
Stormhouse South
For two, with one bedroom, a hot tub and room for the dog. Five nights at least.
Licence AR-00675-F
Stormhouse South is an architect-designed house for two at Portnacroish in Appin, in a secluded wooded setting above Loch Laich, looking across to Castle Stalker.
Cedar cladding, polished concrete floors and floor-to-ceiling glass make a modern shell, and inside it is warmed with leather, a classic 1970s Swiss De Sede suite and a wood-burning stove. Unlike North, South is completely open plan: the super king-size bed is in the main room, with a remote-controlled curtain for cosiness and privacy, and on wild mornings you can stay in bed and watch the weather roll across the loch.
The Next125 German island kitchen has a Siemens coffee machine, and the wet room has a rainfall shower with a Sonos speaker built in. Out on the deck, a sunken mosaic-tiled hydromassage hot tub is there for watching the sun go down and the stars come out. Sea eagles are regularly seen from the house, and there is a telescope for looking along the shore for otters and seals. Stormhouse North is about 100 metres away through the trees, so two couples travelling together can take both.

It dates from the 1300s, and was Castle Aargh in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The owners often see sea eagles from the house, flying around the castle. There is no way down from the house, which is too steep: walk from the Linnhe cafe car park to the cycle path beside the castle.
Sunk into the deck: a mosaic-tiled hydromassage spa with pressurised water jets. It is deep, with a hand rail to get in and out.
Floor-to-ceiling structural glass. The house can only be seen from the sea, so nothing overlooks it.
You can kayak around Castle Stalker on Loch Laich, and Sea Kayak Oban hires kayaks and runs day trips. Dolphins and porpoises are regularly seen in Loch Linnhe.
On a calm day it feels expansive and peaceful, and in rough weather it feels dramatic and alive.
An open-plan house for two with a super king-size bed and a remote-controlled curtain, a classic 1970s De Sede leather suite, a wood-burning stove, a Next125 island kitchen with a Siemens coffee machine, and a wet room with a rainfall shower and a built-in Sonos speaker.
- Arriving
- From 4pm. You let yourself in.
- Leaving
- By 10am.
- How long
- Five nights at least. Three-night breaks are sometimes released, and returning guests can ask for one.
- Dogs
- One well-behaved dog, if you ask first. No charge.
- Smoking
- None, inside or out, vaping included.
- Wi-Fi
- Starlink.
- Getting about
- You will need a car. There is parking at the house.
- Shops
- A Co-op in Port Appin, 3 miles away. Supermarkets in Oban, 17 miles.
January2027
Your dates
Choose the night you arrive.Then the morning you leave.
The owner confirms the final price.
Stormhouse South is at Portnacroish in Appin, on the A828 between Oban and Glencoe, in a secluded wooded setting above Loch Laich with Castle Stalker across the water.
Stormhouse North stands about 100 metres away through the trees. The Old Inn is a five-minute walk down the hill. A small Co-op in Port Appin is about three miles away, and Oban, 17 miles south, has the big supermarkets. Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are about two and a half hours by road.
Getting hereAbout two and a half hours by road from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport, on the A828 between Oban and Glencoe.
The Old InnSteak, a roaring fire and candlelit tables in a building from the 1670s, at the bottom of the hill. Book ahead, as it gets busy.5 minutes on foot
The PierhouseSeafood in Port Appin, and a deck over the water: a glass of wine at sunset, with the little Lismore ferry going back and forth.4 miles 9 min by road
Sutherland’s GroveTrails from under a mile to 7.5 miles, through ancient oaks and huge pines to a rocky gorge. Good with a dog, and sheltered in rain.6 miles 11 min by road
Glen CreranThe Fairy Bridge and the Pine Marten trail, from Elleric car park at the end of the glen road. The climb up Beinn Fhionnlaidh starts there too.9 miles 14 min by road
Glencoe LochanTheir pick if a Munro is not on the cards: a beautiful little walk round the lochan, with hillier trails off it if you want more.16 miles 26 min by road
The Lost ValleyWhere the MacDonalds of Glencoe hid their rustled cattle. Only 2.5 miles there and back, but the path is steep and rocky, so take care.18 miles 26 min by road
Beinn a’ChrulaisteA Corbett, not a Munro: an unassuming hill with the best view of Buachaille Etive Mòr from its broad, grassy top. Park at Altnafeadh.26 miles 36 min by road
DunollieThe ruined castle of Clan MacDougall on a cliff above Oban Bay, with woodland grounds, a museum and a tearoom. Open April to October.19 miles 32 min by road
KerreraFive minutes by ferry from Oban. A six-mile loop round the south of the island takes in Gylen Castle and the Kerrera Tea Garden.22 miles 36 min by road + ferry
Castle Stalker2¼ miles, about an hour and a half2 miles away
Clach Thoull1½ miles, about three hours, with lunch4 miles away
The Fairy Bridgean hour to an hour and a half for the 4 km loop by the bridge; about an hour for the 2.2 km Pine Marten Trail9 miles away
Beinn Loraabout an hour and a half to the Eagle's Eyrie and back, 3.3 km; up to three hours with the summit11 miles away
A Daytrip to Glen Coe from ObanHalf a mile away A day out
The Jubilee Bridge and Castle Stalker shore walkHalf a mile away A few hours
Round the Appin Rocks to Clach Thoull at Port Appin2 miles away A few hours
A swim and afternoon tea on the Isle of Eriska3 miles away A few hours
Round the Glen Galmadale horseshoe above Kingairloch5 miles away A few hours
Cuil Bay and the memorial to James of the Glens6 miles away A few hours
A walk up Beinn Lora above Benderloch6 miles away A few hours
A walk to the Fairy Bridge in Glen Creran7 miles away A few hours
The Falls of Lora and lunch at the Oyster Inn8 miles away A few hours
Dunstaffnage Castle and lunch at the Oyster Inn9 miles away A few hours
The Ocean Explorer Centre and lunch at the Beach Cafe9 miles away A few hours
A wet day in Oban9 miles away A day out
A wood-fired sauna on Ganavan Sands, Oban10 miles away A few hours
Ganavan Sands and lunch at Cuan Mor10 miles away A few hours
A hilltop sauna at Woodlands Glencoe and Glencoe Lochan10 miles away A day out
Segway, archery and nine holes at Woodlands Glencoe10 miles away A day out
A walk up Battleship Hill above Oban11 miles away A few hours
Kelly's Pier on Loch Etive and lunch at the Kilchrenan Inn11 miles away A few hours
Dunollie and Ganavan Sands with the children11 miles away A day out
Dunollie Wood, the Dog Stone and Dunollie Castle walk11 miles away A few hours
The Dog Stone with the dog and the Oban Chocolate Company11 miles away A few hours
A walk through Ariundle Oakwood11 miles away A few hours
Corran Point and a pint at Ardgour Ales11 miles away A few hours
A day in Oban12 miles away A day out
Their perfect day here, in their own words.
- Morning
Freshly ground coffee and breakfast on the deck. - On the way26 minutes by roadA drive up to Glencoe, with a quick stop at Stiff Peaks patisserie in Ballachulish for picnic provisions: a home-made focaccia sandwich and a strawberry tart.
- Midday
A walk in Glencoe with the dog.For something gentle, their pick is the Glencoe Lochan. - Afternoon26 minutes back by road
Back to Stormhouse for a glass of Crémant in the hot tub. - Evening5 minutes on foot
Then a stagger down to the Old Inn for a steak and a pint.
The view, and the sense of seclusion and peace.
Nicola and JimScotland, in print.
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