Treshnish & Haunn Cottages, Isle of Mull

15 September, 2010: Treshnish and Haunn Cottages nominated for Scottish Thistle Awards

Reviewed by Greentraveller. Read the full review of Treshnish and Haunn Cottages

'Treshnish and Haunn Cottages are a collection of comfortable traditional farmers' cottages on the Isle of Mull, offering a warm welcome as well as fantastic views out over the ocean and across to nearby Calgary beach. The traditional 200+ year-old blackhouse farmers’ cottages may appear small from the outside with their thick walls and low roofs. However, inside the rooms are warm, spacious and tastefully decorated with painted tongue and groove. It's a practical mix of traditional and contemporary that's good for active couple and families.' By Rhys Jones and Hannah Engelkamp

How does Treshnish & Haunn Cottages minimise its impact on the environment and contribute to a sense of place?

Having held a Gold Award from the GTBS for several years, Treshnish and Haunn Cottages won both the GTBS Goldstar Award and GTBS Carbon Footprint Award in June 2011. They utilise renewables appropriate to their location including a 6kw proven wind turbine, solar panels for hot water in Toechtamhor Cottage and PV panels at the farm, plus a 70kw Froling woodchip boiler that produces heating and hot water for four self-catering cottages, farmhouse, office and laundry. The cottages are all extremely well insulated and all appliances are A-rated or higher. All of the water comes either from rainwater harvesting or from their own private spring, all of which is treated without using chlorine. Guests are provided with tips on how to save water, and all cleaning products are environmentally friendly. Guests also take responsibility for their own energy usage & pay based on meter readings.

In terms of recycling, the 'Recycling Shed' provides guests with facilities to separate paper, glass, plastics, tin, batteries, milk bottle tops (given to a local eco-school) and vegetable waste, which is used on their own vegetable garden. Guests are given free range eggs from the Treshnish hens, plus there's often their own meat for sale and extra veg from the garden. The site is both cyclist and walker friendly, with bike storage and plenty of information on where to find the best walking and cycling routes in the area. Treshnish and Haunn Cottages are also involved with a local eco-school, helping to start up a veg garden on school grounds. They've planted over two thousand native trees on the farm, which is carefully managed for Conservation and bio-diversity and won the RSPB UK Nature of Farming Award in 2011.