Glen Creran, Appin, Argyll and Bute, PA38

An architect-designed house with breathtaking views across Glen Creran, commanding one of the best mountain views in Scotland.

Invercreran House was designed by Charles Cochrane of West Highland Estate and built by Logans Construction of Muir of Ord in the late 1960s, completed in 1970. Originally part of the Glen Creran Estate, it was commissioned by Simon Fraser and later operated as a successful country house hotel for 15 years before being sold in 2001. The current owners acquired the property in 2001 and have since undertaken significant refurbishment to transform it into a stylish and contemporary family home while retaining many of its original architectural features.

Invercreran House is constructed of concrete and harled brick under a slate roof. The house, with a south facing setting, has a number of unusual features including Italian marble floor and a south-facing terrace running the full length of the house. The house is approached by a tarmac driveway which is flanked by a mature Yew avenue. The drive ends in a sweep behind the house. A particular feature of the house is that all the principal rooms have south-facing views across Glen Creran to the hills beyond. An impressive arched granite entrance has steps leading up to the entrance hall forming the upper ground floor of the property. The property has many internal features, including the dining room with a feature gas fireplace and an Italian marble floor. A curved wall of French windows open up onto the terrace. The magnificent drawing room, which is over 12 metres in length, has stunning views across Glen Creran. The room includes parquet flooring, a feature gas fireplace with stone surround, and three floor-to-ceiling windows open out onto the terrace. The Boffi design dining kitchen is another wow-factor room with a large central island and a dining area within a glass-enclosed area that overlooks the terrace.

Invercreran House occupies an elevated, south-facing position in Glen Creran, commanding some of the most striking mountain views in Scotland, including Beinn Sgulaird and Beinn Fhionnlaidh. The residence sits on the edge of mature gardens and woodland, supported by a cantilever structure to complement the hillside terrain. Appin (10 minute drive) and Port Appin (8 miles) are the nearest villages, collectively comprising a small shop which provides everyday requirements as well as a doctor's surgery, two churches, a local primary school, two hotels, a pub and a garage. Barcaldine (6 miles) has a marina and a primary school. The town of Oban (30 minutes drive), also known as the 'Gateway to the Isles' and Scotland's seafood capital, has a more extensive range of services including supermarkets, a Marks and Spencer food hall, restaurants, primary and secondary schooling and a hospital. The ferry ports have regular services to the Inner Hebridean islands including Mull, Iona and the Outer Hebrides. For whisky enthusiasts, there is the Oban distillery. The town also features the McCaig's Tower, a colosseum-like building which overlooks Oban Bay and the isles beyond. There is a railway station which lies adjacent to the ferry terminal with direct regular trains to Glasgow. Oban airport at North Connel is only 9 miles away with flights to Coll, Colonsay, Tiree and Islay. Glasgow Airport (77 miles) provides regular flights to London and a range of national and international destinations. The countryside around Invercreran is some of the most spectacular in Scotland, a fantastic base for exploring the West Coast with a great variety of outdoor activities available. Fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, sailing, golfing and diving are all available nearby. There is superb hillwalking on the doorstep with nearby Munros including Beinn Sgulaird (937m), Beinn Fhionnlaidh (959m) and beyond to the Glen Coe range. The nearby Loch Creran is a sea loch extending for just over 6.2 miles from its head at Inverreran to its mouth on the Lynn of Lorne. 2014 the entire loch was declared a Nature Conservation Marine Protection Area to protect its flame shell beds and quaternary geological features. Also close to the house is the Glasdrum Woodland National Nature Reserve, an internationally important Atlantic oakwood managed by Scottish Natural Heritage which is classified as both a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The reserve has an abundance of woodland flowers and extraordinary lichens and bryophytes, with a carpet of wildflowers blooming each Spring. Additionally, there are over 20 species of butterfly in the reserve, such as the rare pearl-bordered fritillary and chequered skipped. The sacred Island of Lismore is only a short drive and ferry away, while further afield you will find the Isles of the Hebrides including historic Iona, the burial place of the Kings of Scotland and the famous Fingals Cave on Staffa. Additionally, there are plenty of cultural and historic sites to visit nearby including Castle Stalker on Loch Linnhe, the Iron Furnace at Taynuilt, Ardchattan Priory and the Cruachan Hollow Mountain.