12 Lower Ardelve, Ardelve

This is a 19th-century cottage, typical of the traditional Lochalsh style, originally comprising a single storey and three bays. The cottage is constructed of whitewashed rubble stone with rounded corners and substantial boulder footings. The roof is thatched, piended at the east end, and bound with thatch and twine. The thatch incorporates rush and/or straw, with some heather at the eaves, and is pinned at the ridge and eaves using bent hazel wands. Four pairs of cruck timbers are visible. The front features a central door with a later projecting porch constructed of corrugated iron, flanked by four-pane sash windows; a small four-pane sash window is located at the rear. A gable end chimney of Skye type is present in the west gable, alongside a straw “lum” (a traditional ventilation system) with a wooden cap and lining.

The interior consists of two rooms to the right and left, with a small "press" room situated at the centre rear. The left-hand room (facing south) has a projecting fireplace served by the straw "lum”, flanked by “cheeks” and a metal canopy. The cottage is in excellent condition and remains lived in. It represents a rare survival, particularly due to the presence of the “lum”.