Marys House Fort William, Highland

Firstly a bit of an update, the area now has a 4G mobile signal, or did for me on EE. My phone doesn’t do 5G so don’t know whether it has that signal too. The property has Wi-Fi and it works fine. The property has a good modern kitchen and a shower room with toilet. Although the shower unit was very modern it did pack in during our stay (Wednesday) and didn’t get fixed before we left (Saturday morning). Not ideal but understandable given the remoteness, I just hope it was fixed before the next guests arrived. The area it is in is wonderful, just a short walk down to the beach which was very quiet during our stay. Might not be 5 mins (not without taking a shortcut through another property) but about 10 mins is enough, it’s a steep walk back though. And you can park at the bottom so long as you don’t block anyone’s access, well we did anyway. The views are amazing and though Portuairk is remote Kilchoan is a short (but slow due to single track roads) drive away, and Kilchoan does have a hotel bar, a shop with a post office and petrol station, and a community hub with a coffee shop, and a ferry to Tobermory. Tip: there’s a coffee shop at the nearby lighthouse too, and it is very reasonably priced. As there are only a few dwellings in Portuairk and it is so remote you can see a lot of stars and even the Milky Way above your head if it isn’t cloudy. My app says Bortle 1 skies which is as good as it gets in terms of light pollution. We were lucky enough to see the Aurora too before the rain came in when there was a lot of activity on October 10th 2024. I’d have no problem recommending Mary’s House to anyone wanting a break with peace and tranquility and getting away from it all.

Nice clean cottage, due to Covid lacked the homely touches , but this is understandable . Sadly the cottage was not three minutes from the beach as advertised , unless you are a cross country runner, the quickest way would be through the Croft , but there were no clue as to where the path was , and the unwelcoming welcome instructions advised to use this path at your own risk , there is no parking at the beach so you have to walk down a very steep winding road . I am sure it is a lovely beach , but our dogs are not used to sheep , so we couldn’t use it . The instructions read like a list of what not to do , but nothing helpful like how the heating worked . Phone number was provided for if you had any problem , but as there is no mobile coverage , only wi fi an email would be more useful . Arrived late on Saturday due to long difficult drive , there was half a loo roll to last till Monday when shops opened , no washing up sponge , no cutlery drainer and 2 tea towels to last a week , unlike all other Sykes cottages which have been brilliantly equipped. On the good side , views were lovely , plenty of hot water , comfy bed , decent kitchen , reasonably equipped . Nearby Sanna bay is stunning , and there is amazing scenery , the shop in Kilchoan is well stocked , and they will make up and deliver an order for your arrival , which we discovered on the notice board after we arrived , which would have been very useful info to have on booking . If you are reasonably fit , and looking for peace and quiet , it would be almost perfect , just needs a few thoughtful tweaks , and a better welcome

My husband and I booked a last minute break and literally just picked this cottage at random.....WE LUCKED OUT BIG TIME! You do need to plan your route and be prepared to drive along single track roads and a short ferry crossing, but the journey is perfectly doable and is part of the beauty and charm of this remote, unspoiled area, It’s a case of just take your time and take in the stunning scenery every mile of the journey. Arriving at the cottage will take your breath away, with the incredible view from the perfect hilltop location and views over Sanna Bay ( possibly one of the most unspoilt white sandy beaches I have EVER seen and well worth the trip to go see it, as seeing is believing). My husband and I just stood on the beach with our mouths hanging open.....it’s THAT stunning. It affected us both in a very unexpected way, it was quite emotional. It’s rare to find somewhere quite so incredibly beautiful that it brings a tear to your eye. The cottage was a real treat too, cosy, well equipped, nice decor and very clean indeed. It delivered on every level and the real fire was a welcome extra on the cold early March days we spent there. I would describe this as the perfect way to totally escape and get away from everything. There’s no way that you can stop yourself drifting beautifully into a calm state of complete relaxation. We felt at one with nature here. We were VERY blessed to see a pair of white tailed eagles flying above the cottage early one morning. Incredible short break and we will definitely return next year. 10/10.

The views from the cottage are to die for.Having a bit of height above beach lends to the wonderful panoramic views of all the islands around Ardnamurchin penninsular.The weather for middle November was very mild but the lovely wood burner in the cottage added to our comfortable stay.The long journey on one track roads was Definately worth it .The cottage had everything we needed and the fenced in garden meant out dog was safe and happy,.Loved the extra touches like the bird feeder where we saw so many different birds.Lot of places closed in winter but still plenty to see and do including a trip to Mull.

The cottage is an ideal base for exploring this wonderful area with many walks straight from the door.. It’s position on the hill offers amazing views yet also easy access to the beach.

Mary's House is warm and cosy even in a winter gale.. Log burner brilliant. Cottage extremely well equipped with everything we needed and the views from all the windows are just spectacular. We loved catching a ferry to the nearest supermarket on Mull

The foot path from the car park to the house needs some attention, the stones laid have blown off the path in places, you really have to watch your step so in poor lighting (dawn/dusk) you reallyhad to be careful my husband did suffer quite a nasty fall..

Will be booking for next year

Cottage was perfect

Brilliant place to stay.. .. could have stayed for another week. Great wildlife and very dog friendly. Loved the log fire, so cosy. Hopefully will be back.

Perfect in every way - very well equipped, comfortable and fabulous views.. Only the drive to the three Sykes cottages needs some attention - many potholes and bumps for people not having a four wheel drive. The granny on the chimney was a bit noisy, but it was very windy.

Fantastic cottage, very well equipped in a great location that allows you to go on great walks, suitable for the dogs with a great garden for them.. Lovely beach that you can see from the house, the views are amazing. Fantastic family holiday, will look to book up again soon, thanks to the owner for a great week!

This cottage is in a lovely secluded spot just up from the beach, with fantastic views out to sea.. Everything was clean, especially the bathroom and kitchen which were immaculate. The bed is very comfortable with was a nice surprise. All in all a lovely holiday - we enjoyed it so much we've already booked for next summer!

We have been staying in Portuairk for 23 years and it was our first visit to this cottage, which was really lovely with superb and far reaching views.. However, I did find it to be "a bit of a squeeze" for myself and my three 'children' (17, 18 & 23), despite the listing saying it "accommodates four".......fortunately, the weather was reasonably dry, so we weren't confined to the cottage and it wouldn't deter us from booking again, although not next year as it is obviously popular and already fully booked. The fenced off garden was very much appreciated by our dog and the picnic table enabled us to sit outside while enjoying the fair weather and great views. However, I do feel that, as the track to the cottage is now quite bad (it was a little better in 2013 when we stayed at Borve House), that potential guests should be made aware of this as it is not really very good for the average car to drive on! Also, the two tracks down from the cottage towards the beach are not really suitable for anyone who is not sure-footed, so this should also be made clear on the listing. In addition, the local information on the listing (and on others in the same area) will need to be amended as the nearest pub/restaurant is now 3 miles away in Kilchoan because the Sonachan Hotel is now a private residence. I hope this feedback has been helpful, thank you.

The cottage had it all and the views were magnificent.. We would highly recommend this cottage, perfect for the tranquillity and wildlife.

Mary’s Cottage is in a wonderful location on the westernmost tip of the British Mainland.. The views from here are exceptional.

The cottage was really well equipped, With every thing you could want.. It was lovely to have the heaters on so it was warm and the bed was comfy. A drier would be A Good idea for when folks get wet clothes. More comfortable living room furniture would be an improvement. The bird feeders in the garden are really well used and a delight. Please ask new holidaymakers to bring a big bag of bird seed and suet because there are lots of birds and there is no where to buy any food for them.

If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to be.. Very tranquil and stunning location with amazing unrivalled scenery and staying in a lovely cottage that has everything you could possibly want. Property was warm and inviting and the views from the kitchen and bedroom windows were second to none. It was nice to waken up to the scene of a pale white sandy beach surrounded lapped by clear turquoise water every day.

Mary's House was far better than it appeared from the photos, not enough was mentioned about the fantastic views and certainly the photos did not reflect this.. The photos of the inside of the cottage did not show it to be as nice as it was, it was far better than we expected. The cottage was really clean, spacious and well equipped, had everything we needed and the kitchen was really well stocked with utensils. The bedroom was nice and large and the bed so comfortable. The location had stunning views and there were many lovely walks to do around the area. It was quiet and peaceful.

Perfect location.. High enough up the hillside for amazing views but only a minutes walk to the beach through the field in front of the house. Paradise for the kids.

For us absolutely perfect x

This was by far the most enjoyable holiday we had in years.. Took us a bit of time to find as we arrived rather late in the day. The views are to die for. Wonderful walks for the adventurous and the leisure walks. All facilities you need fairly close. If you want to breakaway totally from the huzzle and buzzle of day to day humdrum this is definitely for you. We had the best 10 days and feels totally rejuvenated. Our Alaskan Malamute had fun being able to go to the beach, mountain walks or just lying outside the cottage looking out at the sea. Cosy cottage, heating definitely not a problem. Wood burner at night is the best for staying warm and toasty. Just the right size for the 2 of us.

Mary's cottage is just perfect. Really cosy and the fire laid for us too! Nicely decorated and furnished with a well equipped kitchen. The bed was super comfy. Handy 'boot' room through the back door. The binoculars were much appreciated as they were better than ours. Fabulous views over Muck Eigg and Rum. We saw sea eagles, seals and cormorants. The beach below was beautiful. The fenced area was great for the dogs as it made it safe to let them out in the dark of November. Yes, coming to Ardnamurchan takes planning but the remoteness is part of it's charm. Maybe not ideal to bring a sports car though! Thank you Mary's.

Fantastic cottage in a beautiful location What more could we want ! !!

Everything fab cottage wonderful location would highly recomend it to my friends

Wonderful location, perfect cottage with very high standard of cleanliness..

Our third stay in Portuairk but our first at Mary's House - and it won't be our last! We stayed in August 2016 with our 7yr old son and 2 dogs. The location and views are just stunning, a real piece of paradise. The cottage is in excellent condition, immaculately clean and very well equipped with everything you could possibly need. Beautifully decorated, comfortable beds, modern bathroom and kitchen. We loved the enclosed garden so the dogs could have a bit of freedom. Will 100% be visiting again, I think we are in love...

Marys House is a comfortable cottage, compact but functional with all needs provided for. It was clean on arrival and all furniture, appliances etc seemed quite new.

Stayed in Mary's cottage in August 2016. This has to be one of the best cottages we have ever stayed in, it looks to have been recently refurbished and what a great job they have done. The location of the cottage is second to none and the views are just fantastic, we struck lucky with a great week of sunny weather which helped but as the cottage was so cosy it would not have mattered that much if it had not been. Dog friendly as well and our 2 loved the walks and the beach. Would deffinetley return

Have stayed at Marys House 3 times and loved the new refurbished kitchen and bathroom. Perfect accommodation.

The area was beautiful as were the views from Marys House. The cottage was just perfect; an ideal place to get away from it all! All in all an excellent holiday and a beautiful part of the world.

The cottage was amazing, it was cosy and the view from every window was out of this world!

One of the best cottages I have stayed in. The cottage is warm and comfortable. We chose the cottage for its location and you would be hard pressed to find a better view. For March the weather was almost summer-like for several days. Watching wildlife in the bay with binoculars was a real bonus. Otters, seals, and divers were regular, all from the garden or living room. There are real gems of beaches, bays and knolls close by on foot with a little effort. The solitude will find me returning in future.

Liked the peace, tranquillity, the fabulous views from the cottage and the great walks nearby.

Great location and a lovely cottage, it was very clean and comfortable. Had beautiful views and it was very peaceful. Very close to the beach.

We've recently returned from a week's stay at Mary's House and would have loved to have stayed for another! Some people have mentioned the road approaching the cottage, it's a single track with many passing places but easy enough to get used to. The cottage was very clean and well equiped on arrival. The kitchen was well appointed with cooker, microwave, tall fridge freezer and sufficient pots, pans and crockery etc. The sitting room was very comfortable and has been updated recently compared to the photos. Although the weather was warm and sunny we still made good use of the log burner. The bedroom was nice and the bed comfortable. The views from the cottage were amazing and looked different every day. It was a very short walk down to the beach where we went every day and opposite was another, larger beach called Sanna Bay which is well worth going to. It's advisable to bring plenty of provisions for your stay although there is a small but well stocked shop in Kilchoan. Overall we (and the dogs!) had a very enjoyable and relaxing holiday!

The location was excellent. The cottage was good and had recently been decorated to a nice standard. Overall a great place to go to have a get away from it all holiday.

Great location, clean and tidy, Understandably the road to the cottage is a bit rough but not a problem. My wife and i thoroughly enjoyed our stay, We cooked a number of meals in the cottage and despite our lack of experience of electric cookers we managed fine. Also the crockery etc. was very satisfactory. You will not find a quieter area with such magnificent views, so a good night sleep and waking up to picture postcard views from the bedroom window was a bonus of this property.

The scenery out of the windows was fantastic, it was so peaceful. A great place to celebrate Christmas away from the hustle and bustle of the city we live in. A lovely cosy cottage.

I want to start with a phrase I have rarely uttered about a holiday: it was bliss! I travelled up with a friend and my dog, and enjoyed the whole week we were there. Its fair to say my primary aim in booking the cottage was to be in a remote location with no wifi or phone signal, and a woodburning fire, and you certainly get this here! We travelled via the Corran ferry: be warned, although the directions will tell you the last 25 miles is single track, its more like the last 50 roughly, and if you aren't a confident driver, you may want to switch to someone who is: the roads are d-restricted, and you could get quite a shock driving round a bend with a 50mph camper coming towards you! Fairly quiet in the winter season though. We were quite glad to have a 4 wheel drive, as the road down to the cottage from the 'main' road is very rickety - if you have an Aygo, don't go! But its only a short drive, and when you get to the bottom, the view makes it worth it. It does pass by farm buildings on the way down, and there are 3 other cottages and a static caravan in spitting distance, but we felt completely isolated, especially at night. I cant see it would be a particular problem in summer months as the cottages are quite small - its not a place for partying! In fact, the time we were there, I counted around 6 properties with lights on in the evening, and that included across the other side of the bay. Its not really a place for 4 adults to comfortably spend a week, although if you intend on being out all day every day then it would be fine: I elected to take the sofa bed and my friend took the main bed. The sofa bed isn't perfect, but we both managed to get around 10 hours of sleep a night quite easily (again, another reason for us to go!), and it was very cosy and secure. I can only assume the pillows have been replaced: the ones I used were certainly fairly new. The kitchen was great - an overabundance of crockery and cutlery meant we didn't have to wash up for a few days if we didn't want to (dear owner - although we did!), and the cooking facilities suited us perfectly: oven worked fine so may be an issue that was rectified from a previous poster. More importantly, there was plenty of space in the kitchen, which meant that we could use it even when my large Labrador was padding around! The woodburner: we actually took some kindling and logs with us, and I wish I had saved my money, as a full bag of coal was provided, along with kindling, wood logs and a full scuttle of coal. Apparently it should last a weekend, but by my reckoning (and considering we had it on every night for at least 6 hours) it will stretch to a week. The bathroom was a bit of a shame not having a bath, but there's not a lot of space for one. It was clean so the toothbrush comment previously must have been implemented! However the shower isn't overly powerful, and did seem to only have 2 heat settings - hot or cold. But it did what it needed to do. I will however echo earlier comments re phones: there is a long list of numbers, but with no signal or landline in the cottage, we were bemused about how to use them! The owner was in residence the full time we were there though, and their house is only a short walk away, so it wasn't much of an issue. The area is gorgeous - I took a short walk down to the beach and it was fairly easy to navigate around, and the views were absolutely stunning. There was also a wealth of information on things to do in the area (handy hint though: if heading to Tobermory from Kilchoan, do not take the car as well if you're only going there for the day. That was a costly mistake on our part!). It is only 40 minutes on the ferry to Tobermory, and has great views on route, including a lighthouse. Worth a visit just to go to the Mish (multi-coloured pub....with wifi....I caved on day 3!). The ferry shop in Kilchoan was absolutely fantastic - lots of local meats, plenty of essentials, and gluten free oat cakes (being a celiac, I tend to take quite a lot of my own GF stuff, but I could even eat some of the local sausages from here!) Reasonably priced as well, considering it had quite a hold on the local market. However if you go through Corran to get there, I recommend filling up the car before the final 50 mile stretch: petrol is about 20p per litre more expensive here! Ardnamurchan lighthouse is worth a look, as its a lovely old lighthouse, but was closed when we were there. You can still walk around it even if closed. Mingray Castle was also closed due to the renovations, but you can see it from the ferry to Tobermory. All in all it was exactly what we wanted, and for the price we couldn't have really expected much more. (but make sure to take absolutely everything you would need self catering wise because the Ferry Shop is 4 miles away!).

This was a cosy, comfortable cottage with amazing views to the sea and the islands.

A very peaceful location with the most stunning views from every window in the cottage.

We picked this property for the views and beach side location which were good; although it is remote, so be prepared to take all of your own food and entertainment. However, the cottage itself was in a poor state of repair. The DVD and oven did not work properly, the chairs were very rickety and the shower did not work properly - and when there is no bath - this was a significant problem. The track down to the cottage is rutted and goes through a farm yard where they are keeping pigs and the track to the beach passed by the septic tank which had overflowed! There is also a static caravan right next to the cottage which shares the parking area. I could go on. However, the most annoying thing is that I have complained and as yet after 3 weeks I have not had the courtesy of a response.

Loved the views from lounge, bedroom and kitchen and having the beach to walk down to.

The cottage was cosy, with very good central heating, and log burner (we only used once as heating was sufficient). The kitchen was well equipped, and had everything we needed. Had everything we needed.

As is traditional I'll split this review into good and bad points. First the good. Great location, the owner is helpful and friendly (checked we were OK during power cut). Cottage was a very good size for 2 people with decor in a good traditional condition with modern touches. Cottage was cosy with ample heating; storage heaters are a good idea in an area where power cuts can occur. Wood-burner was a joy. Again useful as a heat back-up, but mainly it looks great and gives the man of the house a chance to poke a fire in a manly manner. View from the windows is second-to-none. Extremely quiet (except for the sound of the ocean) and pitch dark at night; we love this! Star-gazers will be spoilt. Good supply of coal fuel for the fire; so you only need to pay for topping up the kindling. We really appreciated that electricity was included in the price; a cottage like this, especially in the winter, could use a lot of power to heat and for cooking, so it's really nice not to have to constantly shovel coins into a meter as you do in some places. Mary's cottage and the larger surrounding area is a mobile black-spot, which is bliss. Absolutely no chance to update facebook or check emails. Should this be a necessity for you, the Sonachan hotel about a mile away has wifi and we found a mobile signal (on our last day!) at the recycling bins, Kilchoan. Good safety equipment present; fire extinguisher and blanket was provided as well as CO and smoke detectors (but no first-aid box that we noticed). Good useful selection of 'things to do' type leaflets and maps. Of course if you're there off-season much of this will not be running, but I expect most visitor will be visiting in-season (usually April-October). Now the less good... We've written quite a few negatives below, but we are mostly being brutally honest to promote improvements and inform others; overall Marys house is lovely, well-appointed and we had a great stay; just a few niggly things for us; but then again we are seasoned self-catering holiday makers so we tend to be hyper-critical! We also stayed in December, so due to the weather and limited daylight at this time of year we spent much more time in the cottage than most people will; again this perhaps amplified some of the annoyances. The website photography and description is slightly disingenuous implying that the cottage is on its own and isolated. It is however in a small cluster of holiday cottages with the closest only a few metres away. Not a problem for us visiting in low season when we were in the only inhabited cottage, however if we were there in summer and all these cottages were filled with families and dogs and children and cars, the area could, I imagine get quite busy, which is probably not what folk are looking for when holidaying in such a remote spot! There was also a cottage next door being renovated/built, which could've been mentioned; not a deal-breaker and not the owners fault, but again, DIY noises are not ideal when looking for tranquillity. For us, a good bed and shower are amongst the most important aspects of any accommodation. Sadly the bed was over-soft and bouncy leading to poor sleep. This may suit some people- we prefer a firm mattress (but of course this is subjective and our personal preference). Although the bedding smelt clean there were a lot of black (dog?) hairs present which was off-putting. Pillows appeared to be years old and flat- replace! Now, the shower... again this is personal; many folk might not mind, but the shower is of the weak, electric, 'you have to run around furiously to get wet' variety. So a quick refreshing shower is off the agenda. Water pressure from the taps appears to be good, so perhaps a better shower or a pump would help. Not cheap to implement I realise, but a good sleep and a refreshing shower sets you up for the day and leaves a better impression. It's worth bearing in mind that a beach is indeed only a few minutes walk away, but this is a small tidal beach which isn't always present; the main beaches of Sanna bay are a fairly strenuous 30-60 minute walk (fitness level dependant) away across rocky and boggy foreshore. Cleanliness standard was OK but not exceptional. I have personal experience of holiday cottage cleaning and my own standards are higher; I wouldn't leave cleaning streaks over hard surfaces for example; there should be a polishing stage. Also the cooker hood was not pleasant to look at. 30 mins with a wire scourer would remove the layers of grease. Attention to detail was also lacking in other areas such as the black mould at the bottom of shower doors and on the ceiling- use an old toothbrush to clean! Maintenance could be better; starting to think the owner has something against replacing bulbs; no light in the fridge or oven. A broken window catch made for a chilly, breezy kitchen during a storm. I know we were staying out of season and many landlords leave repairs for low season, but if that was the case then the cottage should be taken off the market whilst repairs are carried out; all visitors should receive identical standards whenever they stay. OK, phoning... Absolutely no mobile signal, which is great and NOT a negative for us, however we were rather mystified by the list of phone numbers in the kitchen, when there isn't any land-line or payphone provided! This could actually be quite a worry if you had an emergency; in our opinion there should always be a land-line or payphone in a holiday cottage. There is a phone-box (no coins accepted) a few minutes run away or you could run to the owners cottage across the field, but again, if you cut yourself badly or had a fall or heart-attack, it's not ideal. We didn't notice a first-aid box; bring your own, but fire extinguisher and blanket was provided as well as CO and smoke detectors. We also suggest that you bring extra towels. Only one bath and hand towel is provided per person for a week. This is fairly standard in places we've stayed, but, I feel, unnecessarily stingy! There is however a good quality washing machine in the kitchen if you want to do a mid-week wash.

As is traditional I'll split this review into good and bad points. First the good. Great location, the owner is helpful and friendly (checked we were OK during power cut). Cottage was a very good size for 2 people with decor in a good traditional condition with modern touches. Cottage was cosy with ample heating; storage heaters are a good idea in an area where power cuts can occur. Wood-burner was a joy. Again useful as a heat back-up, but mainly it looks great and gives the man of the house a chance to poke a fire in a manly manner. View from the windows is second-to-none. Extremely quiet (except for the sound of the ocean) and pitch dark at night; we love this! Star-gazers will be spoilt. Good supply of coal fuel for the fire; so you only need to pay for topping up the kindling. We really appreciated that electricity was included in the price; a cottage like this, especially in the winter, could use a lot of power to heat and for cooking, so it's really nice not to have to constantly shovel coins into a meter as you do in some places. Mary's cottage and the larger surrounding area is a mobile black-spot, which is bliss. Absolutely no chance to update facebook or check emails. Should this be a necessity for you, the Sonachan hotel about a mile away has wifi and we found a mobile signal (on our last day!) at the recycling bins, Kilchoan. Good safety equipment present; fire extinguisher and blanket was provided as well as CO and smoke detectors (but no first-aid box that we noticed). Good useful selection of 'things to do' type leaflets and maps. Of course if you're there off-season much of this will not be running, but I expect most visitor will be visiting in-season (usually april-October). Now the less good... We've written quite a few negatives below, but we are mostly being brutally honest to promote improvements and inform others; overall Marys house is lovely, well-appointed and we had a great stay; just a few niggly things for us; but then again we are seasoned self-catering holiday makers so we tend to be hyper-critical! We also stayed in December, so due to the weather and limited daylight at this time of year we spent much more time in the cottage than most people will; again this perhaps amplified some of the annoyances. The website photography and description is slightly disingenuous implying that the cottage is on its own and isolated. It is however in a small cluster of holiday cottages with the closest only a few metres away. Not a problem for us visiting in low season when we were in the only inhabited cottage, however if we were there in summer and all these cottages were filled with families and dogs and children and cars, the area could, I imagine get quite busy, which is probably not what folk are looking for when holidaying in such a remote spot! There was also a cottage next door being renovated/built, which could've been mentioned; not a deal-breaker and not the owners fault, but again, DIY noises are not ideal when looking for tranquillity. For us, a good bed and shower are amongst the most important aspects of any accommodation. Sadly the bed was over-soft and bouncy leading to poor sleep. This may suit some people- we prefer a firm mattress (but of course this is subjective and our personal preference). Although the bedding smelt clean there were a lot of black (dog?) hairs present which was off-putting. Pillows appeared to be years old and flat- replace! Now, the shower... again this is personal; many folk might not mind, but the shower is of the weak, electric, 'you have to run around furiously to get wet' variety. So a quick refreshing shower is off the agenda. Water pressure from the taps appears to be good, so perhaps a better shower or a pump would help. Not cheap to implement I realise, but a good sleep and a refreshing shower sets you up for the day and leaves a better impression. It's worth bearing in mind that a beach is indeed only a few minutes walk away, but this is a small tidal beach which isn't always present; the main beaches of Sanna bay are a fairly strenuous 30-60 minute walk (fitness level dependant) away across rocky and boggy foreshore. Cleanliness standard was OK but not exceptional. I have personal experience of holiday cottage cleaning and my own standards are higher; I wouldn't leave cleaning streaks over hard surfaces for example; there should be a polishing stage. Also the cooker hood was not pleasant to look at. 30 mins with a wire scourer would remove the layers of grease. Attention to detail was also lacking in other areas such as the black mould at the bottom of shower doors and on the ceiling- use an old toothbrush to clean! Maintenance could be better; starting to think the owner has something against replacing bulbs; no light in the fridge or oven. A broken window catch made for a chilly, breezy kitchen during a storm. I know we were staying out of season and many landlords leave repairs for low season, but if that was the case then the cottage should be taken off the market whilst repairs are carried out; all visitors should receive identical standards whenever they stay. Ok, phoning... Absolutely no mobile signal, which is great and not a negative for us, however we were rather mystified by the list of phone numbers in the kitchen, when there isn't any land-line or payphone provided! This could actually be quite a worry if you had an emergency; in our opinion there should always be a land-line or payphone in a holiday cottage. There is a phone-box (no coins accepted) a few minutes run away or you could run to the owners cottage across the field, but again, if you cut yourself badly or had a fall or heart-attack, it's not ideal. We didn't notice a first-aid box; bring your own, but fire extinguisher and blanket was provided as well as CO and smoke detectors. We also suggest that you bring extra towels. Only one bath and hand towel is provided per person for a week. This is fairly standard in places we've stayed, but, I feel, unnecessarily stingy! There is however a good quality washing machine in the kitchen if you want to do a mid-week wash.

From start to finish the booking, cottage, location and holiday was amazing.

views stunning but cottage could do with a makeover a bit shabby.Oven didnt work, dvd didnt work . Stove small and awkward and noisy.Tiny tv and pet hate noisy waterproof mattress cover which had to be removed in order to get some sleep.nearest shop in kilchoan is closed on a sunday and not that well stocked. The furniture was dated and lots of drawers didnt work properly,the dining chairs were very rickety .good size for 2 people wouldnt recommend for more. not the comfortable cosy cottage we imagined. cut holiday short due to the disapointment and were glad to get home. also photograph from outside done cleverly and does not show caravan and house to left and other 2 houses on right so although it is detatched it is within close proximity and might be quite tricky getting up and down single track lane to property in the summer months.

The cottage was cosy and comfortable with everything that was needed. The view was to die for, and the area a revelation, the people friendly. The wildlife was great, we easily spotted and took pictures of basking sharks, otters, eagles, seals, adders and more! Clean beaches and great walking. Isle of Mull a short ferry ride away.

The accommodation was perfect for us. Spotlessly clean, warm and welcoming and the views are just fantastic!! Perfect!

Staying at Marys House was a truly unique experience that we will remember for many years. I never realised that such remote locations existed in our crowded country anymore and with the sea and beautiful sandy beach within a stone throw from the house, you simply could not envisage a more tranquil picture postcard spot. Marys House is well furnished, clean and has everything you need for your visit and is ideally situated for a relaxing/walking holiday while the tiny village of Kilchoan, which is about 4 miles away has a good pub and well stocked shop. The village is so remote it really is like stepping back in to the 1950,s and if you need petrol, someone from the village shop even comes along to operate the pump for you. The ferry to the island of Mull also leaves from Kilchoan, were you can visit the now famous town of Tobermory, which is better known as Balamory in the childrens TV series and believe me it really is worth a visit. The nearby lighthouse is also a good attraction as is the fabulous beach at Sanna Bay, a few miles away. The only downside is the road that takes you to Kilchoan. For 20 miles it is a single track road with passing points scattered along the way to allow oncoming traffic to pass and it is an arduous drive. The road from Kilchoan to Marys House is also little more than a track and seems to go on forever, but dont let this put you off. It guarantees the remoteness of the place and many of the villagers prefer it to stay like that, although for those who have to commute to work, it must be a nightmare.

stunning place to stay, views are fantastic in a superb cottage. if you like somewhere to totally relax with no Wi-Fi or mobile then this is the place to wind down. the cottage is clean warm and easy to maintain. all I can say is give it a chance but not if you don't like to be isolated and don't like the country or walking. if you do portuarik is wonderful

We loved the remote location of the holiday cottage and the friendliness of the local people, not to mention the stunning views and countryside.

Just as we wished, perfect. We will be booking another holiday this year.