Oatfield House

Overview

Completed by local sea captain, Colin McEachran (who had the good fortune to capture a French prize ship during the Napoleonic Wars), it was later substantially extended in the 1890's.

Situated in open countryside and enjoying views of Islay and Jura, it is on the very border between fertile farming land and the wilds that lead, uninterrupted, from here to the Mull of Kintyre.

A listed country house, Oatfield is both a family home and a welcoming bed and breakfast. Three rooms are available, two doubles and one twin, all with full en-suite facilities. We have a no smoking policy throughout.

Breakfast is served in the main dining room and the parlour is set aside for the use of guests in the evenings and includes the luxury of an open coal/log fire. WiFi and ethernet internet access points are available throughout.

The house is surrounded by its own private grounds comprising 6 acres of lawns and woodland with a paddock for the ponies and a walled garden, maintained as a wild flower meadow. An interesting Folly, beside the walled garden, was built in the 1890's around a fragment from 13th century Dunblane Cathedral. The pond is home to numerous newts, frogs and toads.

The present estate, some 130 acres, includes an important Iron Age fort at the top of Bealloch Hill (which you are very welcome to walk up to - bring your wellies!). Excavated in the 1970's by Edinburgh University, it revealed many finds including a Neolithic burial, flints and many other artefacts but it is also notable for the superb views across Kintyre from Kilbrannan Sound and Arran in the east, to Islay and Jura and the Atlantic in the west and even a glimpse of the Irish Sea to the south.

Depending upon the time of year, the resident wild roe deer and the odd fox can often be seen around the house, with owls, bats and hedgehogs providing night-time interest.

A short ride into town leads to a selection restaurants and cafes and we are also convenient for the golf clubs of Machrihanish and Dunaverty. The airport is only two miles away, with flights twice daily from Glasgow International Airport.

Sheltered by the Gulf Stream and noted for its palm trees, this part of Kintyre has its own little weather system often leading to much better weather locally than even a few short miles away. This is a fabulous walking and cycling area, with rolling moorland vistas, wild sea cliffs, numerous sandy beaches and a selection of islands - the island of Gigha makes a delightful day excursion from here, for example. We are walkers ourselves with an in-depth knowledge of the area and we are always pleased to offer suggestions, including many stunning walks that you won't find in any of the books... well off the beaten track.