West Kilbride

South Uist's white sand beaches, machair flowers and resident seals and otters are steps away from West Kilbride. The Outer Hebrides are linked by causeway and bridge, so Benbecula, Barra and North Uist are all reachable by car. Birdwatchers come for hen harriers, sea eagles and golden eagles; summer brings basking sharks, dolphins and whales to the waters. Archaeological sites span thousands of years, from the 3200 BC crannog at Eilean Dòmhnuill to the Bonnie Prince Charlie Trail.

This single-storey cottage sits on one level with an open-plan living space, woodburner, and a kitchen equipped for proper cooking. Three bedrooms and three bathrooms means no queuing: two doubles with ensuite showers, plus a single, and a separate roll-top bath. An enclosed garden with seating looks across the beach towards Eriskay. Parking for three cars is on site. Wi-Fi, electricity, heating and bed linen are all included; initial logs for the stove come with the booking. The cottage suits families of up to five, though the single room is compact. No smoking is permitted indoors.

Kayaking, walking, cycling, fishing and horse riding are all possible from here. Lochmaddy's outdoor centre runs sea kayaking, diving and whale-watching trips. The islands have a working golf course and museum, and enough history layered into the landscape to occupy several visits.