Short stay: Lochsie, Peinmore House, Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK

Owned and very ably run by Don and Margaret Greer since 2007, Peinmore House is a beautifully kept B&B that can be found by following a signpost to the Braes on the outskirts of Portree. From this peaceful location, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Cuillins to the south and the distinctive Old Man of Storr to the north.

The welcome

We were greeted by Margaret and shown to our ‘room’. Although there are four rooms at Peinmore House, there are also two self-catering cottages at the rear which are normally let on a weekly basis. When vacant, however, they can serve as an overspill for the B&B. Margaret showed us to one of these (named ‘Lochsie’), advised us to park at the rear of the property to make unloading easier, and suggested The Granary Restaurant in Portree for dinner which proved to be an excellent recommendation.

The room

Lochsie is much more than a room – it’s a self-contained cottage with not only a bedroom, but also your own open plan lounge area and kitchen, allow guests to self-cater here.

The bathroom

The bathroom has a bath, separate shower (out of shot), lavatory and basin with toiletries from Arran Aromatics and the Isle of Skye Soap Company.

The facilities

There’s a fully equipped kitchen, including a washing machine…

…plus a couple of sofas on which to relax.

A well-tended, communal garden area can be found at the front, and there’s a private area at the back where you can sit out. Most of the 2 acres of grounds can be found at the front of Peinmore House.

At breakfast, there’s a display of fresh fruit and cereals where you can help yourself…

…before choosing a full Scottish breakfast or something a little lighter such as scrambled egg and smoked salmon.

Other nice touches

There were fresh flowers and homemade biscuits in our accommodation on arrival. Margaret also brought us an afternoon tea of coffee and walnut cake which was a lovely extra touch.