This wonderfully conceived three-bedroom house overlooks the magical Loch Gorm on the western fringes of the Isle of Islay. It was designed by Mary Arnold-Forster while at Dualchas Architects and brings together West Highland vernacular architecture with a Scandinavian modernist influence.

Complemented by a traditional stone bothy, the home’s cleverly orientated internal living spaces extend to approximately 1,431 sq ft. Outdoors, a garden of around two-thirds of an acre captures far-reaching loch and Atlantic Ocean views,  and looks to an uninterrupted panorama of the surrounding hillsides and the islands of Colonsay, Mull and Jura.

The Architect

Practice Dualchas was founded on Skye in 1996 by brothers Alasdair Stephen and Neil Stephen. Since its inception, the firm has sought inspiration from local vernacular, spearheading cultural confidence and a contemporary renaissance in the architecture of the Highlands. Contextually driven, their projects work in harmony with the surrounding environment and landscape.

Mary Arnold-Forster, RSA, has spent the last three decades working on remote and wild sites across the Highlands and Islands of the west coast of Scotland, initially with Dualchas before focussing on her own practice, MAFA. Arnold-Forster’s approach is based on a rigorous study of site, context and landscape, producing architecture that is fit purpose and spirit-lifting.

The Tour

Approached by a quiet rural road, the house and bothy are nestled in their site, surrounded by swaying pastures, rolling countryside and, in the distance, highlands and peaceful sandy shores.

A gated driveway leads to the rear garden and generous parking area. The house has a minimal material palette and barn-like profile that nods to the local vernacular. Arrays of glazed screens and windows punctuate smooth planes of rendered white façade, while the slate roof is contrasted by a shiny stainless steel flue.

The slate-grey front door leads into a hallway, where there is ample space for hanging coats and storing boots. Beyond, is a striking living room with a ceiling that rises high to the roofline. A welcoming and impressive space, it is defined by its open-plan layout attuned to easy, sociable living. Glazed screens, a large skylight and carefully positioned slot windows frame breathtaking views. This extensive glazing affords the room an exceptional quality of ever-changing light.

The seating areas centre around a cosy wood-burning stove; in the warmer months, sliding doors open onto a timber deck, extending the living space outdoors and providing a lovely spot for a morning coffee or evening sundowner. Sitting alongside and again backdropped by mesmerising views is space to gather and eat. Inside, an adjacent galley kitchen behind a set of sliding doors has simple white cabinetry beneath elm worktops.

One of the three double bedrooms and a bathroom are also positioned at ground floor level.

A central solid timber stair to the upper level is positioned beneath a roof light that bathes it in a lovely quality of natural light. It leads directly to the quiet upper level, where there are two further bedrooms. Both are peaceful spaces with further inspirational island vistas. A home-working area and a neat WC sit between the two.

Harking to bygone days is the separate and handsome old bothy. Stone walls and a crinkly tin roof ensure it retains a distinctive presence; currently in need of restoration, it has the potential to become a wonderful studio space.

Outdoor Space

Both the house and the bothy embrace their enchanting setting, clinging to the gently inclined grassy slopes that fall away from the quiet approaching road. Sitting in a plot of just around two-thirds of an acre, the house is visually anchored in the surrounding landscape. Golden eagles, buzzards and rare hen harriers fly overhead, and sheep grazing the heathery banks are frequent visitors.

Nearby Loch Gruinart and Loch Indaal shores, where afternoons can be spent walking or foraging, offer invigorating wild swimming and paddle boarding in warmer months. The bothy is a useful place for bicycles, fishing rods and wet suits.

At night, the sky is ablaze with stars and, on occasion, Aurora Borealis, the Milky Way and noctilucent clouds.

The Area

Islay, affectionately known as the ‘Queen of the Hebrides’, is the southernmost of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides and renowned for its celebrated whisky distilleries, rich and varied birdlife, and the fertile low-lying land that wraps the rugged coastline.

The legacy of Celtic rule prevails, with Islay home to one of the highest percentages of Gaelic speakers per capita across Scotland. The majority of Islay’s buildings date from the 19th century, although the island is peppered with monuments pointing to its long history. Kilnave Chapel, with its weatherbeaten carved slate cross, makes a particularly striking impression overlooking Loch Gruinart’s estuary on Islay’s northwest coast.

There are monuments of more recent times too. Atop the southwestern cliffs of the Oa peninsula is a lighthouse-shaped structure, erected in 1920 by the American Red Cross. A spot of rare beauty and one that on a clear day affords dramatic views of Ireland’s coastline. The Oa is also an RSPB reserve, hosting some 200 different species throughout the year, as is the enticing reserve at Loch Gruinart. On the doorstep here there are two signposted enticing trails strewn with beautiful plants, including sundews, orchids and bog asphodel. Sea and golden eagles are frequent summer visitors; seals, otters, dolphins, basking sharks and deer are also found across Islay and its waters.

The dramatic landscape of Islay is frequently enjoyed from the golf course. The Machrie Hotel – named in the UK’s Top 30 Hotels in the Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards 2022 – nestles in the dunes of a pristine seven-mile beach and has a links course ranked 75th in the world in Golf World’s Top 100.

The island abounds with whisky-tasting opportunities. Founded in 1881, Bruichladdich was Islay’s first purpose-built distillery. While remaining true to its artisanal heritage, it is a vanguard of new practices, famed for its innovative range of whisky expressions, and its leading botanical gin. It also has a wonderful shop, engaging tours and delicious tastings.

Bowmore, the island’s capital, is a 20-minute drive away and supplies most island inhabitants with essentials. Running from the 18th-century Round Church to the sheltered harbour, Main Street has banks, a range of restaurants (including celebrated pizzeria Peatzeria), a large Co-op for fresh vegetables and a family-run butcher, Porter’s.

Ferry services journey from Kennacraig to the island’s ports of Port Ellen and Port Askaig two and three times a day, with crossing times of around two hours and 20 minutes and approximately two hours respectively. Glasgow is then around two and a half hours away by car; alternatively, Logan Air operates daily flights from Glasgow to Islay, Glenegedale Airport, around 25 minutes by car from the house.

Council Tax Band: D

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.