Dear to the heart of Vanessa Branson’s family, the Eilean Shona Island, on Scotland’s western coast is the perfect retreat for family and friends.
The classic Scottish façade of Eilean Shona House, designed by the celebrated architect Robert Lorimer, conceals a wealth of entertaining and living space. The interiors are comfortable and quirky, combining the luxury of a boutique hotel with the charm of a family home. Both the house and the breathtakingly beautiful island provide the perfect venue for family celebrations, Christmas and New Year parties, executive team-building trips, wellbeing and creative retreats, or gatherings with friends. Visit for a weekend break or longer and guests will be transported back to a time when the stars shone bright in black skies, and the only sound in the clear air was of rushing streams and bird songs.
The house has 9 bedrooms, sleeping up to 18. Each bedroom has its own character with furniture and artwork of note. Serving these bedrooms there are 6 bathrooms (3 ensuite) and 1 shower room. All the bed linen, towels and robes are of the finest quality Egyptian cotton.
House stays are fully catered, making each stay as luxurious and stress-free as possible. Food, wine and whisky are an important part of the Eilean Shona experience and exceptional chefs serve wholesome, locally sourced meals. Guests will experience hearty home cooked breakfasts to set them up for the day, delicious lunches enjoyed in the house or taken to the beach, and three course suppers to round off a day of adventuring. The surrounding sea provides the freshest delights, from homegrown mussels cooked on the beach to ice cold, fresh oysters shucked with the sand between one’s toes. All meals are prepared with much thought and always with the team’s ethos of sustainability in mind.
The house is available to rent for a minimum of three nights. The nearest airport is either Glasgow or Inverness. Helicopter transfers are possible, although not particularly encouraged by the island team.
