The
raised ground floor features a large sitting
room with open fire, a gorgeous wood-panelled
dining room with open fire, and a kitchen-breakfast
room with Aga. The lower ground floor
downstairs has a big snug with big TV,
DVD and wood-burner, plus a games room
and a separate snooker room, accessible
from the garden. So the living accommodation
is flexible enough and comfortable enough
to suit most types of parties –
and at most times of year. We’ve
tried to make it more luxurious and better
equipped than our own house, so that even
a wet weekend will be a comfortable and
memorable one.
The 2.5 acre garden, like the house,
is absolutely unique. Originally built
by the family of the Duke of Argyll in
1693 – the Campbells have a family
mausoleum next door at Old Kilmun Church
– the house was owned in Victorian
times by the scots industrialist, philanthropist
and collector James Duncan, and then by
the Younger family, who founded the amazing
Benmore Gardens a couple of miles away,
which still contain the tallest trees
in the UK. They also planted a huge variety
in ours. With streams and waterfalls and
a huge variety of plants, it’s a
stunning garden. Our immediate neighbour
(who lives in the Victorian wing which
James Duncan added to the house) makes
occasional use of one small private bit
of lawn, but your party will generally
have the run of all the gardens and the
woods.
The house is well situated for sight-seeing
around the West Coast. The immediate area
is renowned for some of the best walking
in Scotland, and it’s a great base
for fishing, riding, shooting, golf, sailing
or cycling. We’ve put in 6 fishing
rods, 8 bikes for different sizes (with
helmets), and 4 bags of golf clubs. There’s
loads to do in the area, and some great
local pubs and restaurants, but we’ve
also tried to make it comfy enough for
people who don’t want to go anywhere
else.
There’s a croquet set, football
goal, cricket and badminton sets, plus
the 13 foot trampoline, barbecue and all
important “midge machine”
in the garden. As well as the ¾
sized billiard table in its own room,
there is a little games room downstairs
with a dartboard plus a multifunction
/ convertable entertainment thingy with
table football, air hockey, table tennis,
mini-snooker etc. Or you can go and play
in the sauna.
We’ve supplied Monopoly, Outburst,
Pictionary, Scrabble, Backgammon, Chess,
a few jigsaws etc for days or evenings
when you don’t fancy anything more
energetic. There’s a pretty decent
library with loads of Scottish authors
represented, and over 100 CDs. The snug
features 40” widescreen telly with
CD surround-sound plus a variety of videos
and DVDs. Our package includes Sky Sports
and Movies. This web-site features a
virtual tour with 360 degree
photography of lots of the rooms, as well
as a gallery
of other photos, info about things to
do in the area, and some useful
links. If there is anything
else you need to know, you can contact
us.
Another option is to use our friends
from the fabulous TasteScot outside caterers
(formerly running the award-winning An
Lochan Hotel in Tighnabruich and restaurant
in Glasgow) to cook a celebration meal
for you so you can make the most of the
opportunity to relax in our gorgeous paneled
dining room They can do anything from
a serve it yourself three course kitchen
supper for the Aga at £12 per head
to a full-blown formal four course dinner.
We’ve had great feedback on all
the meals that Louise, Roger and Bea have
done for our guests here, and at our other
property Ormidale
House
If you have any queries at all, don’t
hesitate to call us. We only have the
two houses; we’re more than happy
to answer queries by phone or email as
you prefer. We look forward to welcoming
you to Old Kilmun House some time in 2011
or 2012. |