For those visiting for the first time, we trust you will soon relax and enjoy what the house and area have to offer. For those who have visited before once, twice or many times, welcome back, you are testament to all that is good about Mull, Kintra and Maple Cottage.

We hope that you have a very happy comfortable holiday and are able to get the best from the house and garden, the village of Kintra, the Ross of Mull and the rest of the island.

We bought Maple Cottage over twenty five years ago. We have had a connection with the Ross of Mull for all of our married life and for Morag, since her very early childhood.

Over the years we have grown to love it here and it is an intrinsic part of our lives. Our own family and now grandchildren share that with us. We have spent many happy times here summer and winter, sun, rain, wind and even snow. We hope that the magic works for you too!

We hope you enjoy our cottage please look after our house for us and future guests!

The bay is a haven for wild life with heron, geese, oystercatchers and the odd seagull being frequent visitors. We have seen sea otters at very low tide at the mouth of the bay and have watched basking sharks and dolphin from the point at the north west of the bay.

The picturesque village of Kintra was created in 1790 by the then Duke of Argyll to house 12 families of crofters ‘cleared’ from Sutherland. It was set up as a trial fishing village to specialise in the catch of Flounders which were then very common in the surrounding waters.  The rather improbable names of the houses (next door is “Sunlight” and further along the village there are “Primrose” and “Rosevale”) are, we think related to various boats/vessels linked to the households.  Originally a row of single storey black-houses in the 1930’s grants became available to develop the dwellings and about half of the put on second storeys. There are some old photos of the developing village in the kitchen above the table.

You should make the most of the Ross of Mull’s wonderful beaches (Knockvologan (4), Fidden, Seal bay, Market bay, Traigh Gheal , Ardalanish, Uisken, Scoor and many other ‘secret’ beaches which you can find around the coast.) A visit to Iona is a must and trips to Staffa and the Treshnish isles are available from Fionnphort all through the summer: www.staffatrips.co.uk 01681 700755, 07809136694 www.staffatours.com 07732912370 ,07831885985

The shop and post office in Fionnphort have a selection of supplies, gifts , cards, toys (and even some DIY materials!!). Eating out locally is at the Keel Row 700458 or Ninth wave 700757 and Creel (pier end) in Fionnphort or at the Bunessan Inn in Bunessan. The Clansman restaurant at the Pennygael hotel also serve meals.

Please read over the following notes which should help you during your stay and keep the cottage running smoothly.

Furniture and equipment

We hope that you will find all that you will need during your stay, please do not move furniture or equipment from its current position.

Car parking:

Please use the space beside the house behind the large metal gate or at the road end in the car park. If you park beside the house you can unload directly into the back porch. Please do not park on the grass in the front of the house on either side of the track due to superficial underground pipes. Please do not park in front of neighbours.

We recommend you use the back porch for normal entry to the house.

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Please keep all gates shut at all times to prevent the sheep contaminating the environment and damaging the plants.

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Keys:

The back door keys are in the keysafe to the right of the back door (code 9876). Keys for the front door are , for fire regulations, in the front door (please keep locked).

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No Smoking in the house please

A sun-trap patio at the back of the house has seating and barbecue facilities (please bring own fuel)

beyond the immediate garden there is an extensive meadow area with interesting paths, additional seating and a play area for children

Pets:

We are not able to accommodate pets in the property

Outdoor play equipment

There are swings, a slide and trampoline in the upper section of the garden we are very happy for these to be used but please note that use by children is at your own risk and we cannot accept any responsibility for accident / injury during use

Electricity

We monitor usage of electricity after each let and will only contact you if usage is excessive. Please do not use the house supply to charge a car. Special connections are required which we do not have and our insurance does not cover the use of household extension leads. Please discuss with us before your holiday if you need to charge a car.

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Wi Fi / telephone

There is Wifi with reasonable reception throughout the house. We are happy for you to use this including for Netflix etc

Connection: NotspotBB

Security password: Coffee44

Mobile phone: reception is poor and unreliable in Kintra, we have provided the landline and are happy for you to use it as needed

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Plumbing

The house is on the local mains water supply and drains to a septic tank so please:

• Be sparing with detergents

• Do not use Biological detergents

• Limit the use of toilet tissue wherever possible and Please do NOT dispose of sanitary towels, tampons, baby wipes, “flushable” or “biodegradeable” wipes / tissues or nappies in the loo.

• So called “Biodegradeable” wipes are NOT compatible with the system

IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN REGARDING THE PLUMBING PLEASE PHONE US IMMEDIATELY

The bathroom has underfloor heating, please do not alter the controls for this.

Please ‘squeegee’ the shower screen regularly, it can be cleaned with the fluid available in the bathroom

The original water supply to the village is a well (tap) on the left hand side half way down the hill into Kintra.  Unfortunately, although a lot of visitors like to utilise this we cannot vouch for the safety of this water supply.

Hot water / heating

The house has an oil fired boiler and the control box is on the wall in the downstairs hall at the kitchen door. The system settings should not need to be changed but can be boosted or set to off by using the controller.  (The ‘boost’ button (HW) and ‘advance’ (CH) will switch on the system for an hour. To change the setting from ‘auto’ to off use the buttons labeled HW and CH). Please make sure that the power switch below the controller always remains on even if the heating is not required.

There are night store heaters in the ground floor accommodation each one controlled by the switch on the wall beside it.  We use these for background heat in the winter, they are not normally needed during the holiday season unless unseasonably cold.  If you turn these on please remember to turn them off again once no longer needed and before leaving. The off peak supply they are connected to is on during the afternoon and early hours of the morning.

Please do not cover the storage heaters at any time.

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Wood-burning Stove

Please feel free to use the wood-burning stove in the family sitting room, dry wood is in a basket in the porch with remaining woodpile outside, please replace wood in the basket to make sure it is as dry as possible before using. Firelighters are in the tin beside the fire. Instructions for using the fire are in the folder.

Fire precautions

There is a fire extinguisher at the back door and fire blanket on the wall next to it

There are wifi linked smoke alarms in all the rooms and a CO monitor in the family room

There is a fire guard in the front porch if needed

The exits are the back and front doors, marked by luminous green exit signs. Keys to the front door which is normally locked are in the front door

Rubbish / Recycling

The collection day in Kintra is Tuesday and they can come early!

Bins should be put out on a Monday night

Glass (GREY BIN) is collected monthly on a Wednesday morning (put out Tuesday night)

The collection alternates between RECYCLING (BLUE WHEELIE BIN) and GENERAL WASTE (GREEN WHEELIE BIN)  and both RECYCLING and GENERAL WASTE

Please consult the calendar on the shelf beside the toaster.

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The General rubbish can be put straight into the Green bin and the Black rubbish sacks can be used in addition

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For Recycling, paper, cardboard cans and plastic bottles can be put straight into the Blue bin. (no black sack)

Glass can be put directly into the Dark Grey Bin

Green waste can be collected in the caddy, and emptied into the compost bin behind the fence in the field at the top of the garden.

Please bring all bins back to the house after they are emptied.

Please note that when you arrive the bins will have contents left from the previous week.

Cleaning Materials and other things

Kitchen materials are kept in the cupboard under the sink and other cleaning materials are in the wall cupboard in the back porch. The vacuum cleaner, Iron and ironing board and a drying rack are in the understairs cupboard.

A travel cot is under the single bed in the small upstairs bedroom and high chair in the understairs cupboard ( needs to have legs inserted!)

At the end of your stay

Please ensure you are out of the house promptly by 1000 to allow the changeover to be effected.

For the smooth running of the house and the comfort of all guests:

• We would be grateful if you would strip the beds of any used linen, leaving the undercovers, and put with towels in the kitchen

• Please make sure that all items that have been used are back in their original positions

• Please leave the house clean & tidy and empty waste bins around the house (liners for bins are in the waste cupboard (left of fridge))

• Please empty the dishwasher

• Please notify us at any time during your stay of any damage or breakages as soon as they happen …the sooner we know the quicker we can deal with the problem

• Please lock the back and front doors and replace the back door keys in the keysafe before leaving.  The front door keys should be left on the keyhook beside the inner back door.

PLEASE PHONE IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS

Morag and Andrew Todd,

07773662646

07568500049

01877820986

Have a super holiday!