Peaceful lochside Highland retreat

Homely cottage in Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. Comfortable space to relax and enjoy stunning views of Lochgoil and surrounding mountains. Ideal holiday destination for lovers of the great outdoors. Hamilsmay is a two-bedroom timber-framed detached house in a quiet location on the banks of Lochgoil. A double-height living room, complete with cosy wood-burning stove and floor-to-ceiling picture windows provides a comfortable space to admire the stunning views and passing wildlife. The house is on two floors with both bedrooms upstairs and bathroom/toilet downstairs. The master bedroom has a double bed and the second bedroom has two single beds which can be zipped together to make a double. A travel cot is also available. The entire house will be yours to use exclusively. We have a gardener who comes every few weeks (weather permitting!) to cut the grass but doesn't come into the house. COVID-19: during this period of ongoing transmission in the UK, guests can check-in by accessing keys held in a key safe on the wall. The house will be all ready for you to use. We will be in the neighbourhood should any problems arise. The house is in a rural, wilderness setting 1 mile from Lochgoilhead village. Very few houses are at this end of Lochgoilhead making this a tranquil, undisturbed area. Lots of great walks from the house and fishing nearby. Replenishing the bird feeders will ensure a steady stream of feathered visitors, plus the odd red squirrel! Seals are often seen swimming by and occasionally porpoises in the distance. The village has a post office with basic food/household supplies, a 'hotel' (pub) and marine store for fishing supplies and boat rental. The jetty in the village is a big draw for fishermen/women/children and a great place to catch mackerel in summer. Drymsinie holiday village on the other side of the loch offers a range of leisure facilities including gym, swimming/spa, indoor bowls, badminton, mini golf. The house has information on local places of interest, maps and nearby walking routes. Additional information on local attractions can be found on the Visit Cowal and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park websites. Please note that mobile phone reception in the area is patchy. Around the house, you should find good coverage for most network providers apart from O2 (there is a landline in the house for emergencies). There are no public transport routes which come past the house. Buses run from Dunoon or Helensburgh to Lochgoilhead village (20-30 mins walk along steep road). The nearest train station is 'Arrochar & Tarbet' and CityLink coaches (from Glasgow centre and airport) also stop at Arrochar and Tarbet. There is a local bus service to Lochgoilhead which stops at both Arrochar and Tarbet (including the station) but please note these services are very infrequent. Moorings are available in Lochgoil. If you're planning to come to us by sea, please check the Royal Navy Loch Goil Port web pages for any restrictions which may affect access to the loch. The driveway can fit two cars. COVID-19: we'd like to reassure our guests of additional precautions we are taking in light of the current global battle against the spread of COVID-19. These include stepping up our cleaning regime to meet both AirBnB and Scottish government standards. All touch points in the house are thoroughly cleaned with effective (virucidal) products between all guest visits, and washing our bedding and towels on a hot wash. Our wonderful co-hosts are provided with PPE as per AirBnB recommendations to protect them whilst they clean and have been trained in how to clean the house safely. We ask guests to help us comply with these guidelines by ensuring that they: 1. do not come and stay if they are unwell with possible COVID-19 symptoms 2. let us know if they become unwell with these symptoms during their stay 3. strip bedding and place this and towels into laundry bags provided Amenities The house is a comfortable, homely space with books, toys and general home comforts. Whilst the house is thoroughly cleaned between guests, please note that we do have occasionally doggy visitors so the house would not be suitable for guests with dog/dust allergies. Please note the kitchen has an induction hob - guests with cardiac pacemakers will not be able to safely use this. A 'bushbaby' backpack which can carry a child up to 15kg is available, ideal for longer treks with little ones! There's also a high chair. Please note that there are no stair gates in the house. Whilst the house does have wifi, the connection speed can be slow and prone to dropping, as is the case in many rural parts of the UK. There is a stone slipway leading to the beach. Guests are welcome to use it to launch small sailing craft and canoes but please note that the slipway is uneven and the stones uncemented. It's therefore unsuitable for trailers or carrying anything other than very light boats. Heating The house is heated by powerful wood-burning stove (there is no central heating). Guests must be confident in being able to use the stove and bring in logs from the log store onsite (logs are provided for guests). It's simple to use and we can show you how if needed. Conservation We are committed to preserving the beauty and wilderness of the Argyll National Park. The garden is planted with indigenous trees and heather and the wood for stove locally sourced from sustainably managed forests. There is a compost cone for leftover food. The electricity is provided on a renewables only tariff. Please note Lochgoilhead, like much of the Highlands, has large numbers of midges (small biting insects) in the summer.