Away from it all
You won’t get much more remote than this, writes Jenny Shields
NOW it goes without saying that this location will not suit everybody. In fact – given just how remote it is – living here year round might not suit very many people at all. But if you are looking for something really out of the ordinary, then a home in Knoydart could be just the thing.
Ironically, while this is one of the most remote parts of mainland UK with no access by road, if you bought Gardener’s Cottage you would find yourself with several close neighbours.
That said, to some people this represents the chance of a lifetime as properties here do not come up for sale all that often.
The Knoydart peninsula, some 55,000 acres of unspoilt land between Loch Nevis – the Loch of Heaven – and Loch Hourn – the Loch of Hell – is cut off from the road network and can only be reached by a very arduous walk or by boat.
And in a world where ‘getting away from it all’ is often extremely hard to achieve, this is one part of the British Isles where you can achieve just that.
Ten years ago a new pier was built that effectively enabled this part of the world to become truly sustainable all year round. The large landing means bigger vessels can dock and bulky items, especially building materials, can more easily be shipped over.
In the 18th century Knoydart was a thriving place with a population of around 1,000, but the infamous Highland clearances led to a sharp depopulation. These days there are about 120 people living in the area. That number gets a huge seasonal boost with the influx of visitors – be they visitors who stay for a few days or a week, or day trippers.
The place is a magnet for walkers, yachtsmen and mountain bikers, as well as artists, photographers and musicians. And despite its remoteness, the village has a primary school – albeit with a very small roll – a post office, tea room and a pub, The Old Forge.
The cottage is a simple, whitewashed, single storey property. Fully refurbished, this simple house has three bedrooms, a sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and utility.
Offers over £200,000 to McEwan Fraser Legal.