Longfield House, Colonsay

Sabbatical rates: this magnificent house deserves to be enjoyed all year round, so we now offer it on the following winter basis (except Christmas / New Year):
1 week £250, 2 weeks £375, 3 weeks £450, 4 weeks £500 inc. VAT

This house is comparable with our outstandingly popular Cill a' Rubha, and we also have Phoebe, our 3-star mini-lodge at Scalasaig - ideal for couples without cars.

We try to be flexible as to changeover days and from late August may be able to agree to varied lengths of stay (minimum 6 nights).

Longfield House is in the centre of this picture, with Port Mor to the left and raised beaches to the right. The house faces the open Atlantic and just beyond An Rubha ("The Point") one can see the waves breaking over the reefs beyond Carraig Chatan ("St. Catan's Fishing Rock").

In this view, Longfield House nestles below the impressive bulk of Meall a' Chaise; Dun Meadhonach, the ancestral home of Clan Currie, is close at hand, as is Tobar Chatain ("St. Catan's Well) and there is a challenging ancient pathway through the hills to Scalasaig.

This three-bedroomed property is ideal for an extended family, perhaps two adult couples and two children; also suitable for a couple with three sensible children. Particularly suitable for three generations, there is an en-suite double bedroom on the ground floor and no problem for restricted mobility. Longfield is furnished, equipped and intended for sensitive occupation by caring tenants. Sorry - no smoking inside the building; dogs by special arrangement only.

Available in 2011
Although it is without firm commitment, we are very happy to pencil in tentative reservations for 2011. Because guests sometimes have to change plans, we must encourage them to keep us informed. Therefore, when making a provisional reservation for 2011, we ask you for a £50 refundable deposit. The reservation may then be cancelled at anytime before New Year's Day 2011 for a full refund without penalty, but cancellation after that date will entail a £50 administration charge.

For 2010, see our main chart. For 2011, use the 2011 chart

Longfield House has outstanding seaviews and enjoys amazing sunsets - it also affords remarkable opportunities for the natural historian. It is only 100 metres from Port Mór, which is one of the most reliable otter haunts in the island; with average-strength binoculars one can easily view their activities from the sitting-room windows. It is extremely convenient for walks to the sea-cliffs (largest sea-bird breeding colony in Southern Hebrides), for the Golf Course, for trout-fishing in Loch Fada and for walks to the Grey Atlantic Seal colonies in Ardskenish.

Please note that, because it is so close to the sea, the house is very exposed - in storm conditions, some visitors may be alarmed by the force of the wind; please bear this in mind if visiting in winter.

ACCOMMODATION

Sitting Room, Dining Room, fully-equipped Kitchen, Utility Room, w.c..

Kitchen equipment: Gas hob, double electric oven, microwave, fridge, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer

Downstairs double-bedroom with en suite shower/w.c.

Upstairs double-bedroom, twin-bedded room and family bathroom.

Secluded, walled and very sheltered private garden catching full sun.

Extensive grassy paddock at front, with open aspect and seaviews.

This modern and fully-equipped house is heavily insulated and designed for sabbatical and study use as well as family holidays. Out of season, it is an ideal base for botanists, geologists and ornithologists. Since the property is now offered for the first time, the photographs below were taken in mid-winter (on January 10th) - they will be updated in due course.

Port Mór is on the west side of Colonsay, facing onto the open Atlantic, with distant views of Dubh Hirteach Lighthouse and the Torran Rocks. It shelters the occasional yacht in settled weather and is a favoured haunt of a wide variety of sea-birds - shelduck, greylag geese, barnacle geese, guillemots, herons and oystercatchers. The shoreline is girdled by a series of imposing raised-beaches, backed by dramatic inland cliffs - expect to notice redthroated diver, curlew, plover, peregrine falcon, chough and corncrake. There is very easy walking to be enjoyed at Machrins and Arskenish, with the option of more challenging terrain along the cliffs or in the inland hills.

This property is ideal for a family of two adults and two children plus grandparents, or perhaps two adults and three children. Please note that it is not suited to very young children unless carefully supervised - the design of the building and many elements of the furniture and fittings are not appropriate.

The preferred "changeover day" is Wednesday, Thursday or Friday - it varies a bit because we try to make the bookings dovetail. Please have a look at the availability chart to see what might fit.

The property is self-catering, which means that the tenant is reponsible for normal cleaning and washing-up. It is a condition of letting that it is left in a proper state upon departure. We do not charge for pets but they must not be allowed upon furniture and any dog-hair must be thoroughly removed. A minimum charge of £50.00 will be raised where additional cleaning, washing-up or dog-hair are encountered by our staff.

Please do not smoke or permit smoking inside the lodge. The property is rented only as a holiday let and not as an assured tenancy in terms of Housing (Scotland) Act 1988.

Now until March 19 2010	£310.00
Except Christmas/New Year	£585.00
March 20 - May 8 2010	£440.00
May 9 - June 26 2010	£585.00
June 27 - August 7 2010	£840.00
August 8 - August 21 2010	£585.00
August 22 - October 16 2010	£440.00
October 17 2010 - March 2011	£250.00
*Except Christmas / New Year 2010/11*	*£595.00*

Longfield House, Port Mór

Outstanding family house, superb location

STB **** 4 Star Award