About Scotland

Self-catering rental farmhouse and cottage accommodation
on the Island of Arran
Sleeping up to 12.

Dawn above Banlicken, Arran, Scotland

Banlicken
(Banlicken Farmhouse and Cottage)
Isle of Arran
Scotland

Banlicken House Banlicken is completly private, sheltered in a wild garden at the end of its own 3/4 mile track on the side of a heathery hill overlooking the ocean on the West coast of the island of Arran.

Jenny and James Thomson's much-loved family holiday home has been restored and renovated and made into one of the most restful and inspiring island hideaway rentals you could imagine.

The house and its smaller cottage are contemporary and comfortable yet in keeping with its origins as a traditional Scottish Croft.

There is wood panelling, Shaker furniture, Kilims and subtle decoration in harmony with the light and colours of the land and seascape of the West Coast of Scotland.

Around the house and small cottage are the ruined remains of what was once a small clachan or farming community. There is a stream running through the garden, a large barn used as a games room, and an overgrown path through woods which leads down the hill to the pebbles and rock pools of the seashore.

Altogether the accommodation is 5 bedrooms with two bathrooms, kitchen/dining area, and a cosy sitting room.

Arran is one of Scotland's most accessible Scottish islands (55 minutes by ferry from the mainland at Ardrossan which is 40 minutes from Glasgow), and due to the mild climate of this part of Scotland this is an ideal self catering holiday retreat at any time of the year.

Banlicken Main Farmhouse Accommodation:

Bathroom

Left;
Bathroom with huge traditional freestanding bath with shower attachment.

Right;
Double bedroom. The window looks out to sea.

Double bed
Twin bedroom

Left;
Twin bedroom.

Right;
Bunk bedroom. Both these bedrooms have windows looking over the garden towards the sea.

Between these two bedrooms is another small bedroom suitable for a child.

Bunk Beds
Kitchen area

Left;
Looking towards the Kitchen area.

Right;
Looking towards the Dining area.

Dining area

The Kitchen/dining room has wonderful views across the sea to the Mull of Kintyre. In the photograph above you can see the door leading onto the garden where there is a table and chairs for eating and drinking al fresco.

The kitchen has a fridge, freezer, and large double oven/cooker.
There's also a pantry/walk-in cupboard with washing machine and tumble drier.

Right;
Cosy sitting room with and open fire, television and VCR.

Sitting room

Banlicken Cottage Accommodation:

The cottage is separate from, but right next to the Main Farmhouse.

It has, below right, a large wood-panelled Family Bedroom with a double bed, a bunk bed for two and a single bed. There's a bookcase with interesting books, and the window looks out to sea.

This bedroom has an adjoining bathroom, below left, en suite.

Cottage
Bathroom Double bed

Across the stream in the garden is a large barn which can be used as a playroom.

It has a full-size table tennis table, lots of floor space, and a table and chairs under a window that also looks out to sea.

All three buildings are heated with electric storage heaters.

The surrounding hill grazing has been set aside under a regeneration scheme for 5 years so area is teaming with birds of prey, swallows, butterflies and red squirrels.

Right;
Early morning sun through the Playbarn window.

Games room window

Tariff:

Prices range from £850 to £1200 per week, sleeping up to 12.

Christmas and New Year prices on application.

Right;
Looking from the house towards the Playbarn and ruined outbuildings.

Outbuildings at  Banlicken

To enquire or to book:

Please contact:
Jenny and James Thomson

Whitemoss Cottages
Kirknewton
Midlothian, EH27 8DA
Scotland, UK

Tel: 01506 881 688
(or from outside the UK:
Tel: 44 01506 881 688)

Please tell Jenny and James you found Banlicken through About Scotland!

Note About Scotland Editor's Note;
See this extra page of Photographs of Arran taken when we stayed at Banlicken.

Window looking out to sea

Map of the area:

Map of Arran and surroundings