This cottage stands alone on a lovely horseshoe-shaped bay. Low tide provides a unique opportunity of investigating the interesting rocks and creatures in the seabed; high tide would be perfect for those who bring their own kayak. (We understand there is a kayak rental company nearby so it may even be possible to rent a kayak and transport it to the house. Swimming is possible depending on one's toleration of the cold water.) Though the cottage is quite small, it is nicely laid out, with the living space and terrace located on the upper floor to take advantage of the beautiful views. The kitchen is well-equipped, laundry facilities are available, and the bedrooms were comfortable. It would be most suitable for two couples, or a couple with two small children, since there are only two bedrooms, each with a queen bed, so that older children may find it uncomfortable, especially if they are not of the same sex. A cot is available but not sure where one would place it; we think the living quarters would be too tight for a cot to be comfortably laid out.

Now for the other side of the coin. Sadly, we were plagued by insects during our entire stay, so much so that we could not enjoy the outdoors or terrace at all. Aggressive horseflies swarmed every time we entered or exited the house or the car, and at night we did battle with mosquitoes and gnats. It was a terrible pity that we did not enjoy sitting outside or walking on the beach because of the exploding insect population. We often felt that we were vacationing in the Amazon. We discussed the situation with the owner, who intends to investigate environmentally friendly ways of controlling these pests, but future renters should make certain that there is an effective plan to keep them at bay. Or bring your own bats and lizards.

Finally, the house is a bit out of the way. Perfect if you intend to stay local, but most of the nature-related activities in this area are located out of St Andrews, an hours' drive from the house. This would not have bothered us because the travelling is easy with little or no traffic; it was unfortunately the bug situation that nearly did us in. Our two stars would increase to four if it not for these unwanted guests.