Fircliff - The House On Bute Port Bannatyne

Fircliff is a big house right on the water in Port Bannatyne. It's Georgian, and it's listed. The garden is walled, so it's enclosed. The main thing is the view. Every main room looks straight out over Loch Striven and the Firth of Clyde. You don't get a view like that every day.

It sleeps a lot of people, fourteen. There are six bedrooms and five bathrooms. Four of the bedrooms have their own shower rooms. The main one also has a big roll-top bath. One room has twin beds and a bunk bed for kids. There's also a separate room with twin beds that we use as a games room. It has a pool table.

The kitchen and dining area is where everyone ends up. There's a big, custom-made table that seats everyone. The house is full of interesting furniture, things we've collected. It's a 5 Star place, which means it's well looked after and has everything you'd need.

You can get down to the shoreline from the garden to launch kayaks. For bigger boats, there's a slipway locally.

Port Bannatyne itself is quiet. There's a marina, a couple of pubs, a restaurant, and a small shop. The main town is Rothesay, which is a short drive or a nice walk. The ferry over from Wemyss Bay takes about 35 minutes. You don't need to book.

There's loads to do on Bute. Good walking, like the West Island Way. The roads are quiet for cycling. There are three golf courses. Beaches are a few miles away. You might see seals or dolphins. For a proper day out, Mount Stuart House and Gardens is spectacular. Rothesay Castle is in the town. In summer, the paddle steamer Waverley sometimes calls in.

Practical stuff: there's a big boot room with a washing machine and a drying rack. We allow two dogs. There's a dog bed and crate here. All bedding and towels are included. There's plenty of parking on the drive. The house has WiFi and a woodburning stove.

Useful links if you're planning: National Trust for Scotland - Mount Stuart and Walkhighlands - Argyll & Bute.