Escape to one of the most dramatically beautiful islands on Earth; the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, or Western Isles, now connected to mainland Scotland by a famously toll-free road bridge.

 The Anchorage is a self-catering cottage right on the foreshore of one of the best locations on the island. This is a place for seaside-loving, mountain-walking, wildlife-watching, peace-searching people who love wilderness beaches, gastronomic delights and a touch of the Celtic - summer or winter.

The Anchorage is an old seaside cottage which overlooks a sea-loch (Loch Alsh) and the heather clad mountains of the Highlands beyond. A family of otters that lives close by can often be seen frolicking in the crystal clear water outside the house, as can herons and other sea birds. There are at two colonies of seals with a few hundred yards of the house, and porpoises are a not uncommon sight.

A gate leads from the garden right on to the high tide line, from where one can fish or just sit and watch the yachts, naval and fishing boats come and go, including the occasional submarine or cruise liner. Opposite the house is the lighthouse-keeper`s cottage where Gavin Maxwell (author of Ring of Bright Water) lived.

Kyleakin (pronounced Kylakken) is perfectly situated on Skye, just a few minutes from the bridge and within easy reach of the varied attractions of all parts of the island. Although very peaceful, there is always something going in the channel or the fishing harbour and marina round the corner.

Accommodation - The house is cosy enough to accommodate either one or two couples but spacious enough for a larger family. The sleeping arrangements are particularly flexible although we prefer to accommodate parties of no more than 6 people on a self-catering basis. We recommend that additional guests or visiting friends stay at the White Heather Hotel which is comfortable, very friendly, and within a minute's walk of the house (www.whiteheatherhotel.co.uk)

The Anchorage is primarily designed for our own use and we have recently refurbished, and furnished it accordingly, with everything one could need for a stress-free self-catering holiday. So of course there is a washing machine and dishwasher as well as a fridge-freezer - all new. There is also an Aga, plus convector cooker/microwave and hob. We want our guests to enjoy the house as we do, so don't worry about TV/video, hairdryer, iron, bedding - they are all provided (except towels). The house has central heating throughout and a solid fuel stove in the sitting room. All rooms overlook the sea. There is a pretty garden and parking for one car.

Ground Floor: Entrance Lobby with plenty of room for coats, wellies, etc., Sitting Room with solid fuel stove and sofa bed, Family Room/Playroom/Guestroom with sofa bed, Kitchen/Breakfast room with Aga, Microwave/Convector Cooker, Porcelain sink, Washing Machine/Tumble Dryer, Dishwasher.

First Floor: Principal bedroom with double bed, Second bedroom with double divan, bunk beds and wash basin, Bathroom with bath, power shower, WC and wash basin.

Outside: Well-stocked garden leading right on to the foreshore - great for crabbing, fishing, diving, windsurfing and boating. Larger craft can be launched from the harbour which is within a minute's walk of the house. The passing ship in the picture above is the Hebridean Princess, a luxury liner which is a regular sight from the house, along with numerous fishing and other boats.

Local facilities: Kyleakin  is a charming village arranged around a small harbour and marina (pictured below) which houses several working fishing boats and pleasure craft. The Viking Castle Moil is a prominent landmark (also pictured) and the views from the top are well worth the short walk around the cove. The village has a small post office/general store, a cafe and a couple of unpretentious restaurants. More extensive facilities can be found over the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh five minutes away, Broadford, ten minutes away or Portree, Skye's capital 30 minutes away.

Wildlife: The whole area is of particular interest and Kyleakin has its own Brightwater Interpretation Centre where children can enjoy a hands-on educational experience, and boat-trips to the home of Gavin Maxwell and museum of his life's work with the sea otters that continue to live wild in the area. From rock-pools to red deer, whales to waders, seagulls to seals, extensive wildlife can be found throughout the area. Highland cattle are a common site and are very tame.

Things to see: The Anchorage is perfectly situated for touring both the dramatic north and lush south of the island. There are numerous castles, including the famous Eilean Donan, the challenging walks and climbs of the Cuillin mountain range, fabulous waterfalls cascading onto sandy beaches, highland cattle and pretty villages such as Plockton on the mainland close by, where the TV series "Hamish Macbeth" was filmed. There are whale-watching excursions and boat trips to numerous islands such as Raasay, Rhum, Eigg, and many more. Beaches with spectacular views can be found around the island and we particularly like Elgol and Tarskavaig, each of which are within about half an hour's drive. Gaelic can still be heard spoken occasionally and the Skye ceilidhs are a must.

Restaurants: There are several excellent world-class restaurants on Skye, which is rapidly becoming known for its cuisine. Among the best are the Three Chimneys (www.threechimneys.co.uk) in northern Skye (the 28th best restaurant in the world according to the Daily Telegraph) and cookery writer Clare MacDonald's Kinloch Lodge (www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk ) which is within a twenty minute drive of The Anchorage. Corruisk House on the way to Elgol is an excellent sea-food restaurant, as are Off the Rails in Plockton (www.off-the-rails.co.uk) and the Applecross Inn(Scottish Inn of the Year 2002 and 2003). If you enjoy your food, Skye is the place for you!

Boat/Bike/Dive Hire: Charter, fishing, whale watching, seal watching, fast sea safari, glass bottom and self drive boats are all available for hire locally. Self-drive boats, diving gear and bikes can also be hired locally.

Directions: Approximately four hours north west of Glasgow, the western route takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland, including Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Ben Nevis and Kintail. Alternatively there are regular very low cost flights from Luton with Easy-Jet http://www.easyjet.com to Inverness from where Skye is a 90 minute drive.

The Anchorage is available primarily to our friends and family, but we do rent it to considerate other guests on request as a self-catering holiday cottage. Please note that we strictly cannot accommodate smokers or pets in the house under any circumstances.

Rental weeks usually commence at 3pm on Saturday and end at 10am the following Saturday.
Prices for 2005/6 range from £ 395 to £ 650 per week.

Please see www.cottageguide.co.uk/skye-anchorage/c/viewcalendars.html for the price and availability of your preferred week. For bookings, please contact the owner directly on 07773 770 319 or email: rrawlings@insideoutpr.co.uk

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