The Family Retreat · Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay

Curlew Cottage

Self-catering holiday home · Sleeping 6

Sleeps6 guests

Bedrooms3

Bathrooms2

PetsWelcome

Curlew Cottage is a pet-friendly, cosy family holiday cottage — a converted stone steading in elevated farmland between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. It sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms with a private access road, walled patio garden, and sea views across Loch Indaal.

Family sitting room with gingham sofa, framed Islay prints and wooden sideboard, Curlew Cottage Bruichladdich Isle of Islay

Guest Review

“The host was extremely kind and responsive. The house felt like a home.”

Airbnb, August 2025 — Portbahn House · ★★★★★

Living Spaces · 01

Inside, the hearth.

The ground floor is the heart of this holiday home, with bright windows looking out over the private garden and fields across Loch Indaal to Bowmore. The separate living spaces are great for people to get together and have a blether, or just to find a quiet corner with a book.

The main large family room has a big, cosy sofa, Islay seascape prints on the walls, and a wood-burning stove that gets the house toasty warm on cool Scottish evenings. There are books and board games and a TV with Freesat.

Next door, adjoining the kitchen there is a dining room - with a proper table for big hearty meals, and a door straight out to the summer garden where there's a bench for catching the morning sun with a cuppa. There's also a little snug area with a sofa and chairs, just off the kitchen, for coffee and wool-gathering.

The kitchen has grey shaker cabinets, oak worktops, a Dualit toaster, gas hob, dishwasher, microwave - simple, but fully equipped with all you need.

A separate laundry/utility room is by the back door with a washing machine, tumble dryer and an airing pulley for when the rain sets in.

The cottage has oil-fired central heating, double glazing, and a wood-burning stove - so it's warm year-round, not just a summer house. Wifi throughout.

Open-plan family room and dining room with gingham sofa, dining table and garden door, Curlew Cottage Bruichladdich Isle of Islay Scotland

Family sitting room with Loch Indaal sea views through windows, home-from-home holiday cottage, Curlew Cottage Bruichladdich Isle of Islay

Dining room and family sitting area with garden door open to summer garden, dining table in foreground, Curlew Cottage Bruichladdich Isle of Islay

Sitting room with wood-burning stove, leather sofa and bookshelves, home-from-home family holiday cottage, Curlew Cottage Isle of Islay

Wood-burning stove in wooden fireplace surround with log basket, bookshelves and framed Islay seascape prints, Curlew Cottage family holiday cottage Isle of Islay

Bedrooms & Bathrooms · 02

Where you sleep.

The cottage has three bedrooms, sleeping six, all upstairs - a superking, a double and a twin. Two share the main landing and use the family bathroom downstairs, and the third is reached via its own separate stair and has its own small bathroom - nice for privacy if you've got teenagers or older kids who want their own corner.

Each room has its own character: the master bedroom, with superking bed, has dark blue painted furniture and botanical cushions; the double has a teal geometric throw and Moroccan patterned cushions; and the separate-stair twin room has a dormer window and a writing desk. All have sea views out over the loch.

The main family bathroom is on the ground floor - bath, shower, pedestal sink, spacious wooden shelving. There is a small additional bathroom upstairs for the twin room, with a toilet, short bath, hand-held shower and Velux skylight.

One honest note: one of the bedrooms involves a separate stair, and the split staircase between rooms might not suit everybody. There are no bedrooms on the ground floor - possibly not ideal if stairs are a problem, but the ground-floor main bathroom means nobody has to climb for basic needs.

Upstairs double bedroom with sea views, Curlew Cottage Isle of Islay Scotland

Upstairs super king bedroom with sea views, Curlew Cottage Isle of Islay Scotland

Peaceful sea and farmland views from the superking master bedroom

Twin bedroom with two single beds and en-suite bathroom, Curlew Cottage Isle of Islay Scotland

Ground-floor family bathroom with bath, pedestal sink, wooden shelving with towels and ikat curtain, Curlew Cottage Bruichladdich Islay Scotland

Upstairs ensuite bathroom with bath, Velux skylight, slate floor tiles and rustic wooden shelving for the twin bedroom, Curlew Cottage Isle of Islay Scotland

Outdoors · 03

Out the door, the loch.

Curlew sits in an elevated position surrounded by farmland, between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte, with sea views across Loch Indaal. The private access road is shared only with two neighbouring homes - very quiet, very safe for kids playing outside.

The walled rear patio garden has an old greenhouse and the original stone outbuildings from when this was a working farm steading - the cottage itself is a conversion of the same steading, so the old stonework is a real feature of the property inside and out. Ample parking for several cars.

On warm spring and summer days, the front door opens straight onto the garden and a lovely bench for a morning brew - the front door leads from the dining room / snug area so the garden is on tap when you want it.

In winter, the view from the sitting room window - snow-dusted fields, Loch Indaal in the distance, sunset behind the Paps of Jura - is one of the best things about Curlew. Winter in the islands is often underestimated.

Dogs are welcome at Curlew Cottage, with one note: they must be on a lead when out the front of the property, which opens onto the neighbouring properties and farmland, but can be let off the lead in the back patio garden area. Please keep dogs on leads at all times when around farmland and livestock and be sensitive to the neighbours.

Curlew Cottage exterior at winter sunset, coastal Bruichladdich Isle of Islay Scotland, near Port Charlotte coastal walk

Curlew Cottage exterior in winter snow showing converted stone steading and main house, Bruichladdich Isle of Islay Scotland

Curlew Cottage, converted stone steading and south facing cottage garden, Bruichladdich Isle of Islay Scotland

Good to Know About Islay

Things worth knowing before you arrive.

Dog-Friendly Properties on Islay

All three properties — Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House and Curlew Cottage — welcome dogs at £15 per dog per stay, with no size or number limit. At Curlew Cottage, dogs must be kept on a lead at the front of the property and around neighbouring farmland; they can be let off the lead in the walled rear patio garden. Portbahn Beach is a 5-minute walk from all three properties. Islay is one of the best dog destinations in Scotland: empty beaches, quiet roads, and open countryside.

More about Dog-Friendly Properties on Islay →

Where You Are

Bruichladdich

Peaceful secluded hideaway between Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte, set back from the road with sweeping sea views

Bruichladdich Distillery5 minute walk
Port Charlotte village30 minute walk along coastal path or 5 minute drive
Portbahn Beach5 minute walk
Port Mor children's playground at Port Charlotte5 minute drive

Good to Know

One bedroom has separate stair access

The twin bedroom with ensuite is accessed via a separate staircase. Provides privacy but may not suit guests with mobility concerns.

Common Questions

Everything guests ask before booking.

Why are there no reviews for Curlew Cottage yet?

Curlew is Alan's family retreat, and he's opening it to guests for the first time in 2026. We (Pi & Lynton) manage Curlew with the same care we give Portbahn House and Shorefield. We hold a 4.97/5 rating across 600+ guests since 2017, with Airbnb Superhost status and 5.0/5 communication. Over 30 reviews mention our legendary ferry crisis support. You're getting the same level of care—just at a property new to the market.

Can we bring our dog to Curlew Cottage?

Yes — Curlew Cottage welcomes dogs at £15 per dog per stay, with no size or number limit. Dogs must be kept on a lead at the front of the property (which opens onto neighbouring properties and farmland), but can be let off the lead in the walled rear patio garden. Please keep dogs on leads whenever around livestock and be sensitive to the neighbours. All three of our properties — Portbahn House, Shorefield Eco House and Curlew Cottage — welcome dogs on the same terms.

Is the walled garden safe for children?

Yes — the walled rear patio garden is fully enclosed and private, perfect for kids to play safely without supervision concerns. The property is off the main road with its own private access, shared only with two neighbouring homes. Families with young children specifically choose Curlew for the combination of safe outdoor space and quiet location.

How many bedrooms does Curlew Cottage have?

Curlew has 3 bedrooms sleeping 6 guests: two bedrooms on the main floor (accessible without stairs) and one twin bedroom with ensuite accessed via a separate staircase. The separate staircase provides extra privacy (great for teens or separate families), but note this if you have mobility concerns.

What's the character of Curlew Cottage?

Curlew is Alan's family retreat—filled with his family's personal effects and holiday things like books, games, comfortable furniture. It's cosy, authentic, and genuinely feels like home from home. This isn't a styled, minimalist rental—it's a real family cottage with personality intact.

While You're Here

Explore Islay

Ten distilleries, miles of deserted beach, barnacle geese, white-tailed eagles, and a whisky festival in May. We've been here since 2017 — ask us anything.

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