Quirky Scottish Airbnb Airship Complex Listed for £750,000
A unique holiday rental business, featuring an airship-shaped home, a submarine-style house, and a nautical cabin, is on the market for over £750,000.
An architect and interior designer couple are selling their distinctive Airbnb complex in the Scottish Highlands, which includes an aluminium-clad airship home and two other unique properties, generating approximately £100,000 annually. The property, located overlooking the Sound of Mull, is listed for sale with offers over £750,000.
Roderick James, 79, and Amanda Markham, 73, conceived the idea for their first unique dwelling, AirShip 002, in 2016 after purchasing the four-acre plot. Initially intended as a business opportunity, the airship-style home, designed as a contemporary interpretation with a curved form and dragonfly windows, became one of Britain's most wish-listed properties on Airbnb. James described the experience as "like a womb with a view."
Building on the success of the airship, the couple expanded their offering. In 2019, they added PilotHouse PH5, a two-storey, submarine-style mini-home with an oval-shaped living space on the first floor and a bedroom, study, and shower room on the ground floor, complete with a balcony overlooking the sea. The third property, The Captain's Cabin, features a nautical-inspired interior, marine artefacts, and a rooftop balcony, with some furniture sourced from the former cruise ship Arcadia.
The site also includes The Old Chapel, a two-bedroom accommodation currently used for owners or housekeepers, located below The Captain's Cabin. James, who qualified as an architect in 1974 and established his own firm that year, now runs the business, Out of the Blue, with his wife.
James stated that the current venture has been successful, but he and Markham are shifting their priorities to spend more time abroad and focus on a charity they have established in Rwanda, where James was born. He believes the site has potential for higher earnings under new ownership, suggesting it could appeal to investors or individuals seeking a lifestyle change from urban areas.
He estimates that maintaining and running the complex at 100 per cent occupancy would require approximately 12 hours of work per week. The couple's decision to sell stems from their desire to dedicate more time to their charitable endeavors in Rwanda.