This vacation home is a great choice for a stay in Islay Island. Free self parking is an added perk, and guests looking to stay active can check out the nearby scuba diving and surfing/body boarding.
Glasgow International Airport (GLA) - 81.3 miles/130.9 km
Restaurants
The Rhinns Cafe - 9 min drive
An Tigh Seinnse - 9 min walk
Port Mor Bistro - 5 min drive
Port Mor Community Cafe - 9 min drive
Portnahaven Pottery - 10 min walk
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
The Old School
This vacation home is a great choice for a stay in Islay Island. Free self parking is an added perk, and guests looking to stay active can check out the nearby scuba diving and surfing/body boarding.
At a glance
DONE
Property size
Private vacation home
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Check-out time is 10:30 AM
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
PETS
Pets
Service animals welcome
WIFI
Internet
WiFi in public areas*
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free onsite self parking
VPN_KEY
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Internet
WiFi available (fee applies)
Parking and transportation
Free self parking on site
Bedrooms
1 bedroom
Bathrooms
1 bathroom
Suitability/Accessibility
No elevators
Smoke-free property
Services and conveniences
Luggage storage
No housekeeping
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Surfing/body boarding nearby
Rock climbing nearby
Fishing nearby
Cycling nearby
Sailing nearby
Windsurfing nearby
Horse riding nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
Fees & policies
Optional extras
WiFi is available in public areas for an extra charge
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip.
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property.
This property accepts credit cards and cash.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard
National rating
This establishment has received its official star rating from VisitScotland, the National Tourist Board for Scotland.
Also known as
Old School Islay Island
The Old School Islay Island
The Old School Private vacation home
The Old School Private vacation home Islay Island
Frequently asked questions
Are pets allowed at this vacation home?
Yes, dogs are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at this vacation home?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at this vacation home?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 9:00 PM. Check-out time is 10:30 AM.
What is there to do at The Old School and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities like cycling, fishing, and horseback riding. Additional recreation nearby includes birdwatching.
What's the area around The Old School like?
The Old School is located a short 19-minute walk from Port bhaigh.
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Reviews
The Old School Reviews
10
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
10
Cleanliness
9.6
Staff & service
10
Property conditions & facilities
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
May 31, 2019
Wonderful stay in Portnahaven
Beautiful spacious house with well appointed kitchen. Short walk to the coast was very nice and we had a glorious sunny weekend. Everything was clean and comfortable. Quiet and peaceful.
Michael M.
Michael M., 4-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 18, 2018
Base needed for work!
Four of us needed a base to work from! Portnahaven is a bit out of the way, but a really picturesque location, and the Old School House was immaculately prepared and presented. Spacious, clean, well appointed and equipped. The only down side was that the wifi was a bit slow - but at least it worked!!
Michael
Michael, 4-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 2, 2018
Beautiful Cottage , Portnahaven
The Old School is the perfect place to stay if visiting Islay. It's a fabulous conversion - huge rooms, log burning stoves, so comfortable and well equipped.We loved our stay there and will be back.
Nici
Nici, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 7, 2017
Amazing!
You get the entire old school house! It's a fabulous place to stay when you're on Islay. Full of character and charm. It was recently updated, so it has wifi and a lovely kitchen area and great living room. It's quiet and desolate and very "Scottish." Truly magical!
I think there were 4 bedrooms and we tried out 2 of them. Beds were comfy and they have fabulous Scottish wool blankets to keep you toasty. Great shower. We didn't try out the soaking tub. You could easily house a family vacation there. My one slight complaint is there aren't locks on the bedroom doors, so if you were staying with kids, that could get awkward if you and your spouse want some uninterrupted alone time. :) The kitchen probably has overly fancy appliances in it, but it might be because we're not used to how European appliances work, but we were able to figure out how to make breakfast every morning.
I will say, stop in Bowmore and buy groceries on your way TO Portnahaven. I think there used to be a store there, but there is no longer anywhere to buy groceries and the pub didn't serve very good food when we were there (and had odd hours). The pub is TINY! We were there May 2016. Portnahaven is off the beaten path of Islay, but we loved our time there! It's probably almost an hour's drive from the airport. I'd love to go back!
KC
KC, 4-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jul 12, 2016
Fantastiskt hus i en lugn och avkopplande by.
Portnahaven är en liten by som ligger en bit från Bowmore( ca. 40 min med bil) Men boendet uppväger avstånden. Helt fantastiskt, ett sådant hus som man vill äga.
Björn
10/10 Exceptional
Oct 22, 2015
Beautiful, spacious, and quiet location
A wonderful stay. Portnahaven is a quaint and quiet little town. The owners of the property did a beautiful job restoring and modernizing the property. It retains the exterior and charm of a historical building, but the inside is top notch quality. The nearby pub has tons of friendly locals and a good assortment of drinks + good food. One of the town's fishermen, Neil, supplied two large lobsters and this was the most fantastic dinner which I cooked and enjoyed the same evening.
The drives in the morning or back evening are lovely, with a view across the water of Bowmore and a beautiful coastline.
Lots of space and 4 bedrooms. I thought I paid for a single of the rooms, but turns out I rented the entire property, was a great deal. I wish I'd brought my entire family here. Would definitely stay again.