Got Kilt? Remote Highland Cottages on Scottish Loch Looking to Hire Housesitter for 425 Pounds per Week

Background: (John Haynes/CC BY-SA 2.0); INSET: (Glen Breaden/CC BY-SA 2.0)

A remote property along a highland loch in Scotland is seeking someone, or some couple, to come housesit several holiday cottages for a season—or possibly several. While the picturesque post offers compensation and free lodging, the catch is it’s on a secluded peninsula, 40 minutes by boat from the nearest hamlet. Remember to bring your bagpipes if you have them.

The listing, posted by Rural Recruits on March 14, aims to hire an estate worker and housekeeper to join an established 14,000-acre crofting estate at Tarbet Bay, adjacent to Loch Nevis on Scotland’s west coast, near the tiny port of Mallaig. The obscure location requires that applicants be able to work alone but also must be “friendly and hard working,” as they will work with a small team.

“This role would ideally be suited to a couple however, singular applications will be considered,” the post states.

Comprising the main estate, painted as an “outstandingly attractive rural location,” there is the clients’ large principal property, a “self-catering” holiday cottage, staff accommodations, workshops, a handsomely rustic church, and a bothy. There are three more additional cottages and a garden further up the loch at neighboring cluster Kylesmorar.

The crofting estate center of operations, located at Tarbet Bay, Scotland. (John Haynes/CC BY-SA 2.0)

(Left) A map showing the location of Tarbet Bay, off the west coast of Scotland; (Right) A view from a boat portal showing Tarbet Bay. (Left: Main: Bardocz Peter/Shutterstock, INSET 1: 42videography/Shutterstock, INSET 2: Screenshots/Google Maps; Right: Chris Downer/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Successful applicants for the housekeeping post at Tarbet Bay must be “enthusiastic and diligent to undertake change-overs on 4 holiday cottages and a larger principle house.” Besides handling cleaning, laundry, and provisioning duties in the main house, they must also “be able to enhance the desired ambience of the estate,” the post stated, before going on to further list the qualifications:

• Previous housekeeping experience;
• Experience with small estate boats useful but not essential as onsite training will be provided;
• High level of client care; and
• Basic IT and social media skills.

Estate worker applicants must be team players but also must have the ability to work solo for obvious reasons; guests don’t stay year-round, and help is often scarce. Successful candidates will cooperate with the estate manager to handle jobs such as: “labouring, building projects, property maintenance, garden and ground maintenance around the estate,” the listing stated, before further enumerating more requirements:

• Building and construction;
• Property maintenance, Garden & ground maintenance;
• Farm work;
• Comfortable in remote, rural locations; and
• Self-motivated.

The resort is let out during the summer months to guests, thus requiring flexible work schedules from applicants, who will work an average of 40 hours per week, amounting to a sum of 28 days a year.

The main property at the estate at Tarbet Bay, off the west coast of Scotland. (Glen Breaden/CC BY-SA 2.0)

Sheep are seen grazing at the estate center of operations, located at Tarbet Bay, Scotland. (AlastairG/CC BY-SA 2.0

As far as perks and compensation go, the roles pay 425 pounds per week each (about $520) with free accommodations. Both heating and council taxes are also included, as is Wi-Fi, allowing for internet access to make an otherwise-secluded stay less lonesome. Notably absent from the requirements was spoken Gaelic, though English proficiency was specified.

Interested couples or individuals may email their CVs to [email protected] and should mention the reference number “977” in the subject line.

So, assuming all goes well, remember to pack your kilt if you have one. Or just carry as much tartan in your luggage as possible.

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