The Apostles Catacol

The Apostles is an end-terrace cottage in Catacol. It's one of the famous row with the different upstairs windows, which is just an old fishing village thing. You're right on the water.

It sleeps four in three bedrooms, but it's worth being clear about the third room. It's small, with a built-in platform bed that's full size. An adult can sleep there, but there's just a chest of drawers for storage. There's one bathroom.

The living room has a window seat looking straight out to sea, over to Kintyre. You can watch the ferries going back and forth. There's a wood burner for chilly evenings. The front garden is enclosed with a stone wall, just a few steps from the beach. You get some good sunsets from there.

It's got a 4 Star rating, so it's comfortable and well looked after. The facilities are what you'd expect: wifi, TV, washing machine, dishwasher. Bedding and towels are included. You can bring up to two dogs.

Catacol itself is tiny. The nearest pub and restaurant is about a mile and a half away in Pirnmill. The nearest shop is in Lochranza, three miles away. Lochranza has the Arran distillery, a golf course, and the ferry to Claonaig on the Kintyre peninsula. That's a nice short trip over.

The whole of North Arran is a National Scenic Area and a UNESCO Global Geopark now. The walking from the doorstep is excellent, either along the coast or into the hills behind. You'll see red deer and plenty of birds.

If you need to book for more people, the cottage next door, The Back House, can be booked together with this one.

Useful links: VisitScotland Arran and the Arran Geopark site for more on the local landscape.