Steading Holidays

Unless people have work, this village will die. Farming, on small acreages and difficult soils, is not enough to support a family, so crofters often have a second or third job. Tourism has become increasingly important, and significant local employment comes through those small businesses which have seized the opportunities this beautiful areas offers.

Scattered across the peninsula, often in breathtaking settings, there are houses for rent. The one above, photo taken from HM Coastguard helicopter, is Grigadale House, on the road to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse.

Steading Holidays is a small business run by Jacqui and John Chapple. They act as letting agents for house owners on the peninsula, and Grigadale House, standing in some 1,800 acres of its own land and sleeping six, is one of the properties on their books.

Ben More, shown below, which sleeps five, is another. Located in Kilchoan village, it's a traditional croft house which has been comfortably refurbished.

The business was established in 1979 by Jacqui's mother, Pamela Campbell. It now employs some fourteen people in full or part-time jobs, a significant contribution to local employment. Furthermore, by drawing visitors into the area, it supports other small businesses such as the hotels and the shop.