Comraich, Ardnaw Cottage, Kilmory, Lochgilphead, Argyll & Bute, PA31

Quite the most charming west highland stone cottage with sublime southerly views to Jura & Islay

Description
Comraich is a delightful, detached stone built croft style cottage. Although with the appearance of an ancient stone croft, the house was only built in 1995 and so is relatively modern and efficient. The house is set amid now maturing gardens from where there are quite sublime southerly and westerly views to the islands of Jura and Islay.

The house is of block construction faced with historic natural stone and the whole is under a slated roof. Internally the accommodation is laid out across a single, light and bright and easily managed level, the kitchen and sitting rooms both benefitting from the fine south westerly aspects. Comraich is an excellent second, holiday or income producing holiday letting home, and with recently improved broadband connections it equally offers potential as an excellent principal home.

Ground Floor
Outer door with glass side screen to entrance vestibule with terracotta tile floor and recessed matwell, pine cladding to ceiling, glazed pine door with matching side screens flooding natural light into the reception hall with cupboard and domestic hot water tank,
access hatch to attic, hardwood floor, pine skirtings and facings, triple aspect sitting room with working open fire set in facing brick fireplace with terracotta tile slips and hearth, cedar cladding to ceiling, shelved store, open plan kitchen to dining and breakfasting area, the kitchen is well equipped and integrated, patio doors overlook and lead to gardens, tiled floor and splashbacks, 2 x in built stores. Bedroom 1 with dual aspect, walk in wardrobe and en suite shower room, bedroom 2, bedroom 3 (presently set up as study), main bathroom.

Outbuildings
Timber garage under corrugated sheet roof, concrete floor, water filtration gear, personaldoor access, twin leaf main doors, light and power, general purpose stores, garden shed,logs and wheely bin store.

Gardens
5 bar timber gate to gravel surfaced driveway, vehicle turning and hard standing area. Slate neatly set in concrete pathway to front terrace itself fronted by a dwarf stone wall and with a gap leading to generous mature lawn at the front. The gardens are deer fenced and fringed with mixed deciduous and coniferous trees and bushes. A further sloping lawn is to the western side with more trees and bushes and leading to a secondary access gate.

Services
Private water supply treated by UV lamping and filtration, drainage is by private septic tank, heating is by a combination of electric night storage heaters, thermostatic panels and the open fire, double glazing.

Note: The services have not been checked by the selling agents.

Local Authorities
Argyll & Bute Council
Tel:

Council Tax
Comraich is in council tax band E and the amount of council tax payable for 2024/2025 is £1,943.50p excluding water and sewage.

EPC
Rating D

Situation
Comraich is in a situation of great natural scenic beauty wonderfully private rural setting in a location of great natural scenic beauty on the Knapdale peninsula which is between Loch Sween to the west and Loch Caolisport to the east. The house is set just above Kilmory beach and there are wonderful, full southerly aspects across the water to the Islands of Jura and Islay.

The nearest local shop for everyday provisions is in Tayvallich and there is further fuller shopping and professional services at Lochgilphead, the latter about 18 miles to the northeast of Comraich.

Comraich is one of the small group pf homes which for the historic crofting settlement of Kilmory, a small group of homes set around the ancient stone relics of Kilmory Knap Chapel.

Crinan, Cairnbaan and Tayvallich are small and charming west coast villages and hamlets which are accessible to and from Comraich.

Crinan, with its little harbour, canal basin and anchorage, forms the western sea end of the Crinan Canal and in the summer months the canal is always a colourful spectacle with passing yachting, cruising and pleasure craft as they navigate the canal waterway to connect the inland sea lochs, the Clyde estuary and the Kyles of Bute with the more testing and scenically spectacular sailing waters of the western Isles.

Tayvallich is a picturesque fishing village situated on the shores of Loch Sween. It is a popular and sheltered yachting haven with its spectacular scenery and vibrant community which includes a restaurant, general store and shop along with many local artists. There is a beach just across at Carsaig Bay and many miles of scenic coastal walks in and around the peninsula.

Lochgilphead (18 miles) has a good range of local shops, a mid sized Co-op supermarket and amenities that adequately cater for everyday needs and requirements with further shopping including a Tesco supermarket is available at Oban. It is possible to arrange grocery deliveries from both the Co-op and Tesco. Glasgow is the nearest major city and has a complete and extensive range of shopping, cultural, higher educational and leisure services normally associated with a major centre.

Lochgilphead has both primary and secondary schooling with a school bus service which is also a service bus.

The area offers a fine range of relaxing outdoor pursuits with pleasant hikes, walks and more testing hill climbs. Field sports are available in the area and include stalking, driven and walked up shooting as well as fishing, both sea and inland hill loch.

The area is well known for its dramatic and natural scenic beauty, and this has always drawn people to the area making it a popular tourist destination.

The Mid Argyll swimming pool is in Lochgilphead.

There are hospitals in Lochgilphead – Mid Argyll Community Hospital and integrated Care Centre, and Oban – Lorne and Islands District General Hospital.

A local bus service 425 & 426 operated by West Coast Motors, provides a local and city service from Achnamara and the nearest main line rail station is at Oban.

Historical Note
Knapdale is rich in history with its secluded inlets attracting waves of contrasting settlers over the centuries. The word Knapdale itself is Norse in origin, a testimony to the presence of Viking or Danish travellers in centuries past. There is also evidence of earlier human activity on the peninsula by way of the remains of standing stones, burial cairns and forts.

Kilmory Knap was probably a small medieval township under the control of nearby Castle Sween, which having been built in the 12th century, is said to be one of the oldest stone castles on the Scottish mainland. Originally a home for ancestors of the MacSween clan, the Castle was added to in later centuries, falling within the keep of the MacNeill’s of Gigha and subsequently the Campbells before its destruction in 1647.

The focal point of what remains today of Kilmory Knap is the chapel, which is thought to have served as the parish church for the locality. Now fitted with a glass roof set below the wall heads, the chapel protects a collection of carved stones and crosses found in the surrounding graveyard. The majority of these are thought to date from the 14th and 15th centuries but may be up to a thousand years old. A carving on one of the stones depicting a mason’s set square has been claimed to point to associations with the Knights Templar who some believe, may have been present in Scotland in the early 14th century.

Directions
From Lochgilphead proceed in a northerly direction on the A816 for about 2 miles. Bear left on the B841 to reach Cairnbaan. At Cairnbaan continue across the canal bridge then turn right onto the B8025 following signs Tayvallich. Continue on the B8025 for 1.1 miles bearing left at the fork in the road and follow signs, Achnamara, Castle Sween and Kilmory Chapel. Continue in a southerly direction on the minor road for 12.7 miles to reach the hamlet of Kilmory. Turn right off the public road and Comraich is the first property on the left hand side."
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