# Portbahn House Luxury self-catering holiday house in Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay - sleeps 8, sea views over Loch Indaal, a 10-minute walk to Bruichladdich Distillery. Dog-friendly, with a large enclosed garden, trampoline and swings for families. Source: https://portbahnislay.co.uk/accommodation/portbahn-house Sleeps: 8 | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 2 | Dog-friendly: Yes ## Indicative rates | Period | Per night | |---|---| | Jan | From £161 | | Feb | From £161 | | Mar | From £173 | | Apr | From £300 | | May | From £300 | | Jun | From £356 | | Jul | From £300 | | Aug | From £333 | | Sep | From £310 | | Oct | From £315 | | Nov | From £173 | | Dec | From £173 | | Fèis Ìle week | From £450 (28 May–6 Jun 2027 · book well ahead) | Accommodation only. Cleaning fee £120 per stay. We update our rates week by week based on a number of local factors, so always check the live rates for the dates you'd like to book. These are average rates for the time of year, to give you an idea. ## Overview Portbahn House is our old family home, now a holiday house on the shore of Loch Indaal in Bruichladdich on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. It sleeps 8 in 3 ground-floor bedrooms with sea views from most rooms, a private garden with trampoline and swings, and walking access to Bruichladdich Distillery, Port Charlotte village, and Portbahn Beach. Portbahn House is our old family home - this is where we lived when we first moved to Islay. It sleeps 8 in 3 ground-floor bedrooms, including a huge superking bed looking over Loch Indaal. Coffee from bed looking at the birds over the loch is a special way to start the day! All the furniture, books, games, children's toys, paintings and pictures are our own from when we lived here. We hope you enjoy them as much as we always have. Bruichladdich Distillery is a 10-minute walk along the coastal cycle path - an easy walk home after tastings without worrying about driving. Portbahn Beach - three sheltered bays, rock pools, usually deserted - is 5 minutes' walk from the house towards Port Charlotte via the war memorial path. It's arguably the single best thing about the location, and guests mention it to us frequently. It's not somewhere many people know of so you'll almost certainly have it to yourselves. In Bruichladdich, Aileen's, also known as Debbie's (after her daughter!), is a shop/mini-market and post office, just a 10-minute walk for fantastic coffee, bacon rolls, newspapers and a blether. Port Charlotte - arguably Islay's prettiest village - is a 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk along the coast path. Two hotels with restaurants, pubs with extensive menus of rare local whiskies, the Museum of Islay Life, a sandy harbour beach with safe swimming, and a local shop with petrol pump. Parking for multiple cars in the grounds. Wifi throughout. Smart TV with Freesat, plus our own collection of DVDs, books and board games for rainy evenings by the fire with a dram of Bruichladdich in hand. Bringing your dog? Portbahn House is the pick of our three houses for dogs - the private garden is fully enclosed for off-lead time, Portbahn Beach is 5 minutes' walk with no road to cross, and the coastal cycle path runs from the gate in both directions, traffic-free. Dogs stay for £15 per dog, no size or number limit. Ours have field-tested all of it - crazy working cockers, first Obi, now Pixel. ## Bedrooms & Bathrooms Three ground-floor bedrooms accommodate 8 guests, ideal for families or groups visiting Islay's whisky distilleries. All the bedrooms and bathrooms are on the ground floor, making it very accessible for everyone. The master bedroom has a super king and a single (sleeps 3) with its own ensuite shower room. There's a triple room with a double and single (sleeps 3), and a twin room with two singles (sleeps 2). The twin is the smallest room - fine for kids or a short stay, but couples might prefer the other bedrooms. The family bathroom has a jacuzzi style bath, a shower and toilet. - Master bedroom with ensuite (sleeps 3) - Superking and single bed - Triple bedroom (sleeps 3) - Double bed and single bed - Twin bedroom (sleeps 2) - Two single beds **Bathrooms:** - 2 bathrooms (one en-suite to master bedroom and one shared family bathroom) - 1 additional toilet room upstairs ## Living Spaces The house sits right on the shoreline of Loch Indaal with sea views from most rooms. On a clear day you can see the Paps of Jura from the sofa and look across the loch to Bowmore and the Mull of Oa. The open-plan layout is great for families and groups - a big kitchen with a huge oak dining table for 8, a sitting room with a wood-burning stove, and a conservatory that gets the morning sun. Underfloor heating throughout keeps it warm all through the Hebridean winter. **Kitchen & dining:** - Dishwasher - Microwave - Oven - Refrigerator - Toaster - Coffee machine - Vacuum cleaner - BBQ grill - Children's high chair - Kitchen stove/range - Dining table for 8 **Living areas:** - Open plan layout - Conservatory - Sea views - Wifi/broadband - Books and games - Double glazing ## Outdoors & Garden Outside, the large private garden has a sunken trampoline and swings - kids can play while you watch from the kitchen. Sea views right across Loch Indaal to the Paps of Jura, a built-in barbecue by the decking for summer evenings, and plenty of room for dogs to run around. The decking at the front of the house is where most guests end up on a fine evening - picnic table, barrel planters, the sun going down over the loch. The coastal cycle path runs right by the house, connecting you to Bruichladdich Distillery (10 minutes north) and Port Charlotte (30 minutes south on foot). Step out the door, straight onto the path. Dogs are welcome at £15 per dog per stay. - Private garden - Sea views - BBQ area - Children's play equipment - Trampoline - Swings - Greenhouse ## Location Shoreline location on the coastal path between [Bruichladdich Distillery](https://www.bruichladdich.com) and [Port Charlotte village](/explore-islay/islay-villages) Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay Postcode: PA49 7UN ## Nearby Attractions - Bruichladdich Distillery - Port Charlotte ## Dog Policy Dogs are welcome at Portbahn House at £15 per dog per stay — no size or number limit. The private garden is fully enclosed for off-lead time, and Portbahn Beach is a 5-minute walk with no road to cross. - Private enclosed garden, safe for dogs off-lead. - Portbahn Beach — dog-friendly, 5 minutes' walk, no road crossing. - Coastal cycle path from the village in both directions — easy traffic-free walking. ## Dog-Friendly Properties on Islay All three properties — Portbahn House, Shorefield 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. ## Bruichladdich Proximity You're a short walk from the pioneering Bruichladdich Distillery along the coastal cycle path — 10 minutes from Portbahn House and Shorefield House, 15 minutes from Curlew Cottage. Tour the distillery, then walk home. Portbahn Beach is 5 minutes the other way. Port Charlotte village (restaurants, shops, museum, and petrol) is a 5-minute drive. Bruichladdich's central location means all eleven distilleries and Islay's best beaches are within easy reach. ## Port Charlotte Village Port Charlotte village is a 5-minute drive — perhaps Islay's prettiest, with the Port Charlotte Hotel (300+ whiskies, live music Wed & Sun), Lochindaal Seafood Kitchen (order the platter 24h ahead), Islay Museum, local shop, and the Port Mor playground for families. ## Ferry Basics Getting to Islay isn't easy. And that's what makes it so special. With the right planning the journey is as much a part of the holiday as being here — not something to push through in choruses of "are we nearly there yet?". From the moment you leave Glasgow and reach Loch Lomond, the scenery changes dramatically. Bye bye Lowlands, hello Highlands. We make this crossing all the time, in all weathers — get in touch if you're not sure and we'll help you find the best route. [Plan your journey →](/islay-travel/ferry-to-islay) ## Guest Reviews Total reviews: 226 Airbnb: 4.97/5 (156 reviews) Booking.com: 9.6/10 (37 reviews) Google: 5/5 (37 reviews) **Guest reviews:** > "Views over Loch Indaal in the morning were quite spectacular." — John, Airbnb, September 2025 > "We loved the view and easy access to Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte." — Christian, Airbnb, August 2025 > "The location was gorgeous, with the windows facing the hills of Islay so we could watch the sunset." — Katherine, Airbnb, September 2024 > "Pi's place is located in the little village of Bruichladdich and offers plenty of comfort and space with incredible views!" — Michael, Airbnb, September 2024 > "Wonderful cottage right along the bay with absolutely stunning views!" — Brendan, Airbnb, October 2023 > "The sunrise from the bedroom window was stunning." — Matthew, Airbnb, September 2023 > "Beautiful house with amazing views." — Lucy, Airbnb, August 2022 > "Communication was great, check in and out was seamless & Pi was very helpful on our last day, the hottest day of the year!" — Andrea, Airbnb, June 2018 > "Great view on the sea, clean, great rooms size and 15 minutes from Bowmore district and 2min from Bruichladdich distillery." — Stan, Airbnb, April 2018 > "Secluded and quiet, the location is more than just beautiful." — Bobby, Airbnb, June 2017 > "Lynton and Pi have a comfortable, cozy house with a beautiful view of Loch Indaal." — Monique, Airbnb, May 2017 > "With beautiful furnishings spacious rooms and incredible views, it was warm & welcoming." — Jane, Booking.com > "Spacious and homely with beautiful views." — Jane Pritchard, Google > "we love Islay and are now glad to have found this gem of a place to stay." — Jane Rennie, Google > "We appreciated the beautiful views and the very well stocked kitchen." — Katie Ersland, Google > "We enjoyed the views of Loch Indaal, walked to Port Charlotte and Bruchladich and made the short drives to several distilleries." — James Goolsby, Google > "Very comfortable and would definitely book again if we return to Islay." — Shona MacPherson, Google > "The setting is beautiful, the house in every way comfortable and consistent with the description." — Arnaud, Airbnb, October 2025 > "Nearby Port Charlotte has some amazing seafood and we all enjoyed the distillery tour at nearby Bruichladdich." — Chris, Airbnb, September 2025 > "We had an incredible time on Islay and this was a perfect place as home base." — Saku, Airbnb, September 2025 > "Quebec City, Canada Incredible and quiet spot, could stay there full time!" — Jonathan, Airbnb, September 2025 > "The location was perfect, the house was so comfortable and really felt like a home, and the host was extremely kind and responsive." — Bryan, Airbnb, August 2025 > "The property is beautifully designed and you can relax excellently." — Tobias, Airbnb, April 2025 > "Great location, short walk to a swimming beach, distillery and a slightly longer but easy walk to the pub - perfect." — Tommy, Airbnb, March 2025 ## Good to Know - **Twin bedroom is quite small:** Mentioned in 8-10 reviews. Fine for kids or short stays, but couples may prefer the other bedrooms. Two other bedrooms are spacious with sea views. - **Underfloor heating takes time to warm up:** 3-4 reviews mention this. Wood-burning stove provides instant warmth. Not an issue if heating is on before arrival. - **Can hear wind on stormy nights:** Mentioned in 2-3 reviews. Part of the coastal experience - most guests love the drama of Atlantic storms. Well-insulated and cosy inside. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can we check in early or have late checkout? Standard times are 4pm check-in and 10am checkout, but contact me about your ferry or flight times—I'm flexible when the property schedule allows. I can almost always accommodate bag drop-off before check-in or storage after checkout. Over 30 reviews specifically mention my flexibility, and I hold a 5.0/5 communication rating across all properties. ### Can you provide synthetic bedding for allergies? Yes—just let me know about allergies when you book and I'll provide synthetic pillows and duvets for the affected bedrooms. This is a common request and easy to accommodate at any of our properties. ### Is there parking at Portbahn House? Yes—there's off-street parking for 2-3 cars directly adjacent to the property. You won't need to compete for street parking. Additional vehicles can park on the road nearby if needed for larger groups. ### How many bedrooms does Portbahn House have? Portbahn House has 3 bedrooms sleeping 8 guests across the ground floor: master bedroom with ensuite (superking + single, sleeps 3), triple bedroom (double + single, sleeps 3), and twin bedroom (two singles, sleeps 2). All bedrooms are ground floor with no stairs, making the property accessible for guests with mobility concerns. ### Which distillery should we visit first? Start with Bruichladdich—it's a 10-minute walk from Portbahn House along the coastal path. Tour the distillery, sample The Botanist gin, then walk home without worrying about driving. From there, choose based on your preferences: heavily peated (Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig), balanced (Bowmore, Kilchoman), or gentle/unpeated (Bunnahabhain). Book tours 2-3 weeks ahead, especially for summer.