Downey Birch House

Arisaig · Inverness-shire

Downey Birch House has a charming ground floor flat for two, overlooking the delightful coastal village of Arisaig. Easily accessible by public transport or car, the flat has direct access to mature gardens, a great equipped kitchen with breakfast bar, comfortable lounge/dining area with views to the sea, and a large double bedroom with en-suite shower. It’s the perfect base along the beautiful road to the isles. Rated 9.4 on Booking.Com and Super Host on Airbnb

For a self-catering holiday in Arisaig on the stunning west coast of Scotland, Downey Birch House is a very private self-contained flat for just two people. Set in large gardens, with spectacular sea views to the Small Isles, visitors are right in the heart of this idyllic village.  You can holiday at Downey Birch House throughout the year from £47.50 per person per night (based on 2 people sharing) inclusive of towels and linen.  Our rates do not fluctuate during the year, but we do have a minimum three-night booking policy.

Downey Birch House is adjoined to our family home, but offers complete privacy. With an exclusive entrance for guests, the flat comprises a bright double aspect double bedroom with king-sized brass bed and en-suite shower room.  There’s a fully fitted kitchen with breakfast bar and all appliances - dish-washer, washing-machine, microwave, fridge/freezer and everything for the most experienced cook.   The comfortable lounge offers great views to the sea and the small Isles of Eigg and Muck, as well as Arisaig Marina.  There’s a 32” television with satellite, dvd player and small film library, plus a selection of holiday reading, games and Wi-Fi.  

Without wishing to offend, we cannot accommodate children.  We’re happy to accept small dogs by arrangement at a further charge of £4 per night, and would ask that they sleep in the kitchen and are not allowed on furniture.  We are deer fenced, but you will see deer in the garden just because they can!!  We have chickens so fresh eggs are available on request.  We also keep bees some 100 meters from the flat – but they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.  We ask that you leave the flat clean and tidy, as you found it. 

Situated on the sheltered shores of Loch nan Ceall [the loch of churches] on the West Coast, Arisaig is a pretty village nestled against spectacular landscape.  It boasts a charming collection of largely white-painted buildings scattered in an arc above the natural harbour along the beautiful Road to the Isles.  Characterised by a dramatic rocky coastline, blue seas and near to the pure white sands of Camusdarach and the Silver Sands of Morar, Arisaig is the perfect base for exploring the incredibly scenic countryside. Views out to the islands of Rum and Eigg are breathtaking, especially at sunset.

The village itself has a railway station, a regular bus service, a 17th Century Coaching Inn, The Old Library Lodge Restaurant, the small Café Rhue, the delightful Marina Boathouse Café & Gift Shop, all serving locally sourced food.  There’s also the, free to enter, Land Sea & Island Heritage Centre for historic interest, as well as a small shop / post office for essential provisions.  All of these are within 500 meters of Downey Birch House.  The larger fishing port of Mallaig, with more boutique shopping, a Co-Op, fishmongers, bakery and lots of cafés and restaurants is 8 miles from Arisaig.  Traigh Golf Course is three miles along the coastal road.  Fort William and Ben Nevis are a 45-minute drive.

Arisaig railway station, the most westerly railway station in mainland Britain, is on the line from Fort William to Mallaig. The station is 500 meters from Downey Birch House, lying a little way inland above the village.  The Jacobite Steam Train [aka Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express] passes through the station four times a day between May and October.  However, the walk up the hill is worth it just for the views over Arisaig and Loch nan Ceall, and the beautiful Archipelago of islands at the mouth of the bay. 

Arisaig's has its own pier reaching out into the loch, wonderful for an early evening stroll before drinks. The pier is the terminus for the MV Shearwater’s boat trips to Eigg, Muck and Rum every day at 11am during the summer months.  This is a great alternative to the larger  Calmac Ferry from Mallaig, allowing some time on shore, but getting you up close to experience an abundance of bird and sea-life including shearwaters and puffins, buzzards and herons, seals, dolphins, porpoise, minke whales and the occasional orca.  

Directions:  From Fort William take the A830 to Mallaig for 34 miles.  Take the second turning on the left after passing the “Welcome to Arisaig” sign. Downey Birch is then first left and then immediately left after the Old Stone Barn.  From Mallaig, take the A830 towards Fort William.  Take the first right into Arisaig village, first left and then left after the Old Stone Barn.   

By Rail:  There is a regular train service from Glasgow and Fort William to Mallaig, stopping at Arisaig Station, just 500 meters walk from Downey Birch downhill all the way.

By Sea: Navigate some tricky channels into Arisaig Marina who can provide moorings, and are just 200 meters from Downey Birch.  It’s recommended you use suitable pilot books, but the channel is well marked.  

We hope you’ve enjoyed our description of Downey Birch House and it entices you to book and stay. Arisaig is the perfect holiday antidote to the stress of modern living.  Here you can slow life down, explore sandy white coves, dramatic and isolated glens and valleys, kayak the crystal aqua waters of the Archipelago for a holiday to remember, and experience some of Scotland’s last great wildlife and wilderness.  You can reach Fiona or Michael on [email protected] . Slainte.