5 bedroom detached house

Originally converted from three properties in the 1930’s and subsequently renovated by its current custodians who have owned the property for over 40 years, An Cala (“the Haven” in Scots Gaelic) is an attractive property offering more than 3,800 sq ft of light-filled flexible accommodation arranged over two floors. The original conversion was undertaken by Colonel Arthur Murray (later Viscount Elibank) and his wife, the actress Faith Celli famed for her role as Peter Pan in London’s West End theatres. The thoughtful works resulted in each principal room facing South to the sun and coast.

Configured to provide an ideal family and entertaining space, sensitively combining modern amenities with features including casement glazing, window shuttering and a wealth of wooden and parquet flooring across the ground floor. The accommodation flows from a welcoming reception hall through to the dining room further comprising a spacious sitting room with a feature open fireplace and large front aspect bay incorporating French doors to the garden, a dual aspect double-height drawing room with a vaulted ceiling, feature fireplace with woodburning stove and bespoke shelving, and an inter-connecting triple aspect conservatory with wood-lined walls and a door to the garden. Further is an extensive kitchen/breakfast room with ceiling beams, herringbone-tiled flooring, a range of wall and base units including a freestanding central island, wooden work surfaces, an Aga, modern integrated appliances and a door to a fitted utility room with Belfast sink and door to the garden. The property also benefits from two stores.

On the first floor the property provides a spacious principal bedroom with large front aspect bay providing a view out to sea and four further double bedrooms, three with sea and island views, two with fitted storage, together with a family shower room and two spacious family bathrooms, one with bath and separate shower.

Set in just under three acres of mature garden and woodland on the shore of the Firth of Lorn, the property is approached over a private driveway providing parking and giving access to a detached outbuilding with a double garage, wood shed and planting potting shed.

It is understood that the garden was designed in around 1935 by the celebrated garden designers, Thomas Mawson & Sons, and is included in Scotland’s Garden Scheme and having been featured on the covers of Country Life and in The Times, the sheltered garden features a waterfall, lily ponds, a wild garden with glorious Azaleas and Japanese flowering cherries, indigenous rock outcrops incorporated into the landscape and numerous seating and viewing areas, the whole screened by high walls and hedges and enjoying stunning views over the sea towards The Inner Hebrides islands including Islay, Jura and Mull (with closer islands including Scarba, Lunga, Fladda and the Garvellachs).

The conservation Isle of Seil is separated from the mainland by a thin sea channel spanned by Clachan Bridge, the ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’.

Ellenabeich village has a shop, arts and heritage centres, an oyster bar, restaurant and brewery, primary schooling and ferries to Easdale Island. Balvicar has a store, Post Office, nine-hole golf club and an eponymous bay, renowned for its langoustines. The isle also offers a GP surgery, pub and café. The historic resort town of Oban offers wider shopping amenities, a theatre, cinema and primary and secondary schooling and lies at the western end of the A85 linking to Perth and Dundee; Oban station offers regular services to Glasgow, buses link to Glasgow, Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh and ferries sail to numerous local islands including Mull. The isle has a primary school, while Oban offers primary schools and a high school. Independent schools in the wider area include Kelvinside Academy, Lomond and St Columba’s.

Local Authority: Argyll and Bute Council
Services: Mains electricity and water, private drainage (septic tank). Oil-fired central heating.
Council Tax: Band F
Fixtures & Fittings: Please request from agent.
Wayleaves and easements: the property is sold subject to any wayleaves or easements, whether mentioned in these particulars or not
Tenure: Freehold