JACK STRAWBALE HOUSE

UNIQUE HIGHLAND ACCOMMODATION

This eco-friendly, strawbale house has been designed to cater for a wide range of disabilities while retaining the attractive features which make it so unique. It has incredible views from its elevated position and is as spectacular as many featured on TV’s ‘Grand Designs’. The facilities and equipment provided should enable everyone to have a relaxing and easy holiday. Facing south and with commanding views over Loch Sunart and the Morvern hills beyond, the huge upstairs open plan living space has an arched roof and contains the kitchen, dining and sitting areas. The wheelchair lift opens out onto this spacious floor giving guests easy access to the whole house. It has floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors at the southern end which lead out onto the balcony where there is a small table and chairs for you to enjoy your morning coffee. A spiral staircase leads to the large lower deck comprising the hot tub with hoist for those who need it (also accessible from the master bedroom downstairs), dining and sitting areas with a chiminea and a ramp leading to the parking area. A BBQ area is adjacent to the deck.

Sleeps 4 | Bedrooms 2 | Bathrooms 2

DISABLED ACCESS EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES

We offer a wide range of disabled access equipment that is available on request when booking.

Fitted:

Wheelchair lift

Ceiling bathroom hoist (sling not provided)

Gerberit aquaclean toilet (with remote control)

Grab bars for both wet room showers

Assistance pull cord alarm in both wet rooms

Ceiling bedroom hoist (sling not provided)

Portable induction hobs (2)

Sunken hot tub

Grab bars in cloakroom

Profiling bed in front bedroom (single matresses)

Lowered kitchen work surface

Provided upon request:

Grab bars for front or rear bathroom

Freeway A70 Self-propelling Shower Chair

Aquatec Ocean Dual VIP Ergo Shower Chair (reclining)

Wheeled shower chair

‘Oxford Dipper’ hoist for hot tub

Chair or mesh sling options provided

Ankle weights for hot tub

Single bed against the wall with bedguard (rear bedroom)

Wooden steps (one set upstairs, one downstairs)

Clip-on black plastic pipes for top of glass balustrade for the visually impaired

Bed guard rail (front bedroom)

Colostomy bag holder for bed guard rail

‘Over bed’ table

‘High seat’ upright chair in living area

Chair for wheelchair lift if not a wheelchair user

Spare wheelchair

LIVING AREA

Beautiful open plan living space situated on the first floor with breathtaking views over Loch Sunart and the surrounding area. The wheelchair lift emerges in the middle of this area. The kitchen is fitted with a wide variety of units, mainly drawers at low level making access easy. Appliances include an electric oven, induction hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, wine fridge and dishwasher. There is a lowered work surface and two further induction hobs that can be set up here to enable accessible cooking. Opposite the lift and stairs is a large dining table that can seat up to eight guests. The living room area has a 49” Freesat Smart TV, Blu-ray player, bluetooth speaker and sliding doors leading to the balcony. A higher living room chair is available on request.

BEDROOM 1

A bright and airy large bedroom with patio doors leading directly onto the front deck for ease of access to the hot tub. There is a super kingsize profiling bed (set up with 2 single mattresses and access to controls for disabled guests only). The large ensuite wet room has a Gerberit Aquaclean toilet and a large shower with grab bars. Grab bars for the toilet are available on request. There are hoists over the bed and the toilet and shower area.

BEDROOM 2

Situated at the back of the house this large second bedroom can be set up to suit your requirements. The twin beds can be made up to be a Super-Kingsize on request. The ensuite contains both a wet room type shower with grab rails and a bath. The toilet can have grab rails fitted if required.

FRONT DECK

Access to the front deck is from either the balcony via a spiral staircase, an external ramp from the parking area, or through the sliding front bedroom doors. There is a chimenea (firewood provided) with lounging chairs, a table and chairs, single hammock. The hot tub which stays at 39°C is sunk into the deck with the top the same height as an average wheelchair seat. An ‘Oxford Dipper’ hoist can also be fitted, if required.

DISABILITY EQUIPMENT

Jack is a mirror image of Jill in most respects. It does, however, have a few added extras which aim to provide the environment for an easy and stress free holiday for guests with a wide range of abilities. Upstairs the kitchen is accessible with a lowered worksurface, drawers for storage and extra hobs if the fixed hob is too high to use comfortably. The huge living area has plenty of space for moving around in a wheelchair, with easy access to the balcony.

The master bedroom has a hoist above the profiling bed and an ensuite wet room with Gerber Aquaclean toilet, grab bars at the toilet and in the shower, a hoist and a choice of shower chairs. Sliding doors lead onto the deck where there is a sunken hot tub. An Oxford Dipper hoist with a choice of a sling or fixed seat ensures that most people will be able to enjoy the pleasure of a soak in lovely surroundings.

The back bedroom can be configured to be used by a young person with mobility issues. The ensuite wet room has grab bars in the shower, as well as a choice of shower chairs. Grab bars can also be added to the toilet on request. The cloakroom also has grab bars for the toilet and plenty of space to transfer to the toilet from either side. While it has been complicated by not catering for a single person’s needs, we have tried to provide a flexible range of facilities and equipment so that most people will be able to enjoy a relaxed holiday in a beautiful environment.

WHEELCHAIR LIFT

There is a long-wheelbase, Stannah Stratum lift for use by seated people to reach the main living area – either in a wheelchair or for those with limited mobility for whom stairs are a challenge. It is 745 mm wide and 1,348 mm long with a 325 kg capacity.

As an extra safety feature, we have also installed a battery-powered UPS to ensure that there the lift has power even during a power cut.

Stratum brochure

HOT TUB ‘OXFORD DIPPER’ HOIST

Under Jack’s deck is a metal socket in a reinforced concrete cylinder. This allows an Oxford Dipper hoist to be fitted next to the hot tub.

The Dipper is operated manually and can easily lift someone either using a sling (provided) or a chair that comes away from a separate wheeled unit.

Ankle weights are available for those who need them. The height of the hot tub is the same as the average wheelchair seat, so those who can transfer in/out of the hot tub without requiring a hoist can use this method.

Instructions

FACILITIES

Welcome basket (local and Scottish classics)
Organic milk, all cleaning / washing products and six loo rolls
Wifi (usually ~10 Mb/s)
Washing machine
Tumble drier
Linen & towels (indoor and outdoor)
Ironing board & iron
Hair driers
Waterfall shower
49″ Smart TV and DVDs
Bean-to-cup coffee machine (with beans to get you started)
Induction hob
Fridge, freezer & wine fridge
Comprehensive range of kitchen equipment
Telescope
Bluetooth speaker
Board games, books & puzzles
Electric fan (summer season only)
Hot tub (39 degrees all week)
Chimenea plus firewood / kindling
Outdoor seating / cushions
Outdoor dining table / chairs
BBQ plus tools
High chair, stair gate & travel cot
6 kw EV charger (all renewable energy, charged at cost)