The house sits in a secluded and fenced 5 acres on an elevated position with stunning views over Loch Craignish and its islands to the Sound of Jura and the Atlantic beyond.
At
end of the Craignish Peninsula (4 miles), fantastic sunsets can be seen looking
between Jura and Scarba, where lurks the infamous Corryvreckan
whirlpool. A
mile nearer the house, there is a beautiful little mediaeval chapel with its
ancient burial stones. On the Atlantic side of the 2-mile wide peninsula is the
Lunga Estate with the Laird’s 16th
Century tower house
set in 3000 acres of natural woodland overlooking the Inner Hebrides. On the estate
are located excellent stables which offer riding on pedigree Appaloosa horses.
Here, there is also the marina village of Craobh Haven which was established in
vernacular style (Crail meets Tobermory!) in 1983. There is a coffee/craft shop
(The Giving Tree) and a large and pleasant pub with bar meals and a restaurant
(The Lord of the Isles). Craobh Haven Watersports provide dinghy sailing,
canoeing and windsurfing, while Farsain Cruises offer daily boat trips among
the islands and to the Corryvreckan.
If
canoeing and riding is all a bit too energetic, then you can just soak up the
beautiful scenery or enjoy the many lovely local walks and gardens. The area is
ideal for photographers and artists and there is also plenty of bird and sea
life to be seen. Should you wish to venture further afield you are well placed
for touring Argyll and the islands.
Mid
Argyll is one of the most fascinating parts of Scotland to explore. There are
more prehistoric sites, stone circles, standing stones, cup and ring marks in
these few square miles than anywhere else in Scotland. The first Scots kings
were crowned at Dunadd fort. Archaeological exploration is centred on the
village of Kilmartin (15 minutes drive from the house) and its Museum of Ancient
Culture which was awarded the "Scottish Museum of the Year" in 1998.
The adjoining café is a family favourite.
The
bustling port town of Oban is the embarkation point for many islands including
Kerrera, Mull,
Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and the Outer Hebrides. Mull is an easy day trip. Its
attractions include Duart Castle, the fishing and distillery town of Tobermory,
and Toronsay House and Gardens (linked to Craignure by a narrow gauge steam
railway). From Mull, it is a short hop to Iona (where St Columba landed in 563
AD) with its famous Abbey and white sandy beaches; and to the geological
spectacle of Staffa and Fingal’s Cave which inspired Mendelssohn's
Hebridean
Overture. There are several organised full day excursions from Oban which
include Mull, Staffa and Iona.
North
of Oban, via the Connell bridge, is the village of Port Appin; embarkation point
for the island of Lismore and/or lunch stop at The Pier Restaurant - if you want
to push the boat out – try the Michelin-starred
Airds
Hotel. Just to the north is Castle Stalker. On wet days, children might prefer
the Sealife Centre at Benderloch (1 hour from Ardfern) or the subterranean
Ben
Cruachan Hydro Electric Visitor Centre. On hot days there are beaches and diving
at Gannavan and Tralee. Around Taynuilt there is the Bonawe Iron Foundry museum
(Apr – Sep) and cruises on the Loch Etive.
Other attractions include: Kilchurn castle, Oban Rare Breeds Park and
Oban Distillery.
The
Island of Seil is halfway between Oban and Ardfern, and accessed by the 1793
Thomas Telford “Bridge over the Atlantic”, where lunch can be had at Tigh na
Truish (House of the Trousers!). Further on, at Ballvicar, there is a
rough-and-ready 9-hole golf course and next to the Inshaig hotel, the beautiful
gardens of An Cala (Apr – Oct). The
road ends at Ellanbeich from where the tiny car-free island of Easedale with its
historic slate quarries and fascinating museum is reached in 3 minutes by ferry.
Half
an hour south of the house is Crinan, a busy hamlet (with up market hotel and
coffee shop) by the lock gates at the seaward end of the Crinan Canal. From
here, excursions run to the remote north end of Jura (where Orwell wrote 1984).
Beyond Crinan, at Kilmory lie beautiful large white sandy beaches (a sinuous
1-hour from the house). There is a small beach at Carsaig (30 mins). If the sea
is too cold(!) then you can try the warmer hill lochens above the house
or the swimming pool at Lochgilphead. Further down the Kintyre peninsula, the
island of Gigha (house, gardens and hotel) makes a great day trip. Islay and
Jura are reached from Kennacraig and Ireland from Campbeltown.
Argyll is walking country with 25 Munros within 90 minutes including Ben Cruachan, Ben Lui and Glencoe (where one can also ski). Sea fishing can be arranged from Oban and Croabh, and there is good fresh water fishing in Loch Awe and in other smaller lochs. There are fine gardens: Arduaine NTS (15 minutes) and Old Portalloch (20 minutes).
It is 1 hour south to Inverary with its beautiful white houses, castle (home to the Duke of Argyll) and historic jail. The Auchindrain Crofting Village Museum, Crarae gardens and a wildlife park are on the way.
Enjoy!
See the Useful Links page for more information.