Brand new, luxury self-catering cottages - which are expected to gain five-star status - are helping to meet demand for high quality visitor accommodation on Harris in the Western Isles.

With financial assistance worth over £80,000 from Western Isles Enterprise (WIE), Neil and Rhoda Campbell have built Blue Reef Cottages - two sumptuous self-catering properties with jacuzzis and saunas.

The traditional style properties are stone-built with turf roofs and blend beautifully into the Scaristavore landscape.  In an elevated position the cottages have unrivalled views looking over the beach, golf course and the nearby Island of Taransay - made famous by the television docu-soap, 'Castaway'.

Commenting on the development, Neil Campbell said: "We have made a considerable investment in Blue Reef Cottages and hope to gain a five-star grading from visitscotland as a result.  With lots of privacy, the cottages are ideal for honeymooners or just those seeking to get away from it all for a few days.

"And even if our holidaymakers cannot quite escape the office, both cottages have internet access and of course, to help them relax and unwind, there is the added luxury of a sauna and jacuzzi."

The Western Isles is becoming an increasingly popular holiday destination, especially among professional couples.  Harris, with its beautiful, clean and un-crowded beaches and high quality accommodation and eating establishments is becoming a particular favourite.

Visitor figures show that in Harris, the demand for tourist accommodation - both serviced and self-catering - far exceeds the supply, especially during the peak summer months.

As a result WIE has recently assisted other serviced and self-catering projects in the area as part of an ongoing programme to enhance the choice of visitor accommodation available.

The owners of Scarista House are set to receive a financial package totalling £130,000 towards the construction and upgrade of self-catering facilities to achieve a visitscotland four star rating.  However, the self-catering project is just phase one of a much larger development, which will also see the upgrade of Scarista House to a five-star guesthouse.

Two self-catering cottages and a meeting room are being constructed on the site of a derelict stable block next door to Scarista House and two existing self-catering properties are in line for a face-lift.

Proprietors of Scarista House, Tim and Patricia Martin say the completed work will help them expand the business and create more jobs.  Mrs Martin is a classically trained musician and hopes that her skills and contacts in the industry will result in them hosting residential music courses at Scarista House, as well as other activities which will help to extend their tourist season.

Mr Martin explained: "We intend to organise many events at Scarista House out with the main tourist season.  We are delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to a diverse job market and a balanced economy on Harris."

In Tarbert, new self-catering facilities are being established by Cameron Harris Limited, who received a funding package from WIE worth £38,200.  This assistance is helping the company convert a former shop in the village's Main Street, creating two self-catering houses comprising a bedroom, bathroom, fully equipped kitchen and lounge.

The properties, which are expected to gain a four star rating from visitscotland, are in an ideal location, close to shops and hotels and a short distance from the ferry terminal, where the daily service from the Isle of Skye comes in.

David Cameron of Cameron Harris Ltd said that the development would go along way to meeting the demand for self-catering accommodation on Harris.  He explained: "Harris is becoming a more popular holiday destination every year even out with the traditional holiday season.

"The development of a derelict building in Tarbert, which is an excellent centre to explore the whole of the Western Isles, will not only help to meet the rising demand for self-catering accommodation but will also improve the appearance of the village street."

Chief executive of WIE, Donnie Macaulay said: "Enhancing the visitor experience in terms of things to do, places to eat and accommodation is a priority for WIE.  Harris is a particularly popular destination but more needs to be done to help meet the demand for accommodation on the Island.

"These new self-catering properties, especially Blue Reef Cottages and Scarista House, are in a particularly rural and economically fragile area of Harris so we are delighted to see these projects coming to fruition."

To further compliment tourist accommodation projects in the Western Isles, WIE recently approved assistance worth £56,000 for the Harris Hotel towards the £140,000 upgrade of several bedrooms.  Funding from WIE includes £22,400 from the HIE Standards programme - a European funded initiative aimed at helping accommodation providers upgrade their premises.  This particular project is just the first phase in a planned redevelopment of the entire hotel.