Dobhran Croft Sleeps 2 | £730.00 to £1025.00 per week

Lochbuie Explore the area, things to do and more

Dobhran Croft (pronounced Dorran and meaning otter in Gaelic) is an old croft cottage at Lochbuie that has been beautifully renovated to provide high quality self-catering holiday accommodation. The traditional, charming exterior opens into a bright, colourful and modern interior, giving guests a glorious mix of old-meets-new charm for an unforgettable stay.

This Mull holiday cottage has a superb position below the mountain Ben Buie and is a short distance from the shore and beaches at Lochbuie. Lochbuie is regarded as one of the most beautiful locations on the Isle of Mull. Large sandy beaches backed by deciduous woodland give rise to rugged mountain peaks, where eagles often circle. This is a superb place to see wildlife and there are excellent walks exploring the shore, peaks and glens.

Entering Dobhran, there is a spacious porch/utility room with plenty of room for placing belongings. This leads through to the living area; a fantastic space with double height ceilings and sliding double doors that open to the rear patio. Step outside and soak up the glorious mountain views that the patio area showcases. High quality furnishings and comfortable seating make it a very relaxing space back in the living area. There’s a nice selection of books along with television and wood burning stove.

The kitchen leads off the living area and is light, thanks to the large window, and comes very well-equipped. There is also a dining table here for meals. The bathroom is large, with a lovely view towards Ben Buie, and features a very spacious walk-in shower, basin and w.c.

A bespoke spiral staircase leads up to the sleeping area. This is a fantastic space with plenty of storage and great views from the window. Coloured LED floor lighting along with bedside lamps allow you to adjust the lighting to suit. A lot of thought has gone into the renovation of this cottage and it really pays off, making for an extra special, memorable and comfortable place to stay.

The area is great for outdoor enthusiasts, so cyclists, walkers and bird watchers will be well entertained. The cottage has some great walks accessible from the front door. There is a path to a Neolithic stone circle nearby, a good track that follows the coastline to Glen Byre, and a smaller track through the mountains that follows the river through Gleann a’ Chaiginn Mhor to three freshwater lochs. The mix of sandy and rocky outcrops at the head of Lochbuie through to Laggan Sands is outstanding, passing Moy Castle and woodland along the way. Fallow and red deer are commonly seen, as well as a variety of birds, including the white tailed sea eagles, golden eagles and other raptors.

Dobhran was built in 1826 and was occupied until the early 1980s when it fell into disrepair. The cottage was a working croft with land to the rear along with Common Grazing in front of the property. The last occupants of the cottage were Teenie and Murdoch who were cousins. Murdoch worked on the roads whilst Teenie kept the house. There was no running water and no bathroom. Like Dobhran (Otter), the other houses in the village of Lochbuie share the Gaelic names of animals and flowers - Fiadh (Deer), Feoleag (Sea Gull) and more.

The house is a 35-minute drive from Craignure, where there is a pub, Spar shop and café, as well as a swimming pool with a spa and gym and a small golf course. It takes another 45 minutes driving from Craignure to reach the island capital of Tobermory, where there are a greater range of eateries and shops.