Publisher’s Cottage was built in 1998 next to the house of Derek and Jennifer Rodger. We used it as our workspace and from 2000 to 2013 it was the premises of Argyll Publishing. Yes, all the big book plans were hatched here, books designed and edited and parcels dispatched all over the world. Now it’s much more quiet and restful. Although we have lived here since 1987, we still love the space, the air, the nature, the woods, the country living and we never tire of the quiet beauty that this area provides.
There is one large double bedroom in the cottage, a bathroom with bath and separate shower cabinet (power shower) and a large open-plan living room with kitchen, dining area and lounge. There is a cooker with extractor hood, fridge and microwave and the kitchen is fully stocked with pots, crockery and utensils. Quality cotton bed sheets and towels are provided.
The cottage is fully insulated to modern standards and is heated by electric storage heaters. There is additional convector heating.
This is a country home in a quiet glen - an easy place to relax, a retreat from the modern world. To further help you do this, there is no television but we do provide free wi-fi. Wireless speakers are provided for use with your i-tablet/phone etc.
The neighbourhood
Glendaruel is on the Cowal Peninsula in the west of Scotland. The mood is truly Highland. From the front door of the cottage, within literally 60 seconds you can walk onto wild hillside. Glendaruel forest stretches up the hill from the back of the cottage and you can walk for miles through trees and on forest tracks usually without seeing another person.
Wildlife abounds. There is a combination of native and plantation forest. Lichen and mosses affirm clear clean air. In the bird world, the glen is the preserve of the buzzard (eagles at higher altitudes and slightly further north), owls are heard at night, a heron hunts in the burn at the back and our garden attracts many species of smaller birds.
On your walks you may come across red and roe deer and pine martens have recently returned to the glen. At certain times of the year, numerous red squirrels are to be seen at the back of our garden as they gather copious amounts of hazelnuts from the hazel trees that grow abundantly in the area. They bury many of them in our back garden!
Further afield, on the south coast of the peninsula, there is the gorgeous beach at Ostaig overlooking the Isle of Arran. The Tighnabruaich Sailing School is 20 minutes south and the 5-minute Colintraive-Rhobodach ferry crossing takes you over to the Isle of Bute where you will find the famous Mount Stuart. There are many castles in Argyll, the nearest being Dunans just 3 miles up the road from the cottage. A few miles further on you will find castles in all directions including the Duke and Duchess of Argyll’s Inveraray Castle.
The town of Dunoon, with supermarkets, cinema, swimming pools and hospital etc, is 30 minutes by car. The spectacular Benmore Botanic Gardens are also 30 minutes away. There are several local restaurants, many specialising in locally-caught seafood and venison. Your hosts have sampled all of them and can advise.
Guest Access
Guests have access to the driveway for unloading and parking for the duration of their stay. Guests also have unrestricted access to all areas of our garden and the forested hillside lying beyond. Publisher’s cottage is totally self-contained. You have your own key and come and go as you please.
Interaction with Guests
Your host will welcome you and be available throughout your stay should you need us, our house being a across the driveway from Publisher's Cottage.
Getting Around
Being a quiet glen of fewer than 100 people, Glendaruel is most easily visited by car.
It is within easy reach of Glasgow city centre (1hr 40mins) and Glasgow Airport (1hr 25mins). However a train from Glasgow Central to Gourock and then a short ferry across the Firth of Clyde lands you in Dunoon.
Your hosts can pick you up by arrangement but you’d need all your food and supplies and be independent for the period of your stay.
Public transport is limited here to one bus a day. Taxis can run to Dunoon but it is a 20 mile trip. As hosts we can be flexible but guests should be realistic about the location.
Other Things to Note
The immediate area surrounding Publisher's Cottage offers walks for all levels of fitness. And to help you explore, there is a small hand-drawn map of walks which you are welcome to take with you when you go out.
