Tigh na Failte sits at the head of the beach in the island’s most south westerly village, Fionnphort, often referred to as the gateway to Iona, as the CalMac passenger ferry makes the short crossing from here. This charming coastal village has a vibrant pub, useful village shop and a filling station only a few miles down the road too.
Nearest village: Fionnphort (village shop and pub in walking distance)
Drive to ferry terminal at Craignure: 1 hour
Map and Directions
We send out a property information document with directions to the house, and other useful information, to all guests who book with us.
Things to Do
With the beach at the bottom of the garden, few cottages can rival Tigh na Failte for its outstanding coastal location. With a split pink granite boulder punctuating the beach and glorious views across the water to Iona, this is a beach with a view and one the whole family will love, whether beach-combing and sandcastle-building or launching kayaks and wild swimming.
When the tide is out, you can even follow the sands that hug the peninsula round to the pretty bay at Kintra for a stunning coastal hike. Returning via the road offers the chance to call into the Lazy Cow Café for coffee and cake as a well-deserved reward for your efforts.
The Ross of Mull is home to arguably many of Mull’s finest beaches, with pink granite outcrops creating eye-catching skerries and sheltering many of the quiet bays that await your discovery. Starting at Fidden, just a few miles down the single-track road from the village, you can explore cove after cove along the coastline, passing the beach and tidal sandbar to the Isle of Erraid at Knockvologan – another fine walk at low tide – and onwards to lesser-known beaches.
With the CalMac passenger ferry leaving from the village and the crossing to Iona taking only around 10 to 15 minutes, the island is a must-visit during your holiday. Keen historians will enjoy exploring the historic abbey and associated sites, while wildlife enthusiasts will be in their element listening for the elusive call of the corncrake in season. Adventurers will enjoy exploring all corners of Iona, from the North Beach to the Bay at the Back of the Ocean and perhaps even ascending to its highest point, Dun I.
If all of that wasn’t enough, there’s even the chance to combine your visit to Iona with a hop across to Staffa too with Staffa Trips, taking in the dramatic basalt columns, the acoustics of Fingal’s Cave and the nesting puffins in season (mid-April to early July), as well as a great opportunity to spot sensational sealife, from basking sharks to porpoise, dolphins and seabirds en route.
However you choose to spend your days, you’re certain to whet your appetite for some local island flavours. The Creel Seafood Bar at the top of the pier offer ultra-fresh and beautifully cooked seafood dishes daily in season, while the Crofter’s Kitchen nearby at Kintra provides a homegrown larder of produce should you prefer to dine in. The Keel Row pub in the village promises a warm welcome for an evening meal in season, with nice views to sea from the beer garden too.
For a beach-front cottage with a treasure trove of coastal activities to explore, choose Tigh na Failte for your homestay in the Hebrides.
