A Scottish getaway by the side of a loch that's a pure slice of romantic fantasy
Standing just yards from Loch Sunart is The Seashell, a fabulous little spot for sale that offers an ideal romantic getaway.

Built in to the landscape with in a circular shape and with a turf-covered roof, you'd almost think it was designed for a hobbit. But The Seashell was built with one thing in mind: creating an ideal getaway for a couple. And it's a getaway in Acharacle, on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, which is for sale at £250,000.
There are the views of Loch Sunart and the Morvern Hills beyond, enjoyed through floor-to-ceiling windows; the large, airy living space with an open fire at the centre; and the beautiful fixtures and fittings throughout.
Those modern touches go beyond the spa bath and kitchen appliances. This 21st century take on the croft also has underfloor heating, solar thermal panels and a heat pump which give it superb energy efficiency.
Depending on the time of year you'll either appreciate this enormously or not even notice, as you sit outside and soak in the stunning landscape.
Considering what £250,00 can buy you elsewhere in far flung corners of Scotland – a full-on estate, for example, or a beautiful five-bedroom detached house set in extensive gardens – it's fairly easy to make the case that The Seashell is wildly overpriced.
And then you take another look at the setting and think, well... maybe not.
A closer look also suggests that the economics of this little property seem to add up. It's a place that screams 'Air BnB' from its grass-covered rafters, and has unsurprisingly been a huge hit as a top-end getaway.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The same owners also run two other nearby properties – Aspen Lodge and Brightwater Lodge – and have made a sound business of it. The Seashell could carry on in that way, or else be used as a permanent home.
And while it may be little, for many that won't really matter a jot. It won't be the place for a weekend reunion with old university friends, but if you're after a spot for a truly romantic getaway then space is immaterial compared to a roaring fire and a beautiful view are pretty much all you need.
The Seashell is for sale with Galbraith via OnTheMarket.com for offers over £250,000 – the closing date is November 21. See more pictures and details here.
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
Designer's Room: A solid oak French kitchen that's been cleverly engineered to last
Kitchen and joinery specialist Artichoke had several clever tricks to deal with the fact that natural wood expands and contracts.
By Amelia Thorpe Published
-
Chocolate eggs, bunnies and the Resurrection: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 18, 2025
Friday's quiz is an Easter special.
By James Fisher Published
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London home
Behind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtower
On Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attached
Upper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
By James Fisher Published
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?
It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
What should 1.5 million new homes look like?
The King's recent visit to Nansledan with the Prime Minister gives us a clue as to Labour's plans, but what are the benefits of traditional architecture? And can they solve a housing crisis?
By Lucy Denton Published
-
Welcome to the modern party barn, where disco balls are 'non-negotiable'
A party barn is the ultimate good-time utopia, devoid of the toil of a home gym or the practicalities of a home office. Modern efforts are a world away from the draughty, hay-bales-and-a-hi-fi set-up of yesteryear.
By Madeleine Silver Published
-
Five beautiful homes, from a barn conversion to an island treasure, as seen in Country Life
Our pick of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in recent days include a wonderful thatched home in Devon and a charming red-brick house with gardens that run down to the water's edge.
By Toby Keel Published