Barcaldine House

Coordinates: 56°31′19″N 5°19′01″W / 56.522°N 5.317°W / 56.522; -5.317

Barcaldine House is a historic mansion in Barcaldine near Oban, Scotland, now a hotel.

History

Campbell ownership 1709–1842

The lands were originally part of the extensive estates of the Campbell of Breadalbane,^[1] who had built Barcaldine Castle in about 1594, one of six castles including Kilchurn, Edinample and Taymouth Castle. At that time the lands extended from Loch Tay continuously to the west coast of Scotland.

The house was originally built in 1709, by ‘Red Patrick’, 4th of Barcaldine when the family abandoned the nearby Barcaldine Castle for a more comfortable home. The house became the home of his son by his first marriage, Duncan Campbell (1716–1784). Duncan’s half brother (by Red Patrick’s 2nd wife) was Colin Campbell of Glenure, the Red Fox in RL Stevenson’s Kidnapped, who was assassinated in the woods at Lettermore near Duror on 14 May 1752. The question as to ‘who shot the Red Fox?’ has become known as The Appin Mystery. The body of the Red Fox rested in the Drawing Room of Barcaldine House on the way to his burial site at Ardchattan Priory.^[2]

Barcaldine House was extended by the great grandson of Red Patrick, Duncan Campbell 1st Baronet (1786–1842) who received, his baronetcy in 1831 for services in the army during the Napolenic wars. Campbell laid out the 20-foot (6.1 m) high walled garden which is now the nearby caravan park with huge heated glass houses with vines where he grew peaches, pineapples, nectarines and other exotic fruits. Some trees from that time survive, over 200 years old. The 30,000-acre (120 km²) estate was sold in 1842 to clear family debts.

Decline 1842–1959

It was purchased by Donald Charles Cameron in 1842 and remained in the Cameron family until acquired by the Stewart-Rankine family in the late 19th century.

In 1925 the Forestry Commission began after their purchase of most of the estate grounds.^[3] By the 1950s the house lay derelict.

Revival and hotel 1959 to date

The house lay semi-derelict until 1959 when it was purchased by Miss Kathleen Hunter, a health food supplements manufacturer. Since about 1985, Barcaldine has been a luxury hotel and popular wedding venue with six en suite rooms; The Argyll, The Airds, The Barcaldine, The Breadalbane, The Caithness and The Lochnell, and the former servants quarters converted to self-catering cottages.^[4]

Location

Barcaldine House Hotel and Cottages are just off the A828 in the village of Barcaldine about 10 miles (16 km) north of Oban in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. This is near to Loch Creran and Loch Etive.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barcaldine House.

• Official Barcaldine Castle Website

References