Hebridean beach cottage gets top VisitScotland award

AN idyllic beach cottage on a Hebridean island has achieved VisitScotland’s highest Quality Assurance accolade.

Oran na Mara, on Harris. Picture: oranamara.com

Òran na Mara, on Harris, has received a 5* Quality Assurance self-catering award as a result of its exceptional standards.

Owners Paul and Helen Honeywell, who had owned the land for 15 years, finally finished more than two years of building work on the cottage last month, after falling in love with the Hebrides while on their honeymoon.

Mr Honeywell said: “Building the house was the realisation of a dream. Me and my wife wanted something more permanent on Harris.

The unique boat-bath. Picture: orannamara.com

“We didn’t want to build a regular square house. We wanted something that was in sync with the environment and more sympathetic with that spectacular, unique part of the world.”

Òran na Mara - which translates from Gaelic as ‘Song of the Sea’ - has a number of unusual features including a rowing boat bath and its themed rooms draw inspiration from its island location.

Although not living in the cottage at the moment, the Honeywells plan to retire to the island.

Mr Honeywell added: “We are renting the cottage for the time being, however when the time comes we would like to retire there.”