Ineraval Farmhouse Accommodation
Ineraval farmhouse stood for several decades as a ruin, having been destroyed by fire in the 1950s.
As our parents, Alistair and Mina, approached their 80s after a lifetime of farming on The Oa they felt the need of “a project” and they found it in the rebuilding of Ineraval. Some years on, Ineraval is a testament to their hard work and vision. Externally It has the appearance and character of a traditional Islay farmhouse while inside it is a modern, stylish and comfortable home from home.
Upstairs it has two bedrooms (one double and one twin) and a small shower room, all equipped with Velux roof windows to the rear giving the entire upper floor a light and spacious feeling. Both bedrooms are furnished with handmade furniture and present spectacular views over the farm and out to sea.
Downstairs, and to the back, the house has a well-equipped modern and spacious kitchen with electric cooker, fridge, dish-washer, washing-machine, micro-wave oven and freezer. For us, one of the things we love about being at Ineraval is having the time and opportunity to cook and eat some of the great local produce so we keep a range of herbs and spices in the kitchen as well as some of the things that many kitchens have but not many ever use – pasta machine, tagine, fondue set to name but a few.
As you come in the back door to the house there is space to take off your boots etc and a large bathroom which has a separate bath and shower cubicle and space to dry off any outdoor wet weather gear (should you have the misfortune to be caught in one of the showers that occasionally pass through the west coast of Scotland). At the front of the house is a small porch which opens into a single open plan living and dining room which, at its centre, has a feature wooden staircase leading to the first floor.
At one end the living area has a wood-burning stove, satellite television, DVD player and comfortable sofa and armchairs where you can spend time watching television, reading books, playing board games or doing jigsaws (you will find a good stock of all these and some toys for young children). At the other end of the room there is a dining table and chairs to enjoy the fruits of your labours in the kitchen.
Ineraval is heated with electric storage heating downstairs and wall-mounted electric heaters upstairs. It is well insulated to modern standards and holds its heat well. We have satellite broadband which offers some connectivity for those who want it although the service is limited and will not support things like streaming videos.
To the side of the house there is a shed with a table tennis table and equipment for a few other games that you may wish to try as well as outdoor seating, a barbecue and firepit.
Like all properties in the Oa, Ineraval is served by a private water supply (in our case a well on the farm). The water goes through barrier and UV filtration before it reaches your tap and is regularly tested by the local authority who approve it for consumption. Even so, if you have a health condition that makes you in some way vulnerable or are in the early stages of pregnancy then we recommend that you should think about boiling water before drinking it or using bottled water.
