You Can Now Buy This Charming Cottage Village On The Isle Of Skye

An entire countryside town, located in the small fishing village of Elgol in Scotland, is currently for sale for £1,250,000.

The history behind the cottages is almost as whimsical as the setting. Current owners Andrew and Mary Sim had always dreamt of building thatched cottages together, and after their marriage in 1990, an opportunity to realize their dream presented itself. The Croft Estate, consisting of over 2.6 acres, had been in the Sim family for nearly nine generations, and it would soon belong to Andrew and his wife.

Over the years, the couple built four traditional Scottish blackhouses on the property, which would later serve as the site for a bed and breakfast, as well as their five-bedroom main house. The first two cottages were actually rebuilt ruins and contain history itself in the fiber of the structure – the design of which includes period details such as boxed beds with under floor heating and double glazing. According to listing agent and associate for Strutt & Parker, Euan Maccrimmon, the stone cottages are “fine examples of traditional Scottish blackhouses…and evoke a rustic simplicity and sense of history that is perennially popular.”

“Equally, the [cottages] boast a wonderful setting in a small, secluded fishing village,” Maccrimmon continues. The property is listed as an “iconic West Highland holiday rental business opportunity,” and Maccrimmon believes it has huge potential for developing business, although it’s not currently open year-round.

With their children grown and the hard work of cottage-building behind them, Maccrimmon says that the couple decided to sell the property to move on to new ventures. While the property is certainly personal to the family, especially after nine generations, its idyllic appeal is universal. The highlights of Mary’s Cottages, according to Maccrimmon, include the “magical setting, the comfort, the lifestyle opportunity, and the remote escapism.” With its historical roots and majestic views, it’s no surprise the property was awarded Four Stars by the Scottish Tourist Board.

Mary’s Cottages and the Croft Estate are currently listed with Strutt and Parker for £1,250,000.. For more information, on the property, visit here. Scroll below for more photos.

About the author

Amber C. Snider

Home & Design Editor

Amber was born in Washington, D.C. and relocated to NYC in 2007. She received an M.A. degree in Liberal Studies: Women's Studies, Gender, and Sexuality from CUNY's Graduate Center and University, and an honors B.A. in English from The City College of New York. Before coming to Culture Trip, she was the executive editor for Metropolitan Magazine, a boutique luxury lifestyle and arts publication, as well as the editor for ResidencyNY Magazine. In 2015, she also started her own company, ACS Media Services, and has over 8+ years experience as a writer/editor in the NYC area. As one of the original employees in Culture Trip’s New York City office, Amber focuses on three verticals: Design, Architecture, and Home and Interiors, exploring how creativity and design influences our contemporary social landscape. She lives in Brooklyn with her typewriter.