Before looking for a new home it’s wise to draw up a tick-box list of requirements which you feel your new home should have.
That could be gardens front and rear, a garage, conservatory, or perhaps bedrooms with en-suites.
While these may be standard requirements for many, there are buyers who want much more from their home – a period property, picture postcard views, a boathouse and a private loch for example.
While that list may sound like it belongs to something of a fantasy home, they can all be found at Inverinan Mor, a spectacular home at Inverinan, Taynuilt in Argyll.
Peter Gillespie for selling agent Savills hit the nail on the head when he said: “A private loch with boathouse, breathtaking views and a useful rental income, not to mention a fine Victorian house and a manageable chunk of land: Inverninan Mor surely has everything a buyer could wish for in a west coast country property.”
It is thought that perhaps Inverinan Mor originally dates from the 18th century and would have been extended in the 19th century when it was used as a hunting lodge.
Today the property is an elegant and fine family home which benefits from an annexe at the rear which is used for holiday rentals.
Inverinan Mor lies in a sheltered but commanding position with magnificent views over Loch Awe, regarded as one of the country’s most spectacular lochs. There are a number of islands in the loch including Innishail, which is the burial island of the Dukes of Argyll.
Inveraray Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, is on nearby Loch Fyne, while nearby is Kilchurn Castle, a dramatic ruin which is one of Scotland’s most famous and most photographed castles.
The accommodation of Inverinan Mor is spacious and begins with an entrance hallway which leads to a reception hallway. There’s an elegant drawing room with an open fireplace providing a nice focal point and French doors leading to the garden room which takes full advantage of the beautiful open views.
A dining room is ideal for formal dining, while the kitchen is large enough for casual meals and get togethers. This floor also has a cosy sitting room and a shower room.
On the first floor there are three good sized bedrooms, two with dressing rooms and en-suite bathrooms.
One of these is particularly lavish measuring 22ft long and with a bath, walk-in shower and twin wash-hand basis. The third bedroom enjoys views towards the front gardens.
The annexe to the rear of Inverinan Mor is reached via the entrance hallway with a door into a small hallway and a sitting room, kitchen and cloakroom/WC on the ground floor and two double sized bedrooms (one with en-suite shower room), bathroom and shower room on the upper floor.
The annexe also has its own private external entrance which makes it ideal for friends or paying guests.
Also included in the asking price of offers over £775,000 is a boatman’s cottage situated between the main house and Loch Awe and currently used as a charming holiday home. Accommodation here comprises a living room, kitchen, utility room, two bedrooms and bathroom.
There’s also a workshop, log store and grounds stretching to more than 36 acres. The gardens feature lawns and a wide variety of mature trees and shrubs which provide beautiful seasonal colour.
The trees include mature pine and spruce which provide additional privacy and protection.
Just beyond the main gardens is a delightful small loch known as Hamish’s Loch, which is sheltered by a native oak wood, while in front of the house there is an area of pasture suitable for grazing.
Beyond this, the land slopes down to the loch side which includes the site of a former boat house which has potential to be reinstated subject to planning consent.
The nearby village of Dalavich has a village shop, part-time post office and café, a church and a village hall. Kilchrenan has an inn, a primary school and a church. Taynuilt, on the main road to Oban, has a hotel, post office, primary school, grocer, butcher, doctors surgery, petrol station, hairdresser, antiques store and a nine hole golf course.
Oban (26 miles) is the nearest major town and is the ferry terminal to the Western Isles. The town has a full range of shops and supermarkets. Secondary education is available at Oban High School. There is a bus service from Dalavich to Oban via Taynuilt, including a school bus service. Lorn Hospital is also located in Oban.
Contact Savills on 0131 247 3739.
