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Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside

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Exterior
Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain
Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain.
The palm trees add a Mediterranean feel.
The garden in the summer is a blaze of colour.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside

This cosy one bedroomed cottage sits right on the waters edge and is both remote and isolated, our only neighbours being the sea birds, seals and the occasional otter! It really is an ideal retreat, where you can escape the bustle of daily life and relax.
It is ideally placed right at the centre of the Outer Hebrides, so you can explore from Eriskay (with regular connections to Barra) to the south, to Berneray (with regular connections to Harris) to the North.
It was originally built as a shieling to house land workers, and is now a comfortable holiday retreat, with the added advantage of a log burning stove to snuggle up to after a long day out. The bedroom has a 4 poster double bed and is dual aspect. Guests have in the past told me the bathroom has the best shower they have ever used! The well equipped kitchen/living room contains everything you will need to enjoy your stay including SMART TV with chromecast, DVD player, bluetooth sound bar and wifi. The property is accessed via a driveway with parking space situated next to the cottage. There is a 3kW EV charger for our guests' use (additional charges apply).
The cottage is situated right on the shore of Loch Killerivagh, the tide rising on either side of the cottage as it comes in. Guests regularly see buzzards, owls and Golden and white tailed Eagles from the garden which features a rowing boat filled with fresh herbs for guests to pick and enjoy.
There are many walks that are suitable for all ages and abilities that offer a great way to engage with the unique landscape. The nature reserves at Balranald on North Uist and Loch Druidibeg on South Uist are easily reached with rare birds including Corncrakes, Phalaropes, eagles and much more. The dark skies are a haven for stargazers (particularly during the autumn and winter months) and keep an eye out for the Northern Lights too! The area is a paradise for: walkers, cyclists, birdwatchers, photographers, artists, astronomers, and people looking for a break from the hectic pace of daily life. Uist can only be accessed by ferry or plane, making it very remote. The island is an incredibly friendly place, with the majority of drivers waving as they pass - even on the double track roads.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number ES00253F

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Benbecula

Located in Benbecula, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Bharpa Langass & Pobull Fhinn and Hallan Roundhouses are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at North Uist Distillery and Lochmaddy Ferry Terminal.
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Map
Isle of Benbecula, Scotland

What's nearby

  • North Uist Distillery - 18 min drive - 14.6 km
  • Bàgh Chulla - 18 min drive - 14.2 km
  • Our Lady of the Isles - 19 min drive - 14.6 km
  • Mol Mòr - 20 min drive - 12.1 km
  • Lochboisdale South Uist Ferry Terminal - 50 min drive - 47.0 km

Getting around

  • Benbecula (BEB) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Dark Island Hotel Bar - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Namara Marine Supplies And Seafood Café - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪The Stepping Stone - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Dunes Restaurant - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Stepping Stone - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside?

As of 31 March 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside on 11 April 2026 start from NZ$242, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Welcome to Airidh an Dobhrain - our secluded cottage by the lochside located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within 9 miles (15 km) of Bàgh Chulla, North Uist Distillery and Mol Mòr. Our Lady of the Isles and Howmore are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 46 out of 48 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 48 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 48 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 48 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Anthony T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A lovely island stay

A well presented and comfortable place. We enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 14 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Iain S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Brilliant

Fabulous location fabulous Cottage a wonderful escape surrounded with nature
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Geoff R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything needed for a perfect break

Airidh an Dhobrain is immaculately presented and has everything required in a holiday cottage. It is in a quiet location but with easy access to the rest of the islands. Monica, who manages the property on behalf of the owners, was extremely helpful and our stay was all-too short.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Euan F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful cottage. Very comfortable and cosy with gorgeous artwork by one of the owners. Surrounded by wildlife. Pond in the garden with waterlilies and a gate down to the lochan. Everything was spotless and felt new.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Keith T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Delightful cottage in idyllic location.

This was our second stay in this lovely, cosy cottage. It is well equipped and comfortable - with a brilliant shower! A perfect location for bird watching and walking in an astoundingly beautiful area.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elma C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Àirigh an Dòbhrain

Had a wonderful stay in Benbecula. What a beautiful Island, and what a beautiful place to stay at Àirigh an Dòbhrain.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect getaway

Cosy cottage in a perfect location overlooking the loch. Beautiful, little piece of heaven
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Philip D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for Two

A charmer of a cottage with it’s own resident wildlife (Sheep and Short Eared Owls anyone?) A perfect little getaway for a week away in the Outer Hebrides.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great setting-great place

Just back from a magical week on the Uists. The property is in a fantastic location with the water almost at your doorstep. Great base for exploring the surrounding areas-not too far from anywhere. Lovely clean and comfortable cottage.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Robert L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The perfect holiday retreat

We really enjoyed the position, the property was our perfect home from home. We found ourselves not wanting to leave. The cottage was so well decorated and equipped we want to go home and make changes to our home as we found our perfect home.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
We wondered if we were mad to visit the Outer Hebrides in mid November so we only booked 3 nights at Airidh an Dobhrain. Wish we'd been brave enough to stay longer! What a delightful, cosy wee cottage and the Hebrides are magical at any time of year. The many 10/10 reviews are accurate - perfect!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lyn E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Location, location, location

We had a wonderful time in this lovely cosy cottage by the loch just watching the tides come in and out. The birds keep us entertained and the extra daylight was a joy. A very well equipped neat homely cottage with everything you could possibly wish for. Especially if you like cooking from scratch.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nigel R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

On arrival and on departure … I cried! Happy tears!

This cottage is pure delight. One of the best holiday accommodations I have ever stayed in. Away from all the stresses of life. The situation is perfect to heal whatever might need healing! My two dogs also loved it … the three of us were horizontally ‘chilled out’. Thank you David and family .. what you are ‘offering’ there is, well, certainly for me … perfect!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Nice cottage, nicely decorated, nice pictures, furniture, lovely floorboards, good shower, heating, multi-fuel burner. Quiet but good access to North and South Uist. Weather I as bad most days I was on Uist so it was good to be able to get back to a warm cottage, shower and woodburner. Binoculars and scope. Good hillwalking and beach walking. Didn’t see much wildlife due to weather but saw a Golden Eagle, 2 Herons, Waders, Shanks and Gulls.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Delightful Stay!

We loved renting this property! It was located right on a loch with many different species of birds to view and tides to watch. Unfortunately no otter sighting this time! The house was very cozy and clean-just right for two people. It was conveniently located to explore Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, and Eriskay. It was also convenient to several grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants. We had great weather in April/May and enjoyed sitting out on the chairs watching over the loch during the day. We were able to meet Ian, the owner, and it was a delight talking with him. He was very responsive to any questions we had about the property before we arrived. We would definitely recommend this property!
Stayed 14 nights in Apr 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nigel M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A paradise to hide away in

This was a return visit after a magical week here last year and it fully lived up to the rose-tinted memories. To wake up to sights of sea birds in the lock outside and take a short walk over the rocks before breakfast was perfect. The garden had been tidied up from last year and the internet was working too. The nearest village, a mile and a half away, with the co-op supplied all our needs again. This time we tried one of the boat trips the island offers (Lady Ann WIldlife cruises from the other Grimsay) allowed us to see seals and stags as well as many diving birds that stay off shore. The Benbecula distillery is now open and well worth a visit. When we had to contact the owner about a minor issue he responded in 20 minutes and sent his agent to visit within a few hours. We can't wait to return again. This is a lovely cottage and Benbecula and the Uists are an enchanting spot to visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nigel M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The most breathtaking views from the windows

The cottage felt very welcoming when we arrived - someone put a lot of love and hard work into fitting it out. The surroundings were just breathtaking - being located right on the shore of a lock with plenty of birds flying around - and sheep in the driveway. An evening's or early morning's stroll over the rocks around the loch was a particular pleasure, and the quietness was almost tangible, broken only by the gulls screaching, the sheep bleating, and the very occasional car passing the end of the driveway 100 yards away. The remoteness also means you get a chance to talk to people - residents and other tourists - whom you would probably just walk past if you saw them at home. Overall we were very sad to leave and we hope to be back before too long.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Celia C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and peaceful

We had a fabulous stay here, the setting is beautiful and we hardly saw anyone during our stay, just the sheep and birds. Just what we wanted. The property is cosy and well equipped, and the shower is amazing. We loved sitting by the fire and taking in the view across the water.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ian M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful location

The cottage is well presented and clean. The location is absolutely perfect if your looking for peace and quiet with spectacular scenery. Its a perfect location in the middle of the group of islands for travelling around. A lot of thought has went into the layout of the cottage to make most of the size and it certainly works. It was cosy even with the blustery wind we had on the first few days. We would definitely recommend this place and would love to return sometime in the future.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

bridget B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely fabulous!

This place is top notch. We've rented lots of cottages over the years and this one is definitely one of the best. It's warm and cosy with all mod cons. The shower is so powerful with lots of hot water. There's lots of local info to read up about the area. And the location is STUNNING! We watched golden eagles, a white tailed eagle, short eared owls, deer and otter all from the sitting room window! And to top it all there is lovely Joan who lives nearby who makes sure all is well and is on hand if you need her. We will definitely be back .. thank you!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Nicola D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Immersed in nature

The location is simply incredible, the tide breathing in and out metres from the back door and bird life bursting all around. The cottage itself is beautiful, cosy, comfortable full of warmth and light - just perfect all round. We had a blissful week
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pat W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peace and tranquillity

This was everything I needed and more. A perfect place for a writer trying to complete the first draft of a novel and an ideal base for exploring the southern Western Isles. This is a beautiful part of the world. Benbecula is an island of rainbows. The cottage was so comfortable, I really didn't want to leave.
Stayed 57 nights in Feb 2022
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Andrea S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely blue isle on lovely blue island

We only stayed 4 nights, but we would have liked to have stayed longer. The cottage is highly comfortable, furnished with great attention to detail (even outside, like herbs in the garden!) Perfect for a romantic hideaway und watching wildlife. You can already see the sea when you wake up. Grocery store within a short drive. Thanks again Ian. Highly recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Daniel Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gemütliches Heim mitten in der Natur

Liebevoll eingerichtetes Häuschen für zwei am Wasser. Wer es - wie wir - ruhig mag, ist hier bestens aufgehoben; auch wenn das Wetter wie in unserem Fall über mehrere Tage garstig sein sollte. Wir haben unseren Aufenthalt enorm genossen und bereits jetzt wieder Heimweh nach den äusseren Hebriden und Schottland.
Stayed 14 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Colin R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location to explore the Uists and Hebridean chain.

Comfortable, super-clean, well-equipped. Planting pretty but needs pruning back to maximise the views and reduce attractiveness to midges!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

About the host

Hosted by Ian Swain

Host profile image
My father's family were in the building industry and as a child I learned a lot about building and DIY. I have always enjoyed DIY and undertaken many projects in my own home including building an extension. As I neared retirement from teaching, I wanted to to do more building projects. I love the traditional Hebridean style of property and bought the cottages to renovate and run as holiday let properties.
Although I don't live on the island, I spend as much time as possible there and enjoy doing projects at each of my properties.
My aim is to provide guests with a comfortable, hassle free holiday. I have many returning guests who love the cottages, the same as I do.

Why they chose this property

When my parents died I was left an inheritance. This coincided with the twilight years of my teaching career, and I had already decided I wanted to spend time in the Hebrides renovating a property on my retirement. When I saw Tigh na Boireach, I fell in love with it and bought it to continue as a holiday let cottage. After a year or so working on this cottage, I had it more or less finished and found Airidh an Dobhrain about 24 miles further south. This is a contrasting property and again has many wonderful features. I felt that its stunning remote, isolated location would make it a popular holiday let cottage once done up. I spent two winters completely renovating the cottage and added two extra windows to take advantage of the 360 degree views.

What makes this property unique

The cottage has a completely unique feel. You are completely amongst nature. In spring, the nesting birds on the islands in the loch are wonderfully entertaining. Last season a common gull nested on the headland about 20m from the cottage, and there was a parent bird stationed permanently on the the chimney keeping watch. There were 2 oyster catcher chicks wandering around most days, not to mention the deer and occasionally the otters from a little further down the loch.

Languages:

English

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