I’ll Take This: House in Scotland

I was perusing the houses section of the Guardian the other week, and saw a charming property on their listings. I recognized it as being in Campbeltown, Scotland, where one of my dearest friends grew up.I sent her the image, and to my surprise, she told me that her brother lives in the house next door to this one!

The house is located on the Kintyre Peninsula, which is swept by the warm Gulf Stream and stays temperate. Until last week, when the area was hit by a huge snowstorm and lost power for a week or so. Snow on palm trees… that’s just wrong!

My friend, Kathleen, told me that the house was pretty wonderful, and that the owners, a pair of doctors, had gone off to New Zealand. I checked out the listing for the house and loved it. Come along, and we’ll look together.

You can just see Kathleen’s brother, Alan’s house on the left, and check out the PALM trees!!!  The house was built in the 1890’s, so still retains some of the period details.

Check out the AGA, and the wonderful vent hood. It’s a little too warm in Baltimore’s summers for an AGA, but they’re great in the UK. In addition to the great kitchen, it’s got a walk-in wine cupboard!

Kathleen had specially mentioned the dining room, with its wood details and view of the rolling hills.

Love this bath with its old-fashioned roll-top, claw foot tub, the beadboard, the blue accents and the original-style cistern toilet.

This hallway is very unexpected, especially with the bulls-eye glass and the arch over the stairs.This is the other end of the hallway. It’s pretty terrific.  In the second image, you can see this long row of windows. I love the window seat next to the little coal fireplace. I’d be hanging there with a good book.

This is the view from the house. It’s also where I first saw the Northern Lights, here, which is on the opposite of Arran.The lump on the left is the Isle of Arran, not to be confused with Aran Island, which is in Ireland.

The house is priced at a quite reasonable £385,000, but Campbeltown is a wee bit remote. Nevertheless, it is a stunning part of the country, and this would be a great place to live. I can already vouch for the neighbours!