Cottage Description
Balmacara Cottage is a 3 bedroom self catering holiday accommodation that sleeps 5 and is located in Portree, Scotland. This property does not allow pets. Local to Camastianavaig, Borve, Ollach, Skeabost
- Bike Store
- Detached Property
- DVD player
- Dishwasher
- Fuel and Power Included
- Garden / Patio
- Rural Location
- Television
- Wifi
- Short Breaks All Year
- Car Parking Available
- Bed Linen & Towels Included
- Washing Machine
Balmacara Cottage is a comfortable, spacious, detached holiday property with outstanding views over open countryside and the Cuillin Mountains. The property is situated on the outskirts of Portree, Skye’s capital, in the crofting township of Achachork. This is an ideal base for touring and exploring the island. Portree has much to offer with its many restaurants, good pubs with live music, arts and crafts, boat trips from the harbour, swimming pool, climbing wall and Aros Centre, with its live performances and cinema. The island has many historic sites such as the Museum of Island Life, Flora Macdonald’s Monument, brochs (which are sites linking to Jurassic times), Dunvegan Castle, the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland, a distillery and so much more. For the outdoor enthusiasts there are all levels of walks, from serious mountain climbing in the Cuillins, to low level coastal walks. Enjoy the dramatic scenery, deserted villages and glorious sunrises and sunsets that the island has to offer. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.
Ground floor: Living room. Kitchen. Conservatory with dining area. First floor: 3 bedrooms: 2 double (6ft), one (zip and link, can be twin), one with en-suite shower room and toilet, 1 single. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet.
Electricity woodburner in living room included. Oil CH, elec, bed linen and towels included. Freeview TV. DVD. Stereo/CD. Electric Cooker. Microwave. Washer/dryer. Dishwasher. Fridge Freezer. Wi-fi. Lawned garden with sitting-out area and furniture. Parking (3 cars). Cycle store. Welcome pack. No smoking.
Food
Days Out
Beach
Bike & Hike
Sports
Nature
Gardens
Activities
Historical
Eating & Drinking
A favourite with tourists and locals alike, Sea Breezes commands an excellent waterfront location. Good quality contemporary food, freshly prepared and using the finest local and Scottish ingredients is the order of the day here.
This remotely located restaurant, right on the lochside near Waterish Point, is tiny, simple and quiet with a warmly welcoming atmosphere. The seafood says it all here, landed at nearby Dunvegan, it dominates the blackboard and a few staples on the menu.
The Three Chimneys is synonymous with good food and great dining, receiving EatScotland's Gold award for 2008/09. The Restaurant is set in a old crofters cottage, with beautiful sea views from many ground floor aspects.
The Kishorn Seafood Bar provides good quality food in a fantastic setting using fresh local produce whenever possible. The menu is primarily seafood, but it does cater for most dietary requirements. The fresh mussels come from neighbouring Loch Torridon.
Evening diners may select 2 or 3 courses from the menu which often includes local shellfish and Highland venison. Impeccably presented, contemporary Scottish cooking served in peaceful surroundings, with lovely countryside views.
Fun Days Out
It's hard to get up close to a nesting sea-eagle but at the Aros Centre you can have this experience with live pictures, from two remote nests at separate locations. An RSPB Warden will interpret the footage for you, explaining the life cycle of these magnificent birds.
Shilasdair - 13.7 Miles (21.9 KM)
You'll find natural dyed knitting yarns, knitkits and hand-knitted sweaters in glorious colours as well as, scarves smocks and tie-dyed socks; unique resist-dyed garments — all handcrafted on Skye. Also the croft dyehouse, antique wool processes and spinning workshop.
Gairloch Marine Life Centre and Cruises offer scenic and wildlife cruises, aboard 'MV Starquest'. Visitors are often rewarded with a glimpse of whales, dolphins or porpoise and may even catch sight of an eagle in flight.
Beach
Big Sand Beach - 27.8 Miles (44.5 KM)
Accessed through extensive sand dunes and sheltered from the onshore wind by Longa Island, this beach is a wonderful place to sit and watch a magical sunset over the Hebrides.
Biking & Hiking
No recommended Cycling & Hiking found within 30 miles of this property.
Golf & Sports
Located at the foot of Liathach and the shores of Torridon, activities provided are kayaking, mountain guiding, guided glen walks, archery, clay pigeon shooting and mountain bikes. All sessions and courses are run by fully qualified, enthusiastic professional instructors.
Nature Reserves
Set in the picturesque village of Kyleakin, Bright Water Visitor Centre offers an interactive introduction to the local and natural history of the area, particularly its otters.
Gardens & Woodlands
No recommended Gardens & Woodlands found within 30 miles of this property.
Local Attractions
Enjoy a tour (and a tasting!) at the only distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport with dramatic views of the Cuillins. You'll find their sweet, full-bodied single malt is full of allure.
Angus MacAskill was the tallest ever Scotsman, a true giant at 7ft8in. His family emigrated to the New World in about 1831 and although his parents were average sized, Angus continued to grow. His great strength was legendary and he became a regular performer in a travelling show around the United States. This tribute to him is less than 30 miles from where he was born and spent his early childhood.
Skyeskyns - 14.8 Miles (23.7 KM)
Skyeskyns is Scotland's only traditional exhibition tannery. Visitors can witness time-honoured methods of making leather, the oldest craft, and see an unparalleled range of finest quality hand-combed Highland lambskins and leather goods.
The exhibition at this typical Skye Black house depicts how people lived in the 19th century.
Informative and fun, this award winning reptile exhibition and breeding centre, refuge and shop is unique in Scotland. Enjoy watching a world of snakes, lizards, frogs and tortoises in natural surroundings. For the brave, there are frequent handling sessions.
Toy Museum - 18.5 Miles (29.6 KM)
This very child friendly, hands-on museum features an amazing collection of toys, games and dolls from Victorian times to Star Wars. Talisker quality award winner 1993, it is children's favourite experience on Skye. The shop stocks handmade games and stocking fillers.
Sealife Glass Bottom Boat Cruises offer a unique way to to see the seas, wildlife and stunning scenery of Gairloch Bay. The waters here are crystal clear offering the best opportunity to see up close and in their natural habitat the wonderful marine life in this area. The region is rich and diverse in wildlife with many sea birds having their homes here including, Golden and Sea eagles, puffins, black throated divers and many more. Also to be seen on your cruise are common and grey seals, porpoises and if you are lucky an otter or basking shark, as well as a magical underworld where you can see crabs, stunning sea anemones, sea urchins, scallops and seaweed and at particular tide times freshwater oysters can be seen. Cruises are operated by Ric an experienced and professional guide who has so much knowledge and passion it is infectious. Ric is extremely friendly and jovial and gives the most interesting and enthralling tours that everyone will enjoy. The cruise affords the maximum opportunity to see as much wildlife as possible aboard the boat, in a relaxed and friendly setting. Young passengers are given a activity sheet along with pictures of what they will see, it really keeps them entertained. The cruise lasts about two hours and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the trip and experience. Sealife Glass Bottom Cruises offer an amazing opportunity to see the wonderful marine life and scenery of this stunning area with the benefit of a charming and knowledgeable host, highly recommended.
Choose your holiday souvenir from a wide range of gifts and crafts, or perhaps a card or canvass print from Grumpy George.
Historical & Heritage Sites
No trip to the beautiful Isle of Sye would be complete without a visit to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and home to the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod for nearly 800 years.
Established in 1965, the museum is a collection of preserved thatched cottages. See the way the islanders lived in the late 1800s and their efficient, but cosy dwellings. Molding perfectly with the environment and suitably attuned to the often harsh climate they are a fascinating place to visit.
You can explore almost every part of the castle from the banqueting hall to the bedrooms. You'll be following in the footsteps of many a warrior from the Vikings to James Bond, from Jacobites to Hollywood's 'Highlanders'.
Learn about the people of Gairloch, their lives and their work throughout the ages. Take some time out in the croft house, browse the items at the village shop and compare your childhoods in the school room.
Enjoying a spectacular setting within the Sleat Peninsula, the 40 acre Woodland Garden is set around the ruins of Armadale Castle. The warm, generally frost free climate of the west coast of Scotland allows these historic sheltered gardens to flourish.
