Bay Cottage is an exceptional modern and stylish design-led two-bedroom waterside eco house located on the island of North Uist. Completely renovated and extended to the highest standards with unique, high quality features and finishes throughout.

Bay Cottage offers a rare opportunity to acquire an immaculately presented unique property set in an idyllic location overlooking a sheltered tidal bay with panoramic, dynamic views of archetypal Hebridean land- and seascapes.

The original house was built about 1900 on 2 levels with thick stone walls. The house was recently fully renovated and extended, adding 2 contemporary architect-designed larch clad extensions front and rear and an accompanying studio/annexe. The extensions have been considerately designed to provide immersive views of the surrounding landscape to the west and north west to make the most of the sunsets all year, maximising natural light and solar gain.

The current owners have used high quality materials throughout, recycled where possible, to create a unique and attractive property. Bay Cottage is fully double glazed with NorDan Alu Clad glazing featuring in the new extensons. It has underfloor heating on both floors and throughout the double glazed studio/annexe. A high-speed fibre-optic internet connection is available throughout the house and studio/annexe.

The renovated house, new extensions and studio/annexe are future-proofed, being insulated to a high standard, ensuring a low level of energy use. A 4 kW solar panel system is placed on the south-facing rear extension roof and has a Feed in Tariff which generates a good yearly income. An air-source heat pump supplies the underfloor heating. There is an option available to add solar water panels in future and space for battery storage. The front extension and studio/annexe benefit from turf roofs with good insulting properties. The roofs are laid with North Uist machair turf and sown with locally collected wildflower seeds to provide a selection of native spring and summer wildflowers to attract Uist’s rare bumblebees and other pollinating insects.

From the front garden, limestone steps lead to the front door which opens to a generous entrance hall with opposing walls clad in Junkers beech, a sandstone tiled floor and a large built-in storage cupboard with three sliding doors houses utilities and services. The entrance hall has an adjoining conveniently located shower room which has a two-piece suite in white comprising a wall-mounted WC and wash hand basin and a large shower cubicle with drench head shower. There is a built-in vanity mirror cabinet.

A door opens to a large open plan space combining kitchen/dining/living areas cohesively designed to incorporate oak, American black walnut, birch plywood and polished concrete features and finishes. The kitchen walls are clad in birch plywood panelling. There is a large island with a feature light and an oak worktop incorporating a double sink, breakfast bar and pop-up electrical sockets. Open views to the garden and bay can be enjoyed via the adjacent large patio doors. There are a good range and large number of floor-mounted kitchen units providing ample storage with hand-built birch ply doors and drawer fronts. Units along each wall have American black walnut tops and a bespoke polished concrete area for pastry-making. There is space and plumbing for a dishwasher and a range style cooker which has a modern extraction unit installed above. Limestone flooring runs throughout the kitchen and dining/living room.

The dining/living area has a large sliding patio door that opens to the garden and has fantastic open views looking north west over the bay to enjoy spectacular sunsets and armchair views of waders wildfowl and raptors such as hen harrier and short eared owls hunting at close quarters over the garden. There are triple aspect windows that make the most of the surrounding views including a picture window that beautifully frames the neighbouring Trinity Temple, a 12 /13th century scheduled ancient monument to the west.

The architect-designed vaulted ceiling features green oak beams and galvanised steel truss rods incorporating LED lighting. A reclaimed American black walnut gable wall is an eye-catching feature, A Hotpod Stove sits on a Caithness slate hearth with a bespoke polished concrete plinth on the wall behind that complements the stove.

From the kitchen, a door leads to a bright and well-proportioned office and reading space with views of the back garden and Temple. The office has a Jura blue limestone floor and a door to the rear garden. A concealed pocket door leads to bedroom two.

Bedroom two sits off the office and is a generous and bright room with large dual aspect windows enjoying superb views towards the Temple and bay. There is a built-in wardrobe.

From the office, the oak staircase with glass panelling and oak balustrade leads to the master bedroom (one) and ensuite. The master bedroom and ensuite are designed to provide luxurious and relaxing spaces. There are windows to the front and rear designed to enjoy open views of the Temple, over Baleshare island towards the Atlantic and the Monach Isles. The room is carpeted and there is generous under eaves storage space.

The master bedroom has a luxury spacious, bright ensuite bathroom with a large skylight to view and enjoy Uists’ Dark Skies while relaxing in the bath. It has a slate tiled floor and walls with a bathroom suite comprising wall-mounted WC, freestanding bath and wash hand basin over a large modern vanity unit. There is a large shower cubicle, which has complimentary slate tiling to the walls and a drench head shower and a heated towel rail. Adjustable wall lights provide additional mood lighting.

Studio/annexe
The studio/annexe sits to the front of the property, has underfloor heating throughout and is fully double glazed. It has a WC with wash hand basin and a storage cupboard. There is a spacious main room with a vaulted ceiling and exposed beams and is equipped with a sink. There is an additional smaller room to the rear. The studio provides a generous and flexible space that could easily be developed into a self-catering holiday let (subject to necessary consents) or equally be used for year round working, a small business or creative/crafting space.

External
The property benefits from a large plot in the region approx. 0.64 acres (0.26Ha) and the house sits in a elevated position in the centre of the plot. The garden is secure being newly fenced to be fully stock and deer proof. The house in encircled by gravel paths and the garden is managed to be low maintenance and retain open views of the bay, Temple and surrounding landscapes and also to attract wildlife. Raptors including white-tailed eagles, hen harriers and short eared owls can all be seen regularly and at close proximity. Wildflower meadows feature and willows are planted around the boundary to provide some cover for birds.

The driveway at the front provides ample parking and turning space for 2-3 cars and is flanked by a number of raised vegetable beds on each side. There is a storage container and a poly tunnel, as well as an area to hang and dry washing. The side gardens are mainly laid to lawn and bounded by willow hedging which offers a natural boundary. The rear garden contains the remains of 2 blackhouses, one of which has been reconstructed in part to provide a sheltered outdoor leisure space with seating area and large fire pit built as a focal point from where to enjoy the superb views, wildlife and sunsets.

A path leads from the seating area to a gate at the bottom of the garden onto the shore. Ease and convenience of direct access from the house to the sea in this sheltered bay enables swimming, paddle-boarding and kayaking on the doorstep to allow exploration of the numerous islands adjacent to the house.