There are many Scottish islands, but none quite like Carna. This historic 600 acre gem sits surrounded by the rich coastal waters of Loch Sunart on the west coast of Scotland. With only 3 houses, no roads or traffic, no telephones, no TV and very limited internet vying for your attention and few or no people it is the perfect place to escape the pressures of modern life and truly switch off. Ideal for reconnecting with the natural world, family, friends or just yourself.
Carna is a small island lying in Loch Sunart, nestled between the Ardnamurchan and Morvern peninsulas on the West Coast of Scotland. Although now a place known for its peace and seclusion the island is packed with history stretching back to being formed up to a billion years ago!
The island is a 600 acre mosaic of wildlife rich habitats including traditional wildflower meadows, Birchwood, Pinewood and internationally important Atlantic Oakwoods, heather moorland, peatland, hill grazing, many burns and some bogs, all of which is open to explore to our guests and visitors.
Whether it’s Otters, Eagles, Butterflies or beautiful orchids the island is alive with biodiversity and every visitor helps contribute to looking after it as all our profits help fund our conservation projects and the sustainability of the local community.
We are a small family run team made up of the islands’ owners, local businesses and local people and we would love to give you a warm Highland welcome here.
There are only 3 houses on the island, two of which are open to guests, located on the gentle and sheltered eastern side. With no roads on Carna and just an old land rover to help move luggage and supplies, there are no traffic worries, and the sounds of the shore, the sea breeze and our abundant wildlife is all that you have to contend with. You can scale the 170m (550ft) summit or explore the numerous ridges, gullies, secret woods, coves and beaches via a network of tracks and trails most of which are rarely visited by human footsteps. Enjoy a sundowner from the top and admire the commanding views onto the neighbouring lochs, peninsulas and the open Atlantic Ocean.
Carna House is a wonderful getaway, a period 1920s cottage with log fires and gas lighting. It is a warm and cosy cottage sleeping up to 8 guests in comfort and seclusion. Relax by the roaring fire and fall to sleep with nothing but the gentle sound of the sea and perhaps rutting stags. This is the perfect place for getting back to basics and allowing quality time with friends and family that is in such short supply these days.
Carna House consists of one double bedroom, two twins and one bunk room, a well equipped kitchen with multifuel stove, dining room with open fire, comfortable sitting room with log burner, bathroom with over bath shower and two toilets, a porch, ideal for muddy boots and outdoor clothing. The kitchen is equipped with a fridge, cooker and all the equipment you should need.
Outside there is a large mown garden with table, chairs and bench to sit and enjoy the views with the sea shore under a minute walk away. From your front door you are free to stroll where you like, perhaps up through the wildflower meadow, scale the summit or wander off round the deserted coastline maybe spotting an otter on the way.
Carna Cottage is an original farmers ‘Blackhouse’ that has been modernized over the years to provide warm, comfortable and fully equipped self-catering accommodation overlooking the private pontoon and tranquil shoreline. The cottage conservatory and dining kitchen windows provide a wonderful and unique viewing platform from which to watch our abundant wildlife. Otters feed and fish on and around the pontoon in front on a daily basis whilst seals swim past heading through Caol Chàrna narrows to our right and both eagles often perch on ‘the bridge’ in full view.
This cosy two bedroomed loch-side cottage, which sleeps a maximum of 6 people, has a wood burning stove in the lounge, electric lighting provided by the island solar panels and wind turbine, kitchen dining room with fridge freezer and cooker, family bathroom and conservatory. There is a unique freedom to explore on land and by boat this stunningly beautiful and secluded area, so free from light pollution the Milky Way lights up the sky on clear nights.
Whether coming here to learn about our wildlife and habitats, photograph it or simply get away from the stresses of life we can shape your visit to find just what you’re looking for.
