àilean
Tarbert, Isle of Harris, Western Isles

Harris Tweed industry, excellent artisan weavers within 10 miles and shops selling garments/offering tailoring 8 miles and 13 miles; local history and genealogy centre 4 miles; several excellent artists and galleries around 10 miles distance; bird, animal and plant watching abound, historical attractions such as standing stones locally and at Callanish; Brochs and a traditional Blackhouse Village in Lewis; several tea shops and good home baking; soap makers; wonderful black pudding from Stornoway and the freshest local seafood and produce on your doorstep; great places to eat out and gourmet food delivered to your door!

Accommodation:
àilean is a new and luxurious house at Borve on the west coast of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The house is superbly located to take full advantage of the island’s world class beaches as well as exploring, being only a 25 minute drive from Tarbert and around 1 hour 20 minutes from Stornoway.

The house has 3 large bedrooms and sleeps up to 6 people in splendid comfort. It is set back in half acre of garden laid to grass and native wildflower seeds which looks beautiful and very natural.

On the ground floor the main living area is open-plan and there is a kingsize bedroom and large bathroom with double ended bath and separate shower. The ground floors are ceramic tiled which makes the underfloor heating even more efficient and the atmosphere is extremely comfortable because the heat comes up through your feet. The living area is a wonderfully airy double height space with fantastic views. The morso stove is welcoming and great for toasting your tootsies after a long day enjoying yourself! The kitchen is equipped with double fan oven, 5 ring induction hob (which heats pans faster than gas), large American style fridge freezer with water and ice dispenser, microwave, dishwasher and all the usual implements. There is also a large utility room equipped with washing machine and pulley and there is also a tumble dryer.

The stairs are lit by twinkly low level LED lights and upstairs there are large kingsize and twin bedrooms. Both of these bedrooms have beautiful en-suite shower rooms and there is also a quiet area should you wish some tranquillity or a place to read. The bedrooms have large velux windows which have beautiful views of the ocean and you awake to the sound of the surf on the beach.

This lovely self-catering house is very well equipped and there are a number of special features including a central vacuum system to minimise the amount of dust in the house. Full underfloor heating and solar panels which provide hot water. All of the bathrooms have lovely big Hansgrohe showers and the bath is nearly 2 metres long!

To the front of the house the large windows frame panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, North Harris hills, island of Taransay and Chaipaval (Ceapabhal) with its distinctive feldspar trumpet. Crofting lands behind and to the side of the house lead to the gentler hills of South Harris, peppered with small lochs and the remains of Duns and shielings. Borve beach is just a few hundred yards in front of the house and there is a large selection of other beautiful beaches within a few minutes drive, including the world class Scarista Beach. Harris golf course is less than a 5 minute drive away and superb fishing is available nearby.

Directions:
Getting to àilean is easy. There is a direct ferry to the Isle of Harris provided by Caledonian MacBrayne services from Uig in the north of Skye to Tarbert on Harris. CalMac also provide ferry services from Ullapool to Stornoway which is just over an hour drive away and through the Uists to the south. Ferry services now benefit from Road Equivalent Tariff reduction in price.
There are regular flights to Stornoway airport from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness. Car hire is available from Stornoway and the airport and there are also bus services to Harris.
Borve is only a 13 mile drive South from Tarbert on the A859 which takes around 25 minutes.

What's included:
All heating is included. Heating is provided by environmentally friendly wood pellet burner and underfloor heating all through the house. There are also solar panels. Logs for the stove are included and bed linen is provided.
Also included: Towels, Broadband internet access will be available as soon as service allows, Satellite TV including sports, golf clubs and free access to Harris Golf Club (no games on Sunday), beach rugs and windbrakes, selection of books games and DVDs.
Disabled visitors: There is level access and a kingsize bedroom on the ground floor. Switches and plugs are at the appropriate height. Although the bathroom is spacious it is not specifically equipped with disabled aids.

Cost and availability
This gorgeous holiday house is rented out all year. Change over day is Saturday, arrival 4pm, departure 10am.
Short breaks considered out of peak season.
Discounted rates for the 2009 season.
To book this luxury holiday accommodation on the Isle of Harris, click the enquiry button below to see availability and prices.