Oystercatchers Cottage, Lower Breakish is a former croft house on the most famous of the Scottish Islands. As owners, we are aware that it is our responsibility to ensure that we retain this wonderful spot for future generations to enjoy just the way it stands today. We have therefore implemented the following measures:

1. The Cottage is well draught-proofed and insulated, with thermal blackout linings on all curtains and trickle feed vents on all new windows.
2. We have used double thickness sheep’s wool insulation in the roof spaces.
3. Only Eco-friendly cleaning products and detergents are used to clean the cottage and these are also made available for guests to use, together with a request not to use non-green products. Guests are also asked to retain containers so that they may be re-filled.
4. Low energy light bulbs are used throughout and we get our electricity from a Green supplier
5. The electric heating in each room is individually timer-controlled and we set the thermostats according to the season so that the house is not over-heated.
6. Our water use is monitored by a meter and we encourage guests to keep water use to a minimum. We have supplied 4 minute timers in each bathroom and reminder notices not to leve taps running.
7. We supply locally-sourced, sustainably-grown, softwood for use in the wood-burning stove and actively encourage its use over electric heating. We purchase this already dried and store it to facilitate further drying to reduce pollutants and risk to health from burning wet wood.
8. In line with current Government recommendations we also supply an eco solid fuel, available from the local Co-op.
9. We have reduced, reused and recycled the waste generated by us and supplied information and encourage guests to do the same in line with the recycling policy of Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd. Information on recycling is made clear in the Guest handbook and by the provision of suitable containers for recycling
10. All correspondence is carried out by email to reduce the use of paper – any paper we use for printing is made from recycled paper
11. We have a no-smoking/no-vaping policy in the cottage.
12. We have planted herbs in pots directly outside the kitchen for use in cooking and we have established a wildlife sector in the top garden to encourage insect life, particularly bees, to the property.
13. We have provided a variety of bird feeders, books on wildlife and binoculars for guests to use.
14. We have a yearly planting programme – plants have been chosen for the abundance of berries produced.
15. We are conducting extensive water-management works to better manage rain water run off.
16. We repair and maitain the original drystone walls around the cottage on a regular basis, using stone from around the property.
17. We provide laminated copies of local walks to encourage guests to walk from the cottage door and make available suggestions for car free activities.
18. Details of public transport links to the Cottage are made available to guests both prior to arrival on request and in the Guest handbook and details of links to relevant transport websites are in the Guest handbook.
19. We hope our business helps the local economy. We spend money in the local shops and restaurants, buy all our food, building materials and appliances from local firms and believe we have a minimal impact on the environment. Our “guest pack” includes gifts from local suppliers.
20. We have provided details to guests, both prior to arrival and in the Guest handbooks, of locally sourced food and drink, at shops, cafés and restaurants, including details of those selling Fair Trade products.
21. We support a specific Charity on a yearly basis and have provided information on this and opportunities for guest to contribute by means of a collection box and links to the relevant website

We seek, by implementing the above, and constantly reviewing it, to reduce the impact of Tourism on our landscape while affording a happy experience for our guests so that they want return to Scotland.

At Oystercatchers we want to make everyone’s stay as enjoyable as possible and are committed to making access as easy as possible within the constraints of a sea-shore location and a house build in 1902!  We aim to accurately describe our facilities and services to give you the confidence to book a holiday at Oystercatchers.

Oystercatchers is 4* rated by VisitScotland and has a Green Tourism Silver Award.

Watch the video: A video to look around the cottage

General

Oystercatchers is a typical Scottish ‘White House’, stone built on a slope running down to a tidal estuary which dries out at low tide.  The approach roads are single track with passing places and the final 50 metres is a relatively steep part-graveled track.  The property is located on a number of terraces with slopes or steps from one to another and chipped stone paths; inside it is fully modernized within the constraints of a much extended 1902 property – so there are multiple levels inside and sloping ceilings upstairs with limited height in places.  Overall – and with care in wet and slippery conditions – the access would be within the capability of:

• Older and less mobile guests
• Part-time wheelchair users – who can manage relatively short distances outwith their wheelchair where there is gravel and/or steps.
• Assisted wheelchair users – providing the assister was able to contend with steps and gravel / stone tracks and paths

At a Glance

The house is non-smoking, non-vaping.

Level Access

• Inside the house – downstairs – there is level access from parts of the kitchen
  • To the main bathroom.
  • To the sitting room
• Inside the house – upstairs – there is level access from the double bedroom and twin
  • To the showerroom
• Note that there is a step of 3 inches / 7 cm within the kitchen.

Access with steps

• There are steps from:
  • The track to the top (‘Wildflower’) garden.
  • The parking to the main garden and entrance (4 steps down with handrail)
  • The track to the main garden and entrance (up one step of 5 inches / 12cms)
  • The garden / main entrance to the kitchen (up a step and a door lintel)
  • The kitchen entrance into the main kitchen area (up one step of 3 inches / 7cms)
  • The main kitchen area into the downstairs twin bedroom (up one step of 6 inches / 15cms)
• There are stairs with a handrail from the kitchen entrance up to the first floor where it is then level access to:
  • Double and twin bedrooms
  • Shower room and toilet

 Bedrooms

• We have a mix of duvets / pillows – the main double bedrooms have feather; the twin room has synthetic.  Synthetic duvets may be available for the double rooms on request

Getting here

The address is: Oystercatchers, ¼ of 22 Lower Breakish, Isle of Skye

The ‘1/4’ relates to the old crofting system – as these smallholdings have been broken up over the years each new property takes the original number and then ‘division’  So ‘Oystercatchers’ has about a quarter of the land of the original croft meaning that it is delightfully secluded and quiet.

Oystercatchers is located at the end of a quiet road in Lower Breakish.  For SatNav the co-ordinates are as per our website:  57.244763, -5.854146; or post code IV42 8QA.

For those who prefer following maps:

• When approaching from the Bridge or if you came over the Kylerhea ferry, drive towards Broadford on A87. You go over a narrow bridge as you enter Breakish. Continue until you pass the Red Skye Restaurant on your left.  Turn immediately right and drive straight on, taking care as this is a very narrow road with passing places and several blind summits.  There is a slightly crooked crossroads, which you continue over.  Oystercatchers will be directly in front of you as you cross the lower road.  There is a large sign on the edge of the property.  Proceed slowly about 15 metres towards the water’s edge and you will be able to go in the gate to the cottage.
• When approaching from Broadford, take the A87 signed towards Kyle of Lochalsh/Kyleakin you will come out into the 40mph zone and then pass over a narrow bridge, giving way to oncoming traffic. Take the first left to Lower Breakish immediately after passing a full-size plastic horse (!) on your left.  After approximately 500m you will come to a crooked crossroads; take the left turn and proceed carefully as there are 2 blind summits, towards the water.  Oystercatchers will be directly in front of you as you cross the lower road.  There is a large sign on the edge of the property.  Proceed slowly about 15 metres towards the water’s edge and you will be able to go in the gate to the cottage.

On a map you will see there are 3 roads off the A87, all of which will get you to the cottage.  Crofts in Lower Breakish are numbered consecutively, with numbers increasing towards the Broadford edge of the village so if you find you are on the middle road, near number 14, you should drive towards Broadford, and you will come to the road that leads down to the cottage!  Crofts in Upper Breakish are numbered the opposite way round – i.e. the numbers decrease towards Braodford.

 Travel by public transport

• You can get to Oystercatchers by bus or train plus taxi.
  • Bus: The nearest bus stop is on the main A87.  The bus stop is ¾ mile / 1 km from Oystercatchers on single track roads with no pavements.  You have to book in advance for wheelchair access to buses, and most buses will only take 2 wheelchairs
  • Train: to Kyle of Lochalsh – from Inverness.  Details from https://www.thetrainline.com/train-times/inverness-to-kyle-of-lochalsh

 Travel by taxi

• You can get a taxi from Kyle of Lochalsh train station by calling Fast Cabs in advance on 01478 612200, Mobile 07784 996902 or email fastcabs@aol.com (this company is based in Portree and has wheelchair accessible vehicle.)

 Parking

• We have parking for one car within the property accessible through a full width farm style gate – there is plenty of level room around the car for unloading. The parking is less than 25 metres from the main entrance with steps and a handrail down to the entrance, or you can use the track to get to a single entry garden gate up a step of approximately 4 inches.

Arrival

 Steps to main entrance

• From the track to the main entrance there is one step and a crushed stone path.
• From the parking to the main entrance there are 5 steps and a crushed stone track
• From the main entrance into the house there are 2 steps
• The paths are all sloped

 Main entrance

• The main door is side hung and manual.

Getting around inside

There are differing levels within the ground floor.

Bedrooms

• All bedrooms have windows and natural daylight
• All doors are standard width
• Bedrooms have ceiling lights and bedside lamps
• There are armchair seats in all bedrooms

Kitchen

• We have an open plan kitchen with step down into the sitting room.
• All worktops and appliances are at standard height.
• All crockery, glasses, pots and pans are in low level – under counter – storage.

Sitting Room

• From the main entrance to the Sitting Room there is level access through a standard width door.
• There are two sofas and a high back armchair.

Getting around outside

  The main garden

• Has a number of levels with slopes, steps and crushed stone pathways. There are two sitting areas – lawn or crushed stone.

  Terrace

• Within the main garden there is a crushed stone terrace with fixed seating and stored within it additional outdoors furniture. It is dry underfoot except in the heaviest of Highland storms.

  Top ‘Wildfower’ Garden

• The wildflower garden is accessed by steps and is then steep and grassed with wet areas, multiple changes of slope and footing – by its nature, a haven for wildlife, animals, insects and butterflies. It is safe only for those who can manage the changes underfoot.

   Bottom ‘Driftwood’ Garden

• The Driftwood garden is outside the fenced area; it is a terrace directly adjacent to the sea with a firepit and informal seating – some of it formed from driftwood; the access is steep and can be slippery. The garden has no boundary and drops 5 feet into the sea at high tide – children should be accompanied and supervised.

    The seashore

• The seashore is tidal so is covered at high water – it is therefore slippery and uneven but once across the rocks and seaweed there is a large area of flat hard packed sand – brilliant for throwing a ball or digging sandcastles!

For our guests

Emergency evacuation procedures

• We have an emergency evacuation card on the inside of the main door, fire fighting equipment and additional non-mains lighting. The main door and the French window in the downstairs bedroom are secured by thumb locks, allowing exit without a key.

Information

• We have an information file detailing all local activities and amenities including health and emergency numbers.
• Mobile phone reception is variable in the Highlands but the house has Superfast Wifi broadband throughout.

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