How do you fancy owning your own wee “village” and making a bit of money at the same time?
Close to the shores of bonnie Loch Linnhe in the Highland village of Onich, near Fort William, is a stunning site that’s home to a fabulous family home, four self-catering cottages and two good-sized caravans.
The site, which has the feel of a lovely, private village, can be easily accessed by tourists and offers unspoiled views of Loch Linnhe and Beinn a’Bheithir. With people choosing UK staycations instead of holidays abroad following lockdown – a trend that looks likely to continue for some time – there is a healthy income to be made from premium sites such as Cuilcheanna and Cuilcheanna Cottages, which are being marketed by agents Bell Ingram.
Cuilcheanna is a wonderful five-bedroom family home set in 0.11 acres of land and attractively decorated. It’s on the market at offers over £420,000, and it’s thought it would be occupied by the owners of the of holiday cottages, presenting an excellent lifestyle opportunity for buyers.
Andrew Fuller, from Bell Ingram, said: “This is a unique opportunity for buyers looking for a lifestyle change that is commercially viable. “With the popularity of touring holidays such as the North Coast 500, the rental model in Scotland has changed over the last few years.
“We are now seeing tourists opting for shorter-term lets as opposed to the traditional one or two-week stays, resulting in the opportunity to increase net revenue from a holiday let property.
“With Cuilcheanna Cottages being situated in such a prominent position on Scotland’s stunning west coast, there is an opportunity to make a healthy income from this venture.”
The main property, Cuilcheanna, has extensive accommodation starting with a vestibule/boot room entrance which leads to a central hallway. The house has a sizeable family lounge with inbuilt wood-burning stove and a full-width window which perfectly frames the uninterrupted, farreaching views across the gardens to the loch beyond, and floods the room with natural daylight.
Adjacent to the lounge, is a well-appointed kitchen/ dining room with French doors. A ground-floor master bedroom with en suite bathroom, located to the front of the house and also offering superb panoramic views, and a separate washroom, completes the accommodation on this level.
A magnificent wooden staircase leads to the first floor where there’s a large landing, four double bedrooms, two family bathrooms and an airing cupboard. Swallow Cottage, the first of the holiday lets on the site, is a traditional barn conversion now offering two-bedroom family holiday accommodation.
There is a central hallway leading through to an openplan kitchen/dining area. This room features a double height design, with a lounge area located on a stylish mezzanine floor, with gallery view to the lower sitting area. There are two bedrooms with en suites on the ground floor with the master en suite equipped for those with mobility difficulties.
An adjoining barn is included in the sale and offers scope for those looking to convert to additional accommodation above the garages. A full-length attic also offers scope for conversion, subject to the necessary planning consents.
The three remaining cottages, Ash, Birch and Rowan, are set in an elevated position which means they enjoy farreaching views across the loch. Each is detached, single storey and has two bedrooms, an open-plan living area incorporating a combined lounge and kitchen, with large windows to the front capturing the superb coastal views.
The kitchens are fully-fitted, with a selection of wall and floor units complemented by a contrasting roll-top worktop. A central bathroom is accessed from the hallway, and the layout includes an airing cupboard. In addition to the cottages there’s a communal laundry room, large parking area and two static caravans located within the grounds, each offering additional accommodation and proving popular with visitors.
The four self-catering cottages and caravan are on the market at offers over £625,000. Onich has a cafe, hotel, pub and restaurants, while the Corran Ferry provides convenient access to the Ardnamurchan peninsula, and from the nearby coastal town of Oban, there are frequent sailings to Mull and Iona as well as Colonsay, Islay and Barra.
Contact: Andrew Fuller, of Bell Ingram, on 07717 203082 or email andrew. fuller@bellingram.co.uk