: The Isle of Islay has around 3200 inhabitants, covers an area of 600 square kilometres and has an impressive 130 miles of coastline. Islay is famous for its malt whiskys and has eight working distilleries making the malt whisky industry one of the most important sources of income for the island. Famous names like Bruichladdich, Bowmore, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain and Ardbeg are the established brands and well known all over the world....Kilchoman and now Ardnahoe are developing reputations internationally too! Other main industries are farming, fishing and tourism.

Many people visit Islay for the unique range of specialist malt whiskies, distilleries, wildlife, spectacular scenery, walking, sea activities and friendy company.

Birdwatching is another popular activity throughout the year because of the large flocks of wild geese which visit the Isle of Islay every winter (October to May) and the huge variety of rare birds seen on Islay includes the corncrake and the chough.

Islay is magical all year round!! Annual events and Festivals on Islay include Music and Malt and Walking Festivals in May, Book Festival in Late August and the Jazz Festival in September to name a few. More information on the Islay info website.