Port Charlotte is a scenic fishing village and the best holiday destination if you’re visiting Islay Islands and Scotland’s best whiskey distilleries. Though its untouched shores are not ideal for swimming, you are rewarded with fantastic views of the Loch Indaal, Paps of Jura, and Mull of Oa. Book a family tour with Field Center for Natural History to explore the rock pools during low tide. This well-preserved heritage village, named after the mother of its founder, was once a housing facility for the workers of the 1829 Lochindaal Distillery. The distinct, traditional, stone-made, whitewashed houses with blue roofing built in the 1930s are located 11 miles (17.70 km) away from Bowmore and 6 miles (9.65 km) away from southwest Portnahaven. Select the best Airbnb vacation rentals in Port Charlotte, Scotland from our list below for a luxurious place to stay while you explore this lovely town.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on May 19, 2024.
1. Charming artist's studio
This remodeled artist’s studio is near Port Charlotte’s local shops, hotels, beaches, local distilleries, and wildlife. The unique three-level home hosts three guests with ease. The topmost floor features a huge double bedroom with vaulted ceilings and fantastic sea views. The mezzanine has a gallery and an artist’s studio with a sofa-bed tucked in a corner. Another stairway leads to the ground floor with a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, living room, and a private bathroom. The patio has a small garden where you can relax on folding lounge chairs. Hot water, heating, free essentials, and free on-site parking are provided. WiFi connection and cellphone signals are poor in the area so you must request the owner’s assistance to get connected.
Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom
49.09 km (30.5 mi) from RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird CentreSuperhostAccommodates: 3
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
no tv or wifi was blisshaving no wi-fi or tv was just greata great view from the kitchen and bedroomcathy's place is lovely with the most wonderful view from the kitchen/ dining areacomfortable with good facilities and local amenities nearbyCleanliness:
it was spotlessly clean tooit was clean and practicalclean great value for moneyit was immaculate on our arrival and communication both before and during our stay was impressive and helpfulit was very clean with beautiful sea viewsHost:
lovely place lovely hostcathy was such a kind and helpful host and gave great advice on the best walks/beaches to visitcathy is a great host and provided maps booklets and lots of local infoislay is lovely beautiful scenery lots of wildlife and friendly peoplecathy was the perfect host made us feel so welcomeRead more reviewsLocation:
great location and spacegreat location would definitely recommendthe location of the property is perfectfantastic location central to everything we wanted to see/doit’s in a perfect location
2. Seafront cottage with awesome sea views (from USD 235)
This is a lovely beachfront cottage with sweeping sea views from every window. Three spacious bedrooms are distributed on two floors with enough beds to sleep six guests comfortably. The living room on the ground floor has huge sofas, perfect for entertaining guests while warming up around the fireplace. Cook your meals in the fully equipped modern kitchen and host a dinner in your unit. You can surf the net, watch TV, do your laundry, or enjoy hot water baths during your stay in the cottage. Near the cottage is the beach, restaurants, pubs, and live entertainment waiting to be explored.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the kitchen is well stocked and the washer dryer unit works welllaurie's spot was great for our part of 4 with more than enough room with superb amenitiesvery clean and comfortable house in a great location and with beautiful views of port charlotteCleanliness:
everything clean and perfectly setit was very clean and had everything we neededvery nice house clean very well equippedclean stylish accommodation perfectly locatedHost:
laurie is a great hostlaurie was a fantastic host and was extremely helpful throughout our staygreat host and look forward to staying again on my next islay tripit is also located close by 2 pubs that have friendly staff and amazing scotch selectionit's a short walk to the friendly port charlotte hotel that serves good beer and foodRead more reviewsLocation:
walking distance to a great restaurant/pubeasy walking distance to anything in port charlotteideally located in port charlotte which is in my opinion the perfect place to stay on islayall in all a wonderful stay at a fantastic locationthe view and location is awesome and there are several great restaurants/ pubs in walking distance
3. Cozy, country-style cottage (from USD 158)
Experience country-style living for a few days by checking into this property. The cottage is 4 miles (6.43 km) away from Port Charlotte on a road going to Porthaven. It’s newly built on an old byre’s site surrounded by a vast garden and farmland where the owner breeds birds and bees. Do note that their pet peacock named Chickpea roams the property freely. Its brightly colored rooms are tastefully decorated with traditional and modern furniture. The living room features a chic sofa bed suitable for two guests, a TV, and a fireplace. The fully equipped country style kitchen has a breakfast counter and a dining area. The bedroom hosts two guests with a queen-sized bed and en suite bathroom with its claw-foot tub and hot water shower. Dine al fresco on the patio or ogle at the farm animals and occasional deer that visit the property. Modern conveniences like WiFi, laundry facilities, and free parking are available.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the cottage is lovely and cozythe cottage is modern comfortable and stylishthe cottage was perfect really nice and cozy with an amazing log burnerthe place feels very cozy and welcoming complete with a fully equipped kitchen books and board gamescomfortable bed lovely hot shower with good water pressure and the heating system was efficient when neededCleanliness:
genuinely lovely spacious and clean accommodationit was very clean really well equipped and so beautifulit is a really beautiful place and was very cleangreat facilities clean tidy modern house equipment and appliancesthe bed room and bathroom were very cleanHost:
jane and ian a very nice hostshosts are tremendous loads of extra touches which truly made the old byre a home from homeRead more reviewsLocation:
jane’s cottage is beautifully located on a quiet roadvery nice cottage everything you need is there great place to get away to relaxwe are aching to go back to this lovely corner of the worlda really great place to stay
4. Elegant apartment in the old school building (from USD 646)
This is the third and biggest unit in the refurbished old schoolhouse near the pier, beach, restaurants, and pubs of Port Charlotte. Its elegant interiors like the others feature a loft overlooking the fancy dining and living room areas. The stylish kitchen is in a separate room and is fully fitted to cook family-sized meals. Eight guests will be able to sleep comfortably in the four bedrooms containing five thick-cushioned beds. All bedrooms are well-lit despite having small windows and are furnished with a TV, heater, and a seating area. The four en suite bathrooms offer hot water showers and free essentials. You have access to a small enclosed garden with outdoor furniture where you can enjoy al fresco dining surrounded by lush greenery.
Top guest reviews
Cleanliness:
the photographs do not lie the apartment was very clean very spacious and very comfortablelovely place to stay on islay very spacious and clean with everything you need to feel at homeRead more reviewsHost:
margaret is an excellent host
5. Stately vintage cottage (from USD 563)
You’ll find luxurious lodgings in this huge cottage in Islay island just steps away from the beach, shops, restaurants, and a bus stop. It has well-appointed interiors decorated with modern furniture and a few vintage home accents that set a homey vibe. Three capacious bedrooms with a total of four beds and four bathrooms can fitup to six people. Your family and friends can gather around the cozy living room to watch TV and have your meals in the elegant dining room. You’ll be inspired to cook in the impressive kitchen with its fine wood finishing and state-of-the-art cooking equipment. French doors open to a furnished private garden where you can have your morning coffee or afternoon tea with a refreshing view of Octamore farm.
Top guest reviews
Cleanliness:
the house is clean comfortable and very well equippedbeds are comfortable and sheets cleanRead more reviewsHost:
margaret has been very responsive with queries
6. Stylish loft for two (from USD 349)
The property was a former schoolhouse converted into a three-unit holiday home. It’s walking distance to the beach, pier, restaurants, and pubs with an awesome view of Loch Indaal, Paps of Jura, and Oa Peninsula. This is one of the three units up for rent. Its spacious and elegant all-white interior is decorated with modern furniture and light wooden finishing. Spectacular ocean and countryside views are seen from the wide windows. Its loft-style bedroom containing a king-sized bed and luxurious en suite bathroom is ideal for honeymooning couples. It overlooks the cozy living room and dining area where you can enjoy an intimate dinner prepared in the fully equipped kitchen. Be entertained by watching TV or connecting with free WiFi to post pictures of your trip on Instagram.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
kilchoman apartment is in a great location with views over the lochCleanliness:
a beautiful stylish very clean and equipped apartmentthis is outstanding accommodation comfortable clean well-equipt and homelyHost:
communications with margaret and alison were very prompt and always helpfulRead more reviewsLocation:
wonderful spacious location close to all the local bars and restaurantsjust the perfect place to spend your holidayi had a wonderful stay at margaret's place
7. Luxurious apartment in a remodeled old school house (from USD 578)
This apartment offers stylish self-catering accommodation that hosts big families or groups. It is one of the three holiday homes in a remodeled old schoolhouse near Port Charlotte’s beach, pubs, restaurants, and pier. The unit features high ceilings and a spacious loft overlooking the ground floor’s open layout encompassing the living room, fully equipped kitchen, and dining area. A total of six thick-cushioned beds are distributed among the two bedrooms on the ground floor and on the loft that sleep eight guests comfortably. Four private bathrooms feature a hot water tub, laundry facilities, and free essentials. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and fresh linens.
Top guest reviews
Cleanliness:
very large sparkling clean and a ton of bathrooms and bedroomsthis accommodation is spacious clean and comfortable and will meet your expectationsRead more reviewsLocation:
awesome location close to pubs an restaurantsthe location is wonderful as well - right in the heart of port charlotteif you want to visit islay it's the place to go ;-)
8. Private room with sea views in a bed-and-breakfast
This property is a bungalow and a bed-and-breakfast located 10 minutes away from Port Charlotte. It offers a self-catering private room with dainty interiors and a queen-sized bed providing restful sleep for two adults. It also has a private bathroom, a tiny but fully equipped kitchen, and a folding table where you can eat. Chill out on the sofas as you watch TV, being kept warm by the fireplace. The unit is surrounded by big picture windows with awesome views of the Loch Indaal and Papa of Jura. Though the unit is ideal for two guests, it can accommodate two more children. You can request for additional floor mattresses for them to sleep on. Free on-site parking, luggage drop-off, and long-term stays are allowed.
Port Charlotte, Scotland, United Kingdom
49.77 km (31.0 mi) from RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird CentreSuperhostAccommodates: 2
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
nice and comfortable with lovely viewsthe cottage is well appointed warm and extremely comfortableensuite bathroom well heated clearly newly renovated for gueststhis comfortable little space has a fully outfitted kitchen and we really appreciated the instant endless hot watercatherine’s place is a beautiful cozy apartment with a beautiful view just outside port charlotteCleanliness:
very clean and well furnishedvery quiet and peaceful and very clean and warmher b&b was clean and perfectly decoratedstudio is clean neat and cosycatherine treats you like one of her kids (without making you clean )Host:
she is also very helpfulcatherine was a great hostcatherine was a splendid host helpful in anyway possiblea wonderful time and a wonderful hostcatherine is an amazing hostRead more reviewsLocation:
great location with kitchenthe perfect location for a relaxing break in islaythis is an ideal place to stay if you wish to relax and get away from everythingbeautiful location across the street from the baylovely place near the sea
9. Simple but spacious rooms in a friendly guesthouse
In the town center beside the Lochindaal Hotel, a pub, and near a grocery is a guesthouse with two private rooms up for rent. The friendly owners live in the house and they allow shared use of the bathroom and the living room with a fireplace. The two bedrooms can be rented together or separately and are simply furnished with a double bed in one room while the other has a single bed and a baby crib. Rented together, the two bedrooms can sleep three adults and a small child. Basic necessities like free WiFi, heating, free essentials, laundry facilities, hot water, and free parking are provided during your stay.
Port Charlotte, Scotland, United Kingdom
49.26 km (30.7 mi) from RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird CentreTop guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
i stayed in their smaller room but the thoughtful touches were noticeablebreakfast was a nice additional toucha perfect quiet and very fairly priced room for the nightthe house is beautiful with lots of nice touches and we woke up to a nice breakfastCleanliness:
nice clean and warm roomrooms and bathroom were clean and spaciousthe room and bathroom are clean and set tidyeverything was sparkling cleangreat little place in port charlotte - clean and comfortableHost:
david and maggie are great hostshost maggie is very kindlovely stay with very hospitable hostsmargaret is really great host and she was very helpfullovely stay and lovely hosts be sure to check the ferry schedule when planning your tripRead more reviewsLocation:
superb location with good food in close walking distancethe location is fantastic good 30 seconds to bus stoptown is perfect locationthis is a great location in port charlottedecent spot for the money good location
10. Lovely home with picturesque views
The house is perfect if you want five-minute access to the beach. A pub, hotel restaurant, and a general store are steps away. It’s cozy with its clean white walls, minimal country-style furniture, spacious rooms, and breathtaking views of Loch Indaal right outside your window. There’s a tiny dining area for two, a living room cozy with a TV and fireplace, and a fully kitted kitchen. The two bedrooms are furnished with enough beds to sleep up to three guests. The shared bathroom offers hot water showers. You are provided with free WiFi, heating, laundry facilities, and free on-site and street parking. Do note that though pillows and duvets are provided by the host, you should bring your own beddings and towels.
Port Charlotte, United Kingdom
48.83 km (30.4 mi) from RSPB Rathlin West Light Seabird CentreAccommodates: 2
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
the one thing that i would recommend would be the introduction of wifithe highlight was the panoramic sea view from the kitchen and dining areasthe wifi is fairly inexistent (like many places in western scotland) so enjoy the views and whiskey insteadwell equipped and comfortable good to have wood and coals for the open firethe kitchen was a perfect size to cook for a familyCleanliness:
it was clean and well furnishedthe place was clean and tidythe house was clean and well-equippedkit's house was clean and comfy and accurately describedit was very clean and we found everything we neededHost:
friendly people all aroundnice and kind contactkit was very quick to reply to messages and was very helpfullocal shop and café owners were all friendly and helpfulrecommend a visit to pretty portnahaven and its friendly pub with fresh seafood on offer dailyRead more reviewsLocation:
great location good house good valuea nice house in a great locationwell equipped cosy house in a great locationgreat location in port charlotte - most importantly you can walk to the pubport charlotte is a great location for exploring islay
Gorgeous whitewashed houses of Islay
Though the Islay’s houses look identical and unchanged in their whitewashed stone structures, they are very pleasing to the eyes. Once inside, you’ll be amazed that the interiors are very well-kept and uniquely designed with all the modern comforts. Be sure to include them in your travel plans when visiting Port Charlotte in Scotland.
History
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