Blackhouse Bothies

Location: 11b Arivruaich, Balallan, gb

Star Rating: 9.4 Stars

Property Type: Farm stays

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Check-out: 10:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Non-smoking rooms
• Pets allowed
• BBQ facilities
• Non-smoking throughout
• Private check-in/check-out
• Outdoor furniture
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Fire extinguishers
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Smoke alarms
• Food delivered to guest room
• Delivered food - securely covered
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Private picnics
• Japanese garden
• Covered parking

Rooms Available

• King Room with Mountain View

  This double room's standout feature is the fireplace. The double room offers a seating area, a dining area, as well as a private bathroom boasting a walk-in shower and a hairdryer. The unit has 1 bed.

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Fireplace
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Barbecue
  • Linen
  • Dining table
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Bottle of water
  • Chocolate or cookies
  • Wine glasses
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Socket near the bed
  • Smoke alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Carbon monoxide detector
  • Hand sanitiser

Guest Reviews

• Marjan (7/5): Prachtige plek, ideaal als je van kamperen houdt. - Uitzicht. Bed was geweldig. Badkamer te groot maar koud. Te veel kamperen. Weinig voorzieningen. Alleen hoogst noodzakelijke aanwezig.
• Daniela (10/5): - Die Gastgeber waren so lieb und freundlich. Sie Lage einfach nur super. Es ist so schön, morgens auf das LOCH zu schauen und die Adler zu beobachten. Zentrale Lage um Harris sowie auch Lewis zu erkunden. Sehr sauber und gemütlich Wie wollten garnicht mehr weg
• Eleanor (10/5): A very special place, go if you can. - Hosts were amazingly kind, welcoming us at check-in from the main road as it was getting dark and then helping us with car troubles on our final day. They also supplied us with extra firewood for the log burner which was much appreciated. The views from the bothy are breathtaking. Probably the most special thing was being down by the loch and seeing the seals and otters.
• Pang (9/5): -
• Diana (10/5): Beautiful location, perfect stay! - Beautiful, astonishing, location. The view is A+++++ The bothies were very comfy and warm and modern. Joanne was super friendly and gave us some great recommendations on things to do on the island. We had everything we needed! We didn’t use the outside cooking facilities but we would have had a great time cooking outside and grilling if we did. Very well equipped. Nothing.
• Ian (8/5): 5 Star Bothey - The location on the shores of the Loch is very scenic, peaceful and wonderfully isolated The cooking facilities are basic
• Stephen (10/5): -
• Pawel (10/5): Beautiful, minimalistic and away from the crowds - Fantastic location close to the loch with a beautiful view, cosy with a large, comfy bed, wood fired stove to keep us warm and an excellent shower room! ☺️ Our host Joanne made sure we had everything we needed during our stay and very kindly arranged the flowers and a bottle of champagne for my partner's birthday and our anniversary. Thank you very much! Despite the storm Amy battering most of the UK during our time on Lewis and Harris, we made the most of it and had a very memorable holiday!
• Philip (9/5): A piece of heaven on earth. - The location on a remote loch is an oasis of tranquility, so relaxing & peaceful. It is also a great location to explore the beautiful island attractions, located 1/2way between Stornoway & Tarbert. The property is modern, clean & quiet. You will remember this holiday forever. Joanne is a very attentive & helpful host, especially on our late arrival. Thank you for a brilliant stay. Nothing at all! (Just a small microwave would be great)
• Britta (10/5): Was für eine Ruhe, mitten in der Natur, nur die Adler kreisen am Himmel. Toll! - Wer hier nicht her fährt, ist selbst schuld. Der schönste Ort unserer Reise. Hier hätte ich es 2 Wochen ausgehalten. Die 2 kleinen Hüttchen liegen direkt an einem Loch (See, Fluss?), gegenüber und links die Berge, alles grün und so unendlich ruhig. Vom Zimmer aus oder vor der Hütte sieht man kein Zeichen menschlicher Zivilisation. Die Adler kreisen und die Hirsche stehen einfach vor dem Fenster und grasen. Es ist total ruhig und doch ist man schnell mit dem Auto in alle Richtungen unterwegs. Die Hütten sind mit Geschick neu gebaut, haben ein großes Bad, einen Bollerofen, ein großes Fenster, auf dem man sein Frühstück ausbreiten kann, 2 Klapp-Stühle unter dem Bett, eine Kiste mit Geschirr-Ausstattung, einen Kocher, den man draußen anschließen kann, draußen ein Waschbecken mit warmem Wasser zum Abwaschen. Alles war gut durchdacht. Einen Toaster hat uns die Vermieterin auf Nachfrage ausgeliehen. Alles wirklich sehr cool. Draußen gibt es auch einen Picknickbereich. Ein keiner Tisch zum Aufklappen wäre toll. Damit könnte man draußen richtig in der Sonne frühstücken. Sonst super:)))
• Elaine (10/5): - The stunning location and the truly beautifully built bothies. Cooking outside and then returning to the warmth of the room and the absolute sense of quiet as we sat looking outside to the Loch. Seeing the Golden Eagles, variety of other birds and the deer. Nothing to dislike.
• Gillian (9/5): Little Gem with Scenic, Tranquil Views - Great location with friendly hosts. The bed was super comfy and a nice bathroom. No WiFi - time to disconnect. The view (to die for) and you might see some deer near the window or walk past a few when outside. The quiet and no street light or sounds of cars. Finding the bothies - providing clearer instructions of what to expect on arrival would be great.
• Leon (9/5): Views forever, quiet and tranquil - Location was amazing , could look at the view forever. Nothing
• Robert (9/5): Beautiful views, chance to completely unplug - Loved the view from the room; couldn't have been prettier. Communication with owner was excellent. If there was an issue it was rectified to our like quickly. If afraid to completely unplug (property does not have internet), make sure you bring personal hotspot. Nothing. I would def stay here again and will highly recommend it to anyone to check it out.
• Catriona (9/5): -
• Jonathan (10/5): The hosts were excellent, the wood burning stove was so cozy, and the location was postcard perfect. 10/10 -
• A.P. Jansen (8/5): -
• Clare (10/5): A fantastic place to stay - It was all amazing. Mark and Joanne (and Murphy the dog), who own the Bothy, are excellent hosts. The bothy is comfortable and warm. The bed was very comfortable. The log burner adds a special touch. The views from the Bothy are beautiful. The accommodation is in a perfect location for exploring the island. Our dogs loved it and were made to feel very welcome.
• sandrine (10/5): EXCEPTIONNEL! - Voilà un lieu exceptionnel tant par son confort, son emplacement, le concept et l'accueil de Joanne. Un sentiment d'être privilégiés dans ce bel endroit , seuls au monde avec du confort. Les cerfs sont venus à notre fenêtre, la vue de notre lit est époustouflante ! Une toute toute petite remarque: les rideaux pourraient être plus occultants. Tout est est fourni pour cuisiner dehors à l'abri. Le calme est absolu. Un grand merci pour votre accueil et votre gentillesse. Ces 3 nuits ont été parfaites.
• Francoise (10/5): Hebridean life in excellence.your dream come true - Everything is to be liked! I’d say: book it and you are up for an awesome surprise. Joanne is a fabulous and caring host. The place is bigger than you think. The photos can’t give credit to the bothie and location. You will get a very warm welcome and create your own dreams, by the fire, looking at the view, catching sight of a rabbit or even a stag. 1-If you need a tv or wifi or something of the sort, then a bothie is not your style (sorry mate!) 2-unfortunately you are going to miss the Arivruaich bothie tremendously once you depart!(and will want to return again).
• Jonathan (9/5): Wonderful position and friendly, kind and communicative owner -
• Tom (9/5): Superb -
• Micky (10/5): Superb,first class -
• Neil (10/5): Exceptional -
• Nicki (9/5): It was a lovely place to stay on our first visit to Lewis and Harris. - Great location just off the main road from Stornaway to Tarbert. Scenic Loch view from the window. Lovely big bathroom with powerful shower. Huge bed which was very comfortable. Super wood burning stove heated the room up in no time. Joanne was a very helpful host and supplied us with plenty of wood. It would benefit from a table as the window sill and fridge top were the only places to put things on. Appreciate there’s not much space to accommodate one though.
• John (10/5): Amazing bothy in a stunning location - Very comfortable bothy in a stunning location on the banks of Loch Seaforth. Good location to explore the whole island by car. Enjoyed cooking with a view in the outside kitchen area. Joanne was a superb host and gave us some fantastic recommendations. Our evening walk at low tide in full sunshine at Luskentyre Beach was magical. Highly recommended. Nothing
• Joanne (10/5): Perfect Accommodation on a Stunning Island - Excellent location and lovely accommodation. A lot of thought, care and attention has gone into ensuring guests have everything they need. We could not fault our stay. Joanne and Mark were very hospitable and made sure we enjoyed our stay, nothing was too much trouble. We definitely return.
• Susan (10/5): Beautiful room with a beautiful view - Great place to stay, great views and is so quiet and peaceful. The bothy is beautifully constructed has a wonderful shower. The wood burner warmed the room up very quickly and we loved the little oven above it that we used to warm up food.
• Linda (10/5): Tranquil setting - Beautiful views, ever changing with the weather, while we were sitting by the picture window. Mid location between Tarbert and Stornoway allowed us to travel easily to different areas.
• Maxine (10/5): Exceptional - Fantastic location, very friendly and helpful hosts, beautiful bothy and stunning surroundings.
• Jill (8/5): Very good -
• Owen (10/5): Fantastic stay at Blackhouse Bothies - The views where absolutely gorgeous, bed was huge also everything was very clean and the owners where very friendly and welcoming top marks. Absolutely nothing.
• Thomas (10/5): Fantastic stay - Beautiful location. split evenly between Tarbert and Stornoway
• Roswitha (10/5): Exceptional - The location was magical, we saw so many animals from the property, rabbits, deer, an eagle, porpoise, otter, seals... It could have been improved with a fly screen on the window and with real dishes and drinking utensils, not from plastic
• Lynn (10/5): What a place to stay! - What a gem of a place! We couldn’t believe our luck. Beautiful setting, gorgeous accommodation and a great location for exploring Harris and Lewis. Super dog friendly.
• Derek (10/5): Faultless - The view. It was clean and spacious.
• Lyndsay (10/5): Loved it! The location, the accommodation, the views, the wildlife, and our superb hosts! - The location is adjacent to, but set back from, the main road between Tarbert and Stornoway, The Bothies are almost invisible within the landscape due to their local stone and turf room construction. The views of the loch and hills beyond are truly exceptional from both inside and outside the Bothies. The main room was dominated by the large large and very comfortable bed. The bay window gave plenty of light and again, those views! The bathroom was also generously sized and had a powerful shower. The main room also had a wood burning stove/oven, although cooking was mainly outside under the shelter of the Bothy roof. Access to the loch was easy and enabled canoeing where we encountered porpoises and quite a few seals! Our hosts Joanne and Mark could not have been more helpful and friendly. We loved everything about the accommodation, but if you are expecting wifi or Tv then this is perhaps not the destination for you. :-)
• Claire (6/5): Next time I would look for a place with better self catering as there are hardly any restaurants on the island - The friendly owners. The bay window looking over the Loch The Outdoor cooking and the small bedroom. Would have appreciated more Space and seating.
• Jenna (10/5): Stunning ! - The view !! Cannot say enough good things about this place if you want quiet and peaceful this is the place for you. The location is fantastic, the view of the sea loch allowed us some stunning views , sunrises and the opportunity of seeing seals and porpoise we loved it. The owners are so lovely, facilities are fantastic. We will be going back ! Nothing bad to say
• Isabelle (10/5): Peaceful, serene and calming - Amazing place, beautiful location and lovely friendly hosts
• Natalie (10/5): Exceptional - We rarely write reviews but this place is very special. Every detail has been carefully considered to ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay including the cosy wood burner, the well stocked cooking facilities and sheltered outdoor space. The bed was absolutely huge and very comfortable. Hosts were amazing—always quick to respond and full of helpful tips on local spots to check out. Plus, our dogs loved it! The setting is incredible whatever the weather. Watching the sea eagles fly along the loch was a wonderful experience. The bothies are also centrally located for exploring all that Lewis and Harris have to offer. We had a wonderful stay and hope to return someday.
• Doug (10/5): Perfect island getaway - It was perfect, we stayed in early March with single digit temperature outside and strong winds. The bothy was very comfortable, and we only used the woodburner in the evening and were supplied with plenty of wood. The shower was hot, our hosts Joanne and Mark went out of their way to be helpful. The cooking hob worked well, there's a kettle, small fridge, comfy bed &great views....what more do you need?? Nothing
• Michael (8/5): Location, location - Location was great. The design. Huge bathroom but cramped bedroom. No need for a king size bed. Nowhere to put your things. Shelves would have helpful, maybe a folding table. The only surface was the windowsill. Midges
• Stuart (9/5): Superb -
• Karen (10/5): Don’t hesitate if you want a peaceful break and back to basics experience. - This ticked all the boxes for us, and we were able to enjoy an amazing view from the Bothy. Our hosts were very friendly and welcoming with plenty advice on walks, etc. Loved the log burner and quality of shower room and furnishings are top class. Can’t think of anything
• Kevin (10/5): Magnificent setting for a fabulous stay - The bothy was warm, comfortable, clean and spacious in a fabulous setting, looking out across the loch at rolling hills where (literally) eagles roosted. The bed was huge and the log burning stove kept the room warm at night. The bathroom was much bigger than one usually finds in hotels and B&bs. We were welcomed by our host, taken to the bothy and had everything explained clearly. We could not have asked for more. Wouldn’t change a thing
• Jorge (8/5): Very good -
• Alan (8/5): A no frills venue as expected but very comfortable. Our host (Joanne) was extremely helpful -
• Jennifer (10/5): Exceptional -
• Stewart (9/5): Excellent place to stay whilst on Lewis and Harris - Location and the owners . Not much. Maybe a small sofa would be good but tight for space.
• Mchardy (10/5): A memorable stay that would be hard to beat. Idyllic and peaceful. - Jo and Mark were fantastic hosts. Highly recommend. The view was incredible from the bothy, a very peaceful place to be at one with nature. There was somewhere safe to park my motorbike which made a huge difference to me. having to leave :)
• Emma (9/5): Great bothie with wonderful views - Great location with wonder views overlooking the Loch. Very comfortable large bed and great shower. Plug in hob was provided to use in outside kitchen along with a box of everything needed to cook a meal. Kettle and small fridge inside.
• Grimes (8/5): Very good - Great location, very helpful and friendly host. More storage would have been helpful.
• Paul (10/5): Perfect location - Isolation, seclusion, view, location Nothing
• Karen (10/5): Exceptional - Spotless , excellent location and Joanne was very friendly
• Marianne (10/5): Exceptional -
• Mabon (7/5): Good -
• O (8/5): Very good - Location was lovely, beautiful view and very peaceful No chair inside or out to enjoy the view other than foldup chair which wasn't comfortable. Also needs a wardrobe/press to put clothes away.
• John (9/5): Very enjoyable few days will hopefully visit again. - Fabulous location overlooking the sea Loch and great hosts. A little bit more storage for clothes etc.
• Christine (10/5): Heaven ✨ - Joanne has a bit of paradise 😉
• Pam (10/5): Superb! - Fabulous welcome and an amazing, peaceful place to stay. Our lovely hosts couldn't have been more friendly and informative. The accommodation is superb, situated halfway between Stornoway and Tarbert, making it absolutely perfect for exploring Lewis and Harris. It has everything you need to make your stay special and with the best view of the Loch from the fantastically comfortable bed! Can't recommend highly enough!
• Lesley (10/5): Magical (the view) comfortable and welcoming amenities. - The building, its surrounding environment and the shower were fab, the oven and fire were great and gave the accommodation a homely feel. Everything we needed was supplied, from kitchen utensils to chocolate biscuits and tea, coffee and bottled water. If the weather had been better the outside seating would have been great and the dish washing facilities were excellent. I felt that the accommodation was well thought out to help the customer have a enjoyable and comfortable experience. N/A
• Kev (9/5): Great (almost) off-grid location in which to chill and get away from it all - Really away from it all - very peaceful Local wildlife includes seals and deer
• Janet (10/5): For us this was the best bits of wild camping and great hotel combined, nature, views, peace and quiet with a huge comfy - The panoramic view of unadulterated nature and the “intense quiet” A tiny tiny thing, the bathroom floor is very cold in contrast with the fabulous hot shower.
• Virginie (7/5): Good - All location place Not applicable Joanne the host is the wonderful Scottish one
• Sarah (9/5): Excellent, highly recommend this beautiful spot. - It was a beautiful and quiet location, a clean and lovely room, and the hosts made us feel welcome and were available to answer any of our questions. We really enjoyed our time here! It didn't feel as easeful to cook our own food and there was no soap etc in the shower room.
• Linda (10/5): Everything we expected in a wonderful location. - Amazing location & unique style property. Comfortable bed. It was very peaceful & close to nature, saw deers & white tail sea eagle. Joanne & Mark were very friendly & were nearby to meet all our needs. They have built an amazing place. Just somewhere to dry towels
• Anita (7/5): A take if two halves - Stunning location, very comfortable bed. Lovely large shower. The owners say that they made it clear in a reply to another reviewer about the outdoor cooking facilities which basically consisted of a plastic box under the bed with basics in it like plastic plates, glasses, saucepan, frying pan etc plus a small electric hob that was also stored under the bed. All of which was to be used outside. Obviously we weren’t the only people who didn’t realise there was actually no kitchen indoors, just a small fridge on the floor that doubled as a bedside unit. The other bedside unit had the tea making facilities on it. I double checked the details once we came home and sorry to say they are not clear about the facility set up and need re writing. The details do specify kitchen, there is not a kitchen in the bothy itself and a sink outside is not a kitchen either, the details should be changed to specify no kitchen. It also specifies living room but in fact is one room with a bathroom. The outside space is only useable in good weather. There was also mention of a continental breakfast in the details , this was not actually offered either. The chairs for the room were fold up ones also stored under the bed as if put up there was no space in the bothy to move around. There was underfloor heating which they didn’t want the temperature changed on and was kept at still quite nippy. I don’t know why it couldnt just be turned up to heat the bothy rather than have to light the log burner when we got back in the evenings. We also mentioned the lack of a toaster and bread knife to them. The bothy is beautiful and the location stunning but there is most definitely a better way to do the kitchen facilities rather than having to get on the floor to grab a plastic box from under the bed. Suggest a specifically built cupboard outside with all the equipment for cooking in it. Didn’t really match up with the quality of the location or building outside area ie cooking area is only useable if the weather is being nice.
• Adrian (10/5): Loved it as a base for exploring the island send also to shelter from the storm! - Cosy, well built new bothy in an incredible location overlooking loch and mountains. Private but with hosts nearby who were so kind and helpful. Basic outdoor cooking facilities but really well thought out.
• Stephanie (10/5): Amazing!! Loved every second of it. - The location is amazing and the bed is very very comfortable. The place was immaculate and it is the perfect location to see all of the island. There could maybe be a wee sign that makes it easier to find initially, but other than that it was perfect!
• Stephanie (10/5): Perfect - Everything was perfect for a quiet lovely spot with lovely views & excellent hosts
• Priscilla (5/5): Beautiful location, nice new build but poor cooking facilities and lacking in comfort. - Beautifully constructed property with high quality materials. The location was superb and the views were spectacular. Very nice shower with piping hot water, large comfortable bed. I should have paid more attention to the details about the property as I had made several assumptions. The cooking facilities were woefully inadequate, a plastic box was stored under the bed which contained plastic crockery, a two ringed hot plate and some cutlery and cooking utensils. To cook anything you had to plug the hot plate into a semi-covered area outside of your room which was exposed on one side which provided beautiful views to the loch but also ample opportunity for wind and rain to blow in. The table was a picnic table which was to be shared with the other bothy. The fridge which was in your room pretty much only held some milk and a few cans so unable to store any food had we wanted to cook. The property is 11 miles (from memory) from the nearest shop so you probably would want to keep some food in there. There was no toaster either so breakfast was limited to muesli, which was ok but and this is where I struggle, the room was £130 a night, we managed to get a cancellation at one of the best hotels on Harris and for £139 we lacked for nothing and had a massive cooked breakfast, buffet etc included in that price. There was nowhere to sit in the room unless you retrieved the plastic camping chairs from under the bed and the small coat rack didn't really provide adequate space for two people to hang up their clothes. No waste paper basket, no large mirror, no shelves in the bathroom, no soap in the shower. This all sounds like I'm missing the point yes it's a beautiful location, stunning and you are at one with nature but on the surface it appears to be luxury accommodation which is reflected in the price but actually it's very basic and we checked out a day early and when I told the owner we were leaving early there was no enquiry as to why. We stayed at 3 other properties on our trip to Scotland and they all exceeded our expectations.
• Robert (10/5): Enjoyed visiting with Joanne and Mark. - Mark and Joanne were very friendly and welcoming. Great views and great place to see wildlife.
• Pauline (9/5): Superb - The location is perfect for exploring both Lewis and Harris. We arrived later so it was dark but thankfully Joanne came and met us to direct us to the Bothie.
• Hazel (10/5): amazing place. loved it - location. host. the bothy
• Martin (10/5): See Sea Eagles from your bed! - Loved the setting and amazing atmospheric views including regular views of sea eagles. Excellent bed and shower. Nothing
• Milos (8/5): Very good -
• Mark (10/5): Slow down and become part of the Nature - The most peacefull and unique location we ever stayed in! Breathtaking view and athmosphere! Makes you feel part of the spectacular Nature on the isle of Lewis! -
• Dickwenn (9/5): A unique stay on the Outer Hebrides - We were heartedly welcomed by the owners on our arrival. We were shown to our Bothie were we recieved complete information regarding our stay. The Bothie is situated near the bay leading out to sea and gives fantastic views of the valley. The bedroom and comfortable bed are very spacious. The bathroom is enormous and has a very nice shower. Cooking is done on a hotplate outside or as per request a BBQ can be provided. The owners reside nearby and are very friendly. We enjoyed our stay here very much. Especially the truly unique location, the views and the quiet. We would certainly come here again if our travels bring us back to the Outer Hebrides. Nothing, just a tip. A small (fixed) table and chairs near the window for when the pesky midgets make breakfast outside somewhat challenging.
• Thorsten (10/5): Exceptional - This accommodation is superbly designed and thoughtfully arranged, nestled within a picturesque landscape. The owners, who reside nearby, are incredibly friendly and readily available to assist. The beds are exceptionally comfortable, and the bathroom offers ample space. The addition of the fireplace enhances the overall ambiance of the room.
• Leah (10/5): Amazing - Everything The uniqueness The look The feel the atmosphere Simply fabulous

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