How good is the WiFi and the phone signal?
The WiFi and phone signal are both excellent.
Is the garden enclosed?
There is a fence along one edge, and behind the cottage, but otherwise the garden is open to the hillsides. We would recommend that children and dogs are supervised.
How long does it take to get to the village from the cottage?
By car, Kinlochleven is only a few minutes away, and there are plenty of places to park. It is a 10-minute walk along the road into the village, and although it looks like a main road it is generally quiet, and drivers tend not to drive fast. It is useful at night to take a torch, and there is one hanging near the front door for this purpose.
Are there any places to eat in the village?
Yes, in the village itself there are two very friendly pubs offering good wholesome food, a fish and chip shop, and a good cafe and a grill bar at Ice Factor. The Macdonalds Hotel is half a mile outside the village, and has a bar and restaurant where you can get food, and further afield, around 6 miles away at Glencoe is the excellent Crafts and Things Cafe snd Shop, and the very popular Lochleven Seafood Cafe (it does close for winter, so do check) is 9 miles away.
What shops are there in the village?
There is a good Co-op in the village, which has most things you will need, including fresh bread and logs for the woodburner. There is a larger Co-op in Ballachulish, 8 miles away, and a range of much larger stores in Fort William, 21 miles away. Kinlochleven has its own Post Office, with the usual services and small shop. It is sited in the Aluminium Story Visitor Centre, where you can learn about the industry around which the village originally grew.
What is there to do in the village?
There are numerous walks from the village, including the West Highland Way which goes through it, a lovely walk along the river to the loch, and a walk to one of Scotland’s highest waterfalls, the Grey Mare’s Tail. In addition, there is Ice Factor, home to the world’s biggest indoor ice climbing wall, together with a standard climbing wall and bouldering room. For the even more adventurous, climbers head into the nearby Mamores, and there is Via Ferrata Scotland, a vertical descent behind the waterfall! Visit https://discoverglencoe.scot/ for more ideas in the area.
Are there games, books and DVDs in the cottage?
Yes, there is a small selection of all of these, and among the books are area guides, fiction and non-fiction.
Is there any food and condiments in the cupboards?
Yes, I provide basic condiments, including some stock cubes, and various things which mean that you can cook a simple meal if you arrive late (pasta, rice and sauce). In addition, there will be a small ‘welcome pack’, the contents of which vary but always include milk, bread and biscuits. Tea and coffee are also provided.
Shall we leave any food in the cupboards, fridge or freezer when we check out?
I hate waste, and as a self-caterer I am pleased when there is some food in the cupboard! Dried ingredients such as rice, pasta, stock cubes, flour, condiments etc., can be left for the next guests, together with any unopened store cupboard items such as jars. Any chilled food item that is unopened and within date can be left in the fridge, and any frozen food can be left in the freezer. My changeover lady will check everything anyway, as she knows when the next guests are due.
