Rockpool Cottage

Families and small groups looking for a self-contained break on Scotland's west coast will find Rockpool Cottage on Seil Island, reached via the distinctive bridge at Clachan. The cottage sits in Ellenabeich, a conservation village dating back 200 years, with the Atlantic at its doorstep. One car can park at the property; there's an enclosed garden to the rear. Smoking is not permitted inside.

The ground floor holds an open-plan living and dining space with an open fire, a 42-inch smart TV and DVD player, and a kitchen equipped for proper cooking—electric oven and hob, dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer included. Upstairs are two bedrooms: one with a kingsize bed, the other with zip-and-link single beds that can form a double. The single bathroom has a bath with shower and a heated towel rail. Bed linen, towels, wi-fi and the initial fuel for the fire are all provided. One pet is welcome to stay.

The cottage suits couples after some quiet time by the sea as much as families needing space to spread out. The Oyster Bar is nearby for meals, and Easdale Island—accessible by a short foot ferry—offers a day trip. Most days will find you content enough to stay put, watching the water and the light change across the bay.