Just back from four nights in one of the four
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Just back from four nights in one of the four berth statics at Sunnybrae. The location of this site is unbeatable, if peace, perfect peace is what you're looking for.
The holiday really kicks-off before you even get to the site, as you sit on the jetty at North Cuan, on Seil, waiting on the "ferry". This is an "open air" drive on/drive off ferry that only takes a max of five cars. Check out Argyll and Bute Council website for prices, etc. Assuming you're going off the island everyday, it's cheaper to buy a book of five return tickets than to pay for each journey for car/passengers. You buy the tickets when you first get on the ferry and only hand over the tickets when you're travelling from North Cuan to Luing. As a result, we ended up with a spare car/two passengers tickets, as we were only there for 4 nights, but the tickets are valid for one year, so no big deal. Still works out much cheaper than paying for each journey individually.
Sunnybrae is just up from the Luing ferry terminal. It's a small site, with only eight rent-out statics, all nicely spaced out and angled to afford you as much privacy as possible. Each van has a picnic table/benches out front or to the side. Three of the vans are right on the water's edge, three more set back from the water and two more up on the small hill, overlooking the water and the site.
The site has both four berth and six berth vans. I believe the six berths have been more recently upgraded, but our four berth was lovely nonetheless - well equipped and comfortable. Plenty of space for my husband and myself. In the double room, the space to each side of the double bed was a bit tight - we had to squeeze down the sides of the bed crab-fashion. Having said that, the bed itself was a full size double, so nice and comfy. The other room had two single beds which would be fine for younger children, but I would think would be a bit narrow for teenagers.
Just a word of warning, the steps going up in to the van were steep and there were no handrails, so the more infirm might struggle with that. I didn't notice if all the vans were the same in this respect, so worth checking with the owners, who are very friendly and helpful.
There is a "bothy" on site which is well stocked with frozen locally caught shellfish and locally produced "ready" meals such as game pie, fish pie, beef stew, as well as items for the BBQ, such as venison burgers and sausages. You can also get free range eggs from the owners, as they have a number of chickens pecking around their garden.
The bothy also has a large selection of DVDs that you can rent for something like £1 per night. It also houses laundry facilities, should you need them. Everything in the bothy is on an honesty box basis.
I mentioned that the caravans are well-equipped - they come with bed linen, cleaning products, a gas grill, hob and oven, fridge with freezer drawer, all kitchen utensils, pots/pans, crockery and glassware you could ever need, kitchen foil, cling film, a clothes airer and a hoover. There is a gas fire in case you feel a bit chilly. The vans also have a TV with freeview and a built-in DVD player should you get bored looking out the window at the amazing views (which is highly unlikely!).
BBQs are allowed next to your van, as long as you use stands (which are available in the bothy) so as not to ruin the wooden picnic tables or the grass. We took and used our own tub BBQ which stands off the table, so we didn't have any problems. We recommend buying lobster and langoustines from D Watt Fishmongers at the Railway Pier in Oban. Really cheap compared to other nearby suppliers... and who wouldn't want fresh shellfish, right off the fishing boat and on to the BBQ in the evening!
Bike hire is available at Sunnybrae, if you are (unlike us) the energetic type. We took a drive down to Tobernochy and to Cullipool, just to see around. One of the guys on the ferry recommended the newly opened Atlantic Centre in Cullipool for a nice lunch or dinner out. We didn't manage during our stay, so can't comment, but according to "ferry guy", they serve lovely fresh, locally caught seafood. You have to phone and book 24 hours in advance. You'll be able to get the number from the owners, if it's not already in the stack of local info they provide in each of the vans.
Further afield, we recommend heading down towards Easdale for a trip and, even further afield again, head up to the Port Appin Pierhouse hotel and restaurant and try the Cullen Skink! Fantastic.
All in all, a great stay at Sunnybrae and we will certainly be back.
Type of accommodation: Static
Date: 27/06/2015
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