"A wonderful week. Couldn't imagine a more beautiful location - and that view! A lovely comfortable and well appointed cottage. Saw otters from the bedroom window, osprey, and seals in the harbour. Absolutely lovely."
Guest Review.
Sleeps 2 - 6
3 bedrooms. Wi-Fi. Wood stove.
Linen and fair usage fuel included.
£450 - £1395.
Carsaig Views is an exceptionally spacious holiday home located in an area of superb scenic beauty on the far west coast of Argyll in the West Highlands of Scotland.
Sitting in thirty acres of natural landscape, the property is set away from roads and near neighbours and overlooks the sands and the 19th century stone pier of Carsaig Bay and beyond to an outstanding westerly panorama over the Sound of Jura. The picturesque harbour village of Tayvallich is a short walk away and a little further is beautiful Taynish National Nature Reserve.
Bright, airy and warm, Carsaig Views is a much loved three generation family-owned holiday home and ideal for those seeking a location of peace and space, grand seascapes and inspiring sunsets, all of which can be enjoyed from inside or out all year round.
Many of our guests are now regulars, attracted to our little piece of "big sky" West Highland heaven!
For House Images, Guest Reviews, Rates and Attractions please click on the above menu.
Location and Sunset Galleries are at the foot of this page.
For a charming 3 minute video of 'Knapdale through the eyes of a wildlife artist' click here: Inspired by the Heart of Argyll.
For weekly updates of seasonal scenery, wildlife and news, click on the Facebook symbol above.
For local area information see below and for full area information see www.heartofargyll.com
Please note:
3 bedrooms. Wi-Fi. Wood stove.
Linen and fair usage fuel included.
£450 - £1395.
Carsaig Views is an exceptionally spacious holiday home located in an area of superb scenic beauty on the far west coast of Argyll in the West Highlands of Scotland.
Sitting in thirty acres of natural landscape, the property is set away from roads and near neighbours and overlooks the sands and the 19th century stone pier of Carsaig Bay and beyond to an outstanding westerly panorama over the Sound of Jura. The picturesque harbour village of Tayvallich is a short walk away and a little further is beautiful Taynish National Nature Reserve.
Bright, airy and warm, Carsaig Views is a much loved three generation family-owned holiday home and ideal for those seeking a location of peace and space, grand seascapes and inspiring sunsets, all of which can be enjoyed from inside or out all year round.
Many of our guests are now regulars, attracted to our little piece of "big sky" West Highland heaven!
For House Images, Guest Reviews, Rates and Attractions please click on the above menu.
Location and Sunset Galleries are at the foot of this page.
For a charming 3 minute video of 'Knapdale through the eyes of a wildlife artist' click here: Inspired by the Heart of Argyll.
For weekly updates of seasonal scenery, wildlife and news, click on the Facebook symbol above.
For local area information see below and for full area information see www.heartofargyll.com
Please note:
- the last 300m of road is untarred and uneven and not suitable for low profile vehicles.
- the gardens are not enclosed and not suitable for children under 12.
- those with limited mobility may encounter some restriction. Please call to discuss.
Area Information
Knapdale National Scenic Area
The wooded Knapdale Peninsula and the desolate, mountainous Island of Jura are situated around a hundred miles north west of Glasgow and some thirty miles to the south of Oban. Both are designated as two of Scotland's protected "National Scenic Areas" being defined zones that are smaller than the two National Parks in Scotland (Cairngorm and Loch Lomond and The Trossachs) and differentiated by the outstanding quality of their unique landscapes, most being situated in the West Highlands.
As a well kept secret for those who love Argyll and the Isles, Knapdale and Jura are known as West Coast gems that have hidden behind other iconic "NSA's" such as The Cuillins, Knoydart and Glencoe with Carsaig referred to as "The Jewel of Knapdale." Visitors who enjoy, for example, Ardamurchan, Mull and Skye delight in discovering such a low key area with the serenity that comes from the National Nature Reserves, ancient forests and peaceful lochans in addition to the wonderful coastal scenery.
Delve a bit deeper and a visit is enriched by exploring the remains of what was the original ancient Kingdom of Scotland, perusing the work of the very talented artists who live in the area, taking walks or boat trips to get closer to the great diversity of wildlife and natural habitats that thrive in this distinctive landscape or just taking it easy enjoying lunch at Tayvallich overlooking one of the most picturesque village bays on the West Coast!
Knapdale is an area of a hundred and twenty square miles stretching south and west from Kilmartin Glen, birthplace and seat of the original ancient "Kingdom of Scotland" of around 1500 years ago (known then as Dalriada and populated by the "Scotties"!) and the site of one of Europe's highest concentration of archeological remains from as far back as 5000 years ago.
Several hundred prehistoric monuments, standing stones and circles, cairns, rock carvings and two castles depict life as it was in the time when this area was an a hive of rural and sea trading activity.
A recent BBC documentary on Argyll, David Dimbleby's "Britain and the Sea," (which may still be available on You Tube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTdGA21Ln1g ), gives a fascinating insight into the area's ancient trading history as well as show casing the scenery .... and in glorious weather!
Knapdale continues south west across the Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve and over the picturesque early 19th Century Crinan Canal, through Crinan Harbour, Carsaig Bay, Tayvallich Bay, and the Taynish National Nature Reserve to the 12th Century Castle Sween, ending in the quite mesmorisingly beautiful and remote promontaries that are home to the old Celtic Chapels of Keils, Kilmory and Eilean Mor and a number of white sand beaches, all within ten miles of Carsaig.
Knapdale feels wild and remote but can be reached without an excessively long drive, a factor that no doubt appeals to the internationally acclaimed wildlife filmmakers, artists and photographers who have made their home here. As a guide, the driving time from middle England north to Argyll is comparable with the drive south to Cornwall.
Jura National Scenic Area
The captivating and almost uninhabited island of Jura, which is viewed from Carsaig, runs forty miles north east to south west (and roughly three miles across) from the Island of Scarba and the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool - the world's third largest - to the Island of Islay. Jura is regarded as one of Europe's last remaining wilderness islands and was described as an "ungettable place" by George Orwell when, in 1947, he chose a lone farmhouse there as his literary home for the writing of 1984.
Jura is still as wild today and has been mapped in 2014 by Scottish Natural Heritage as the only large Scottish Hebridean Island that is almost wholly designated as "Wild Land." Its huge expanse of hills, moors, raised beaches and even palm trees - thanks to the warmth of the Gulf Stream - have also recently been made a little more accessible with the newly introduced twice daily forty minute Jura Passenger Ferry Service from Tayvallich which runs to the pretty whisky distillary village of Craighouse in the summer months and by private bookings with Venture West all year round. (See the BBC's "Three Men in a Boat" with Gryff Rhys Jones and http://www.venture-west.co.uk/).
The superb photographs of Jura by Konrad Borkowski http://ephotographica.com/jura/index.html and "Islands on the Edge," the recent BBC documentary, narrated by Ewan McGregor and filmed by John Aitcheson, beautifully portray the wildlife and magnificent ruggedness of Jura and the powerful surrounding seas. Carsaig Views provides a front row seat from which to view this island and the huge body of tidal water (The Sound of Jura) which moves at 5mph in each tidal direction, regardless of appearing as a choppy sparkling turquoise sea, a maelstrom of waves and spindrift or a glassy calm in an iconic West Highland sunset!
Several hundred prehistoric monuments, standing stones and circles, cairns, rock carvings and two castles depict life as it was in the time when this area was an a hive of rural and sea trading activity.
A recent BBC documentary on Argyll, David Dimbleby's "Britain and the Sea," (which may still be available on You Tube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTdGA21Ln1g ), gives a fascinating insight into the area's ancient trading history as well as show casing the scenery .... and in glorious weather!
Knapdale continues south west across the Moine Mhor National Nature Reserve and over the picturesque early 19th Century Crinan Canal, through Crinan Harbour, Carsaig Bay, Tayvallich Bay, and the Taynish National Nature Reserve to the 12th Century Castle Sween, ending in the quite mesmorisingly beautiful and remote promontaries that are home to the old Celtic Chapels of Keils, Kilmory and Eilean Mor and a number of white sand beaches, all within ten miles of Carsaig.
Knapdale feels wild and remote but can be reached without an excessively long drive, a factor that no doubt appeals to the internationally acclaimed wildlife filmmakers, artists and photographers who have made their home here. As a guide, the driving time from middle England north to Argyll is comparable with the drive south to Cornwall.
Jura National Scenic Area
The captivating and almost uninhabited island of Jura, which is viewed from Carsaig, runs forty miles north east to south west (and roughly three miles across) from the Island of Scarba and the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool - the world's third largest - to the Island of Islay. Jura is regarded as one of Europe's last remaining wilderness islands and was described as an "ungettable place" by George Orwell when, in 1947, he chose a lone farmhouse there as his literary home for the writing of 1984.
Jura is still as wild today and has been mapped in 2014 by Scottish Natural Heritage as the only large Scottish Hebridean Island that is almost wholly designated as "Wild Land." Its huge expanse of hills, moors, raised beaches and even palm trees - thanks to the warmth of the Gulf Stream - have also recently been made a little more accessible with the newly introduced twice daily forty minute Jura Passenger Ferry Service from Tayvallich which runs to the pretty whisky distillary village of Craighouse in the summer months and by private bookings with Venture West all year round. (See the BBC's "Three Men in a Boat" with Gryff Rhys Jones and http://www.venture-west.co.uk/).
The superb photographs of Jura by Konrad Borkowski http://ephotographica.com/jura/index.html and "Islands on the Edge," the recent BBC documentary, narrated by Ewan McGregor and filmed by John Aitcheson, beautifully portray the wildlife and magnificent ruggedness of Jura and the powerful surrounding seas. Carsaig Views provides a front row seat from which to view this island and the huge body of tidal water (The Sound of Jura) which moves at 5mph in each tidal direction, regardless of appearing as a choppy sparkling turquoise sea, a maelstrom of waves and spindrift or a glassy calm in an iconic West Highland sunset!
Carsaig and Tayvallich Bay
On arrival, and after driving some six miles through the pretty Knapdale forests on a single track road, the final private gravel road leads to the elevated grounds of Carsaig Views. At this level the vistas open up and give a particularly good example of why this part of Argyll is so unique. The beautiful long tapering spits either side of Carsaig Bay and seen from the lounge window are an example of a landform that is not found anywhere else in the British Isles. These thin parallel coastal ridges and peninsulas, long fingers of sealochs and a myriad of freshwater lochans, all run through Knapdale in a north east to south west direction. Seen on a map, it's as if a giant fine toothed comb has been roughly dragged from the Crinan Canal south west through the Knapdale forests to the sea!
These long ridges, whether on land or submerged and formed millions of years ago by the splitting of moving continents, provide for wonderful scenic walks, cycling and kayaking. Photographers delight in the variation of water, landscape and superb light and many a lovely image of the area can be seen on www.flikr.com. The spits around Carsaig and Tayvallich - great for fishing due to the tidal upwellings that these ridges cause - hold particular geological interest because they are rarely seen 600 million year old "pillow lava" - volcanic magma which erupted underwater and chilled instantly to form blobs of rock with glassy crusts with these particular green and black ridges referred to by geologists as the "Tayvallich Volcanic Rocks."
The almost complete encirclement that has produced the fantastic sheltered anchorage of fabled Tayvallich Bay was formed by a similar ancient volcanic process and it's bizarre to imagine the bay as it is enjoyed today being already complete in its existence millions of years ago!
The views from the house and its grounds from the north to the south west take in the rocky islands, sand and shingle bays and Ruadh Sgeir Lighthouse in the Sound of Jura (situated on another largely submerged ridge) and a grand panorama extending from Ben More on Mull in the north, south to the rugged cliffs of Scarba, along the easterly shore of most of the length of Jura and south west to the three quartzite"Paps" (mountains) of Jura. Carsaig Views enjoys a very priviliged position from which to savour some truly magnificent panoramic sunsets against the skyline of Jura, a few of which are in the gallery at the foot of the page.
The views from the hill in the grounds behind the house also span around 360 degrees to include the forested sea lochs and ancient oak, ash, hazel and birch woodlands of inland Knapdale. This stunningly rich variety of natural environments make up the very unique landscape character that is recognised as the Knapdale National Scenic Area.
Wildlife
Of course, the "locals" are also a delight to meet - not just the Scottish Natural Heritage and BBC promoted "Big Five"- otters, golden eagles, red deer, red squirrel and harbour seals but also pine martins, osprey, buzzards, wildcats, dolphins, porpoises and even an occasional huge minke whale. The sound of wildlife is a constant presence at Carsaig Views and at times the level of birdsong is pretty loud. Deer wander freely around the grounds, chomping on the flowers when they can and their rutting roar in autumn is an extraordinary sound when first heard.
Of special note is the Scottish Beaver Trial (BBC Countryfile's 2013 UK Conservation Project of the Year), some ten minutes drive away. This is the 2009 re-introduction of the Scottish beaver, last seen in the 16th Century and now doing very well again in the Heart of Argyll........the debate about also re-introducing the indiginous wolves and brown bears has been rekindled!
Ray Mear's recent Celtic Scotland episode of Wild Britain is a fantastic look at the Knapdale temperate rain forest and the fascinating construction skills of the now resident beaver colony, and worth a look on ITV Player. It's bemusing to compare the man made dam and lake at Ben Cruachan above Loch Awe with the beaver made dam, lake and canals at Dubh loch!
David Attenburgh's entertaining celebration of the beaver's eco-engineering prowess, albeit it filmed in North America, is an amazing peek into the habitation the beavers are now re-creating in Knapdale. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMgyADwmJeU
On arrival, and after driving some six miles through the pretty Knapdale forests on a single track road, the final private gravel road leads to the elevated grounds of Carsaig Views. At this level the vistas open up and give a particularly good example of why this part of Argyll is so unique. The beautiful long tapering spits either side of Carsaig Bay and seen from the lounge window are an example of a landform that is not found anywhere else in the British Isles. These thin parallel coastal ridges and peninsulas, long fingers of sealochs and a myriad of freshwater lochans, all run through Knapdale in a north east to south west direction. Seen on a map, it's as if a giant fine toothed comb has been roughly dragged from the Crinan Canal south west through the Knapdale forests to the sea!
These long ridges, whether on land or submerged and formed millions of years ago by the splitting of moving continents, provide for wonderful scenic walks, cycling and kayaking. Photographers delight in the variation of water, landscape and superb light and many a lovely image of the area can be seen on www.flikr.com. The spits around Carsaig and Tayvallich - great for fishing due to the tidal upwellings that these ridges cause - hold particular geological interest because they are rarely seen 600 million year old "pillow lava" - volcanic magma which erupted underwater and chilled instantly to form blobs of rock with glassy crusts with these particular green and black ridges referred to by geologists as the "Tayvallich Volcanic Rocks."
The almost complete encirclement that has produced the fantastic sheltered anchorage of fabled Tayvallich Bay was formed by a similar ancient volcanic process and it's bizarre to imagine the bay as it is enjoyed today being already complete in its existence millions of years ago!
The views from the house and its grounds from the north to the south west take in the rocky islands, sand and shingle bays and Ruadh Sgeir Lighthouse in the Sound of Jura (situated on another largely submerged ridge) and a grand panorama extending from Ben More on Mull in the north, south to the rugged cliffs of Scarba, along the easterly shore of most of the length of Jura and south west to the three quartzite"Paps" (mountains) of Jura. Carsaig Views enjoys a very priviliged position from which to savour some truly magnificent panoramic sunsets against the skyline of Jura, a few of which are in the gallery at the foot of the page.
The views from the hill in the grounds behind the house also span around 360 degrees to include the forested sea lochs and ancient oak, ash, hazel and birch woodlands of inland Knapdale. This stunningly rich variety of natural environments make up the very unique landscape character that is recognised as the Knapdale National Scenic Area.
Wildlife
Of course, the "locals" are also a delight to meet - not just the Scottish Natural Heritage and BBC promoted "Big Five"- otters, golden eagles, red deer, red squirrel and harbour seals but also pine martins, osprey, buzzards, wildcats, dolphins, porpoises and even an occasional huge minke whale. The sound of wildlife is a constant presence at Carsaig Views and at times the level of birdsong is pretty loud. Deer wander freely around the grounds, chomping on the flowers when they can and their rutting roar in autumn is an extraordinary sound when first heard.
Of special note is the Scottish Beaver Trial (BBC Countryfile's 2013 UK Conservation Project of the Year), some ten minutes drive away. This is the 2009 re-introduction of the Scottish beaver, last seen in the 16th Century and now doing very well again in the Heart of Argyll........the debate about also re-introducing the indiginous wolves and brown bears has been rekindled!
Ray Mear's recent Celtic Scotland episode of Wild Britain is a fantastic look at the Knapdale temperate rain forest and the fascinating construction skills of the now resident beaver colony, and worth a look on ITV Player. It's bemusing to compare the man made dam and lake at Ben Cruachan above Loch Awe with the beaver made dam, lake and canals at Dubh loch!
David Attenburgh's entertaining celebration of the beaver's eco-engineering prowess, albeit it filmed in North America, is an amazing peek into the habitation the beavers are now re-creating in Knapdale. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMgyADwmJeU
Gallery
The images shown here without captions are taken from the house windows, in and around the grounds and adjacent Carsaig beach, which is about 3 minutes walk away. With captions, Tayvallich harbour is less than a mile away and Crinan and Bellanoch are around 5 miles to the north. Press the thumbnails to enlarge on touch screens. |
Tayvallich and Nearby
The cosmopolitan, picturesque village of Tayvallich, with its well stocked shop offering local produce, gifts and artwork is around 15 to 20 minutes walk away. Superb food and a welcoming service is found at the harbourside Coffee Shop and Cafe, and the award winning seafood restaurant and bar, The Tayvallich Inn. Both are updated regularly on Facebook and Trip Advisor and the photos will tempt your taste buds!
Crinan, Kilmartin and Oban offer the visitor a fantastic range of interesting excursions and rainy day attractions and there are a variety of delicious eating spots in the area with great reviews.
Enjoy the numerous scenic coastal and forestry walking and cycling trails and the nature reserves nearby provide an educational look at the native habitats and species. Of note is the superb National Nature Reserve of Taynish which is walkable from Tayvallich. The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Heart Of Argyll, Argyll and the Isles and Walk Highlands are all great resources for planning your stay.Venture West offers fantastic boat trips and again is kept well updated on Facebook. Explore Wild Argyll also offer highly qualified expert bespoke day trips to meet heritage, wildlife and kayaking interests, www.explorewildargyll.com
The Arrival Route
The journey to Tayvallich and Carsaig is quite beautiful in itself. Most visitors travel via Glasgow and north west from Glasgow Airport the travel time is a little over 2 hours. (A fly/drive trip is an option to consider as rental cars are available from £10/day.) Within 15 minutes the route enters into the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and follows the loch's "bonnie banks" for much of its length. Climbing up the "Rest and be Thankful" mountain pass, perhaps stopping at the commemorative stone of the original 1753 military road to appreciate the great views of the Arrochar Alps, then down to Loch Fyne, at 40 miles the longest and deepest sea loch in Scotland. Here at sea level on the A83, savour the products from two nationally acclaimed entrepreneurial ventures right where they are produced: at The Brewery Tap at Fyne Ales and the exquisite seafood roadside feast that is the original Loch Fyne Restaraunt, Deli and Oyster Bar.
Continue on to the glorious Crarae Gardens - Scotland's "Himalayan Glen," before arriving at the historic Royal Burgh of Inverary. The stately Inverary Castle, ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll and seat of Clan Campbell is a wonderful side trip - immerse in the elegant grounds and view the wealth of art and historic collections on display.
After winding alongside the pretty Crinan Canal and through the "Knaps" (hills) and "dales" (valleys) of the Knapdale (!) Forest, the final few miles is a shore hugging single-track road alongside the enchanting and very beautiful Caol Loch Scotnish - before turning the corner into Tayvallich - regarded as one of the most picturesque harbour villages in the West Highlands and with the hamlet of Carsaig on the west shore. The final track up to the house from Carsaig Bay follows the old Jura cattle drover's road from the stone pier up the hill to a plateau with the remains of the old road skirting beyond the house still visible.
Sunset photos below are taken mostly from the lounge window. Press on thumbnails to enlarge on touch screens.
The cosmopolitan, picturesque village of Tayvallich, with its well stocked shop offering local produce, gifts and artwork is around 15 to 20 minutes walk away. Superb food and a welcoming service is found at the harbourside Coffee Shop and Cafe, and the award winning seafood restaurant and bar, The Tayvallich Inn. Both are updated regularly on Facebook and Trip Advisor and the photos will tempt your taste buds!
Crinan, Kilmartin and Oban offer the visitor a fantastic range of interesting excursions and rainy day attractions and there are a variety of delicious eating spots in the area with great reviews.
Enjoy the numerous scenic coastal and forestry walking and cycling trails and the nature reserves nearby provide an educational look at the native habitats and species. Of note is the superb National Nature Reserve of Taynish which is walkable from Tayvallich. The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Natural Heritage, Heart Of Argyll, Argyll and the Isles and Walk Highlands are all great resources for planning your stay.Venture West offers fantastic boat trips and again is kept well updated on Facebook. Explore Wild Argyll also offer highly qualified expert bespoke day trips to meet heritage, wildlife and kayaking interests, www.explorewildargyll.com
The Arrival Route
The journey to Tayvallich and Carsaig is quite beautiful in itself. Most visitors travel via Glasgow and north west from Glasgow Airport the travel time is a little over 2 hours. (A fly/drive trip is an option to consider as rental cars are available from £10/day.) Within 15 minutes the route enters into the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and follows the loch's "bonnie banks" for much of its length. Climbing up the "Rest and be Thankful" mountain pass, perhaps stopping at the commemorative stone of the original 1753 military road to appreciate the great views of the Arrochar Alps, then down to Loch Fyne, at 40 miles the longest and deepest sea loch in Scotland. Here at sea level on the A83, savour the products from two nationally acclaimed entrepreneurial ventures right where they are produced: at The Brewery Tap at Fyne Ales and the exquisite seafood roadside feast that is the original Loch Fyne Restaraunt, Deli and Oyster Bar.
Continue on to the glorious Crarae Gardens - Scotland's "Himalayan Glen," before arriving at the historic Royal Burgh of Inverary. The stately Inverary Castle, ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll and seat of Clan Campbell is a wonderful side trip - immerse in the elegant grounds and view the wealth of art and historic collections on display.
After winding alongside the pretty Crinan Canal and through the "Knaps" (hills) and "dales" (valleys) of the Knapdale (!) Forest, the final few miles is a shore hugging single-track road alongside the enchanting and very beautiful Caol Loch Scotnish - before turning the corner into Tayvallich - regarded as one of the most picturesque harbour villages in the West Highlands and with the hamlet of Carsaig on the west shore. The final track up to the house from Carsaig Bay follows the old Jura cattle drover's road from the stone pier up the hill to a plateau with the remains of the old road skirting beyond the house still visible.
Sunset photos below are taken mostly from the lounge window. Press on thumbnails to enlarge on touch screens.