'Tigh na Ba', Loch Etive, Argyll

Tigh na ba is found in a truly exceptional location approximately 250 metres from the shore of Loch Etive and has been reconfigured and totally refurbished in 2021. From here you can relax in a peaceful and beautiful place, explore hills, woods, shores or sea, and take advantage of many visitor attractions within driving distance on the West Coast of Scotland. A warm, comfortable, well-equipped holiday home awaits you with glorious views of upper Loch Etive and the local mountains. The space Converted and extended from an old bothy in 2001, Tigh na ba is immaculately presented and equipped to a very high standard. Warm living spaces with underfloor heating and a wood-burning stove await you. French doors from the sitting room lead out to a decking area which shares spectacular views of upper Loch Etive and the surrounding mountains with three of the bedrooms. There is ample space outside, leading all the way down to the sea shore and much more to explore on foot. The kitchen is adjacent to the living room which has comfortable dining space for 10 and plenty of seating around a fire place. There is a separate utility room with back door which will help manage any outdoor gear you bring. Also downstairs there is a double bedroom with queen-size bed and ensuite, a twin room, a snug/children's room with sofa bed (big for one, very cosy for two), and a downstairs bathroom (with separate bath and shower). Upstairs there is double bedroom with superking bed and ensuite (with bath), another double bedroom with two single beds that can be converted with bedding (on request) into an extra-king bed, and a bathroom (with shower). Wildlife that you may see includes red deer, roe dear, otters, golden eagles, sea eagles, foxes, red squirrels, pheasants, grouse, wood cock and many others. The seals on the shore sometimes haul out or put on a show. It barely gets dark in the summer but in the darker months the night sky can be very clear and, if you are lucky, you may see the Northern Lights (install the 'AuroraWatch UK' app for alerts). Guest access A map will be provided as the property is a couple of miles from the main road. There is plenty of parking at the property for up to six cars. Other things to note A new water processing system means the natural spring water is colourless and safe to drink. No more brown baths and suspicious-looking toilets! There are beds for 9 adults or 10 if two can deal with a very cosy (105 cm wide) sofa bed. Access to the property is via 0.7 miles of forestry track. Standard road cars will be fine as long as you drive very slowly and navigate the potholes carefully. Rubbish and recycling needs to be left in the bins at the end of this track. I try to provide you with some essentials to get your stay started. You will find: Nespresso coffee capsules, tea bags, hand soap, loo roll, 2 dish cloths, washing-up sponge, washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets, kitchen paper, bin bags, cooking foil, cling film, clothes washing tablets, and various other cleaning products. You should also find sugar, salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, and a variety of spices and herbs (there is fresh rosemary, oregano, chives and seasonal mint outside). The deck has steps around the edge rather than a balustrade so young children should be supervised at all times and everyone else should be careful, especially if partying late into the night (there are lights to help you avoid the edge). It can get slippery when wet. If you want to picnic on the shore, use the area on the right hand side (just over the stream). There are usually plenty of fallen sticks to burn (or you can collect them on the way down) but keep fires on the rocks and well away from dry grass. There is a wood-burning stove in the living room. Some wood is provided and more can be purchased locally. Tigh na ba is remote yet there is acceptable wifi (10Mb down/1 Mb up). The phone line has on occasion been damaged by lightning (twice in the last 10 years) and this has taken a few days to fix, but otherwise the service is reliable. A 4G mobile signal is generally available too. Midges (tiny biting flies) can be a nuisance on still days during certain summer weeks, so you may need to close curtains or windows if you have lights on after dark. The grass on the field in front of the house is kept short enough for ball games and there are some cultivated gardens, but other areas around the house are quite wild. I hope you will enjoy this as much as the butterflies. There is no smoking inside the house and I would be grateful if any cigarette ends could be disposed of responsibly.