Isle of Rona

Isle of Rona remote holiday cottages. Rona Cottages – Seascape, Skyescape and Escape. Unique cottages, steeped in the history of the Clearances and croft living, on a wild and stunning island.

Rona is an hour away from Portree but it’s no winding Highland road that will take you to this remote hideaway, but rather a boat on which you’ll load yourselves, your luggage and a week’s worth of provisions.

North of Raasay

Nestled north of Raasay, Rona has just 2 permanent inhabitants and 4 cottages – 3 of which are available as holiday homes.

All of them are fully equipped for a week washed up on a deserted island with log burners, great kitchens, big comfy beds and views that would relax even the most stone-hearted city-dweller.

Hidden Away

The cottages are hidden away in Dry Harbour, a mile’s walk over the hill from the jetty at Big Harbour. While Bill and Lorraine ferry your gear over there on a kamikaze quad bike you have the chance to start exploring your home for the week.

Despite it’s small size (Rona covers just 3.6 sqm), the island’s rugged terrain, croft ruins, incredible coastline and local residents – including Highland Cattle, deer, otters and basking sharks – will easily keep you busy for a week or two’s stay. This is a place where televisions, watches and phones are quickly replaced by sunsets, binoculars and tranquillity.

Romantic Getaway

Seascape and Skyescape (a converted missionary building) are both perfect for romantic getaways and very popular for honeymoons, while Escape, the old teacher’s house with oak floors, sleeps up to four. Rona is a perfect location for walking, wildlife-watching and escaping the daily routine for a week of civilised wilderness.

Perfect Days

Have you camera ready as you approach the island to catch the seals when they flop into the water as the boat nears.

Get some locally-caught fish or Rona venison from Rona Lodge and wash it down with the island’s own bottling of Edradour whisky.

Church Cave

Walk over the hill to Church Cave, a stunning and remote spot used by Rona inhabitants as their place of worship, complete with a font fed from drips from the roof.

Explore the Dry Harbour croft ruins. Armed with the cottage’s survey map and testimony from ex-residents you’ll start to get a feeling of what life was like on this boggy outcrop for the families Cleared from Raasay.

Do nothing but sit on your bench outside the cottage and watch the birds, the sea and the sky.

Dry Harbour

Head out with a bucket and mussel-pick your lunch on the rocks around Dry Harbour. Take some white wine and curry powder to follow the delicious recipe provided in your welcome pack.

Get the log stove roaring and curl up with Whirligig Beetles and Tackety Boots written by ex-Rona resident Julia MacKenzie.

Hike north, following the trail up to the northernmost point, now occupied by the MoD. You might even see a submarine popping out of the water…

Take a short walk to the highest point on the island and soak in the views. Even though you can see across to Cuillins on the west side and Applecross on the east you’ll feel a million miles from anywhere. Hip flask optional.

Head out on Bill’s boat for a tour around the island. He has well-honed eyes and is always the first to spot sea eagles, basking sharks and even the stags that swim across from Raasay.

How to book

Call 07831 293 963 or complete form.