Accommodation by the sea on Sanday

This is genuine sea's-edge living on the island of Sanday. From the air you can see the cottage sitting on a thin neck of land with a sheltered bay on one side and the open shore curving away on the other, the kind of spot where otters work the tideline and the only traffic is the weather. Pull up onto the gravel yard out front, where the whitewashed and stone buildings cluster together, and you're moments from the water.

Inside

The kitchen and dining space is a calm, coastal room with crisp white walls, a soft blue palette and an upcycled blue-tiled island that doubles as a breakfast bar with stools. There's an induction hob, an integrated sink, a hanging drum light and a small dining table for two by the wall, with rugs warming the wood-effect floor and a piece of blue abstract art that echoes the sea outside. A glazed garden room runs along the front of the cottage, lined with windows and laid with colourful rag rugs, a relaxed spot for the laundry and a quiet sit with a book.

Where you'll sleep

The cottage sleeps four across two bedrooms, set up for a family stay.

Step outside

This is the real draw. The shore is on the doorstep, with that wide bay and beach visible from above, and in spring a bank of daffodils blooms bright against the drystone wall by the garden. It's the sort of place where you can watch an otter cross the shallows with a fish in its jaws.

The setting

Sanday is one of the quieter northern isles of Orkney, known for its long sandy beaches, big skies and rich wildlife. With parking and the sea right there, it's an away-from-it-all base for walkers, beachcombers and anyone who wants peace.

Perfect for

Sleeping four in two bedrooms, family-friendly and welcoming to dogs, it suits a family or two couples after a remote coastal escape. Wifi, a washer and a garden round it off.