Saddell Bay looks out across the Kilbrannan Sound to the Isle of Arran on the east coast of Kintyre. Here, there was once an ancient abbey, and around 1500 the spot was chosen by the Bishop of Argyll for a new castle, planted boldly near the shore at the mouth of a small river. The whole of Saddell Bay with its long white strand and rocky point now belongs to Landmark, including the castle, a later mansion and four cottages. Each building stands alone and those who stay in them have the freedom of the whole bay in all its wild and unspoilt beauty.

Saddell House presides at the centre of the bay, a handsome seat built in 1774 by Colonel Donald Campbell (the Saddell estate had been owned by Campbells since 1600). The Colonel had fought gallantly in India, earning promotion to become Commandant of Madras. He returned to Scotland in 1771, wounded but with rich recompense from the Nawab of Arcot. It was no doubt this that enabled him, even before he entered his inheritance, to build Saddell House, which he positioned on the edge of the beach to take advantage of views across both the Kilbrannan Sound towards Arran and the fertile plain inland. It was a typical Scottish laird’s house of its period, with generously proportioned rooms and large light windows.

The house also proved a good base for hunting and fishing and it was while an eventual tenant, a Reverend Bramwell, was out shooting in September 1899 that disaster struck. A chimney fire spread to the attic, destroying the roof and gutting the house. Only the walls and a fine set of service rooms in the basement survived. Fortunately for us, Saddell House was judged worthy of repair and was rebuilt almost at once. It became what it remains today: an eminently sensible Edwardian house for a generation or three to spend a holiday together, close enough to an outdoors life but offering a comfortable haven from the elements when needed. The Moreton family lived here until 1998, after which gentle refurbishment was all that was needed to thread this, the last pearl, onto our Saddell string.

View our history sheet for this Landmark

Sleeps: 13