Welcome to Achaban House

December 15, 2016

We took over Achaban Guest House in November 2016 and have been adapting it to guest accommodation for self-catering.  This is a fairly new phenomenon in guest accommodation, but we think it's what many people are looking for these days; namely private bedrooms and bathrooms but with the freedom and flexibility to prepare and cook their own food when the like it and how they like it.  Within Achaban House there are two ensuite double rooms, one ensuite twin room, a twin room with private bathroom, an ensuite single room and an ensuite family room with three single beds and a bunk bed, sleeping 5. The bedrooms are therefore suitable for singles, couples and families.  Small groups of up to 14 people can have exclusive use of the whole house and because of everything that the Ross of Mull can offer visitors, we are particularly suited to people interested in wildlife, walking, cycling, kayaking, nature, geology and the local food produce.

Achaban House was built in 1843 as a manse and is constructed of the local red granite.  Over the years it has been added to and adapted but still retains a lot of character, sitting proudly on a slight rise over looking Loch Pottie, within grounds of 6 acres. The ground floor of the house is spacious, offering a nicely proportioned guest sitting room with a woodburning stove and a south facing view of the loch and a guest dining room, also with a woodburning stove. 

The kitchen is solely for guest use and is very well equipped.  A self-serve breakfast of cereal, toast, butter marmalade, tea, coffee, milk and juice is available in the dining room from 7.30am and guests are also free to cook their own breakfast and prepare a packed lunch. The kitchen closes from 10am - 12 noon for cleaning and is then available for the rest of the day for guests use. A kitchen cupboard and fridge is available for guests to store their provisions and guests are expected to clear up and put away after use.  Provisions can be bought at the Ferry Shop in Fionnphort, just a mile away or at the Spar in Bunessan if you are arriving by car.  It is also fun to search out local produce at nearby farms, pick up seafood from the pier or catch the fish van which arrives every Wednesday.  There is also plenty of choice to eat out; in the village there is the seafood bar at the pier; the Keel Row pub and restaurant and the Ninth Wave Restaurant.  You can also take a 10 -minute ferry ride to Iona with a further choice of cafe's and restaurants.

Within Achaban House, we also provide a drying room for wet outdoor gear and a laundry service.  In the grounds there is a cycle shed and plenty of room to park cars and store other outdoor equipment such as kayaks.

We are enthusiastic lovers of walking and wildlife so we provide lots of local information on the best walks and where to spot wildlife. You wont have to go far on your search for rare wildlife; from the front door we have spotted male and female hen harriers, owls, kestrels, sparrowhawks, skylarks, reed buntings, waxwings, yellowhammers and siskings to name a few.  The grounds are full of garden birds from thrushes to flocks of goldfinches, sparrows, chaffinches and greenfinches which fill the garden with birdsong.