Hotel Bachuil Country House (Benderloch, United Kingdom)

If you like the Hebrides you will Love the Isle of Lismore. It is one of the most relaxing islands off the Scottish Coast and is often referred to in Gaelic as An t-Eilean Aluinn or ‘The Beautiful Island’. The Isle of Lismore is arguably the best of all the Scottish islands for walking. Hamish Haswell-Smith in his best selling guide to Scottish Islands writes ‘For delightful walking country LISMORE is supreme’. He describes a walk at the south end as ‘one of the finest walks in Scotland and views that are unequalled anywhere’. Lismore is superb for walking as it is gently undulating and the view changes every hundred yards or so. The surrounding hills of Mull, Morvern, Appin and Benderloch seem to constantly change with the light. If you are interested in wildlife you will be thrilled with what you find here. The wild flowers are abundant, some 300 different types and 130 species of birds including golden eagles, sea eagles, buzzards, herons and skylarks. You may be lucky and see some of the otters that live around the shoreline. On the island we have Tirefour Castle, an iron age broch, which one of the best preserved monuments in the county. It stands on the highest point of a rocky ridge and commands an extensive view in all directions. The remains of Castle Coeffin, which comprise an oblong hall-house and an irregularly shaped bailey, stand on the summit of a small, rocky promontory on the NW coast of Lismore. Achadun Castle is a thirteenth century square stone fortress which is well worth a visit. Recently the SW and SE walls have collapsed outward, but the NE wall and a substantial part of the NW wall survive. The views over the small isle of Berenera to Duart Castle are spectacular. You will arrive on one of the two ferries that serve the island. The ferry from Port Appin takes about 10 minutes and is a foot passenger ferry. The ‘cruise’ from Oban is a car ferry which takes about approximately 45 minutes. Whilst there is no need to bring your car to the island if you are staying more than a day then it does make life a great deal easier. Bachuil Country House is an excellent base for exploring the island and offers guests a warm and friendly welcome in AA Four Star Guest Accommodation. It is situated near the Cathedral Church of St Moluag, three miles from the North end of the Isle of Lismore. It is ideally situated for exploring this wonderful island and is only 20 minutes walk from two of our picturesque castles.