The Old Post Office, Leverburgh

About

The Old Post Office forms part of our renovation of the much-loved former Leverburgh post office building (“The Cauldron”) which became redundant in 2017. Working to a brief placing sustainable construction to the fore, we elected to preserve as much of the pre-existing building as possible, eliminating the need for costly and wasteful demolition. In this respect, the original (and decidedly unsound!) 1970s blockwork structure was simply stabilised and reinforced. This allowed the installation of a pre-fabricated upper storey, timber framed and super-insulated, to create the generously proportioned holiday cottage (~ 100 m²) which comprises the accommodation. Encapsulating the entire structure in a striking rust-red cement board cladding completed the project, in addition to an innovative deck and bridge structure in steel and recycled mixed plastic.   

The accommodation is based around a light and spacious open plan living area, reached via a stair in the double hight atrium. The front elevation is extensively glazed, offering views over the central mill pond of the village, where salmon and sea trout often leap on a summer’s evening, and over to the Sound of Harris beyond.  Access to the private deck space and fenced garden to the rear is seamless, through a fully glazed terrace door, providing additional seating and mountain views.  There is access via a bridge to the common grazing land behind the property, with walks to the South Harris hills and the Obbe loch system, where fishing can be arranged. The deck is also a favourite location for breakfast, catching the rays of the morning sun.    

The adjoining kitchen/dining area features hand-made plywood cabinets and a central island with ample space for preparation/cooking, if your aim is to enjoy the best of local produce. 

Set out as a generous king size bedroom, the remaining half of the cottage features an en-suite rain shower, dressing area and a Japanese-style soaking tub, big enough for two!

The cottage is fully equipped to make your stay as comfortable and relaxing as possible – featuring high quality kitchen appliances (Dualit, DeLonghi, Bosch), well-appointed laundry/utility, satellite/smart TV with full internet connectivity for streaming, Bluetooth enabled speaker, Apple TV, DVD, fast fibre broadband (wi-fi – typical download speed 60-70 Mb/s) and a library of books and films.

Hot water is provided by a solar thermal system and the cottage benefits from a whole building mechanical ventilation heat recovery system.

There is a 7 kW EV charger for exclusive use of guests.

Interiors are based around our own independently designed and woven HARRIS TWEED® in addition to cloth kindly woven for us by respected local weaver Donald John Mackay.  Our choice of textiles is complemented by carefully curated vintage mid-century furniture - mainly from classic British brands, such as Ercol, G-Plan and Beaver and Tapley, together with modern pieces from The Natural Bed Company.

For those with an appreciation of textile design, we can arrange HARRIS TWEED® weaving demonstrations on our looms in nearby Borrisdale. 

Leverburgh is equidistant from and a short drive to the stunning white sand beaches of the west side and the more rugged Lewisian geology of the Bays.  Car free days are always an option, with walks through Rodel Valley to St Clement’s tower, or an expedition to the summit of Roineabhal – the highest point in the locale.  The accommodation is also conveniently located in the centre of Leverburgh village, which has a well-stocked community shop (An Clachan) and community hub (café and charity shop) just a couple of minutes’ walk away.  Leverburgh pier provides a gateway to the Uists and beyond via the Calmac ferry and the new home of the excellent Isle of Harris Brewery, taproom and deli (managed by our friends and neighbours).

We are resident in Harris full time, self-manage the accommodation and undertake our own housekeeping, so are always available to assist if required during your stay.

We remain one of the only holiday accommodation providers in Harris offering short breaks all year, with a fully flexible check-in any day of the week – ideal for island hopping or a visit to the Unesco World Heritage site of St Kilda.

 

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SHORT TERM LETS