Rejuvenating Saddell Castle
Saddell Castle has been one of our most popular Landmarks since opening in 1978.
We are embarking on a major project to undertake extensive repair and improvement works to conserve and maintain this Category A listed building and enhance the guest experience. The project includes external masonry repairs and complete reharling in a gauged hot lime mortar, timber repair and roofing works. We will carefully reconfigure internal spaces to provide two additional bathrooms and improved kitchen facilities, as well as rearrange bedrooms, upgrade electrics and fully redecorate. We’ll also be undertaking flood alleviation works in line with Landmark’s sustainability commitments. We are able to undertake these works thanks a generous legacy from the late Simon Pearson, combined with unrestricted funds from Landmark Patrons and Friends, regular donors, raffle players and holiday income.
We’ll be sharing insights into the project across the coming months and reopening for holidays in late summer 2025. Keep an eye on this page as the project unfolds.
Updates from site
After five years of planning, including extensive research and investigations together with a carefully considered procurement period, onsite works began in February 2024. Landmark’s visitor services and furnishings teams cleared the building, moving furniture safely into storage and preparing for construction activities. Now, site equipment has been installed and scaffolding is rapidly snaking its way around the building.
Events
We’ll be hosting public tours at key points in the project, plus an opportunity to visit for free on completion in 2025.
The next event will be our Scaffold Tours on 27 April 2024. The tours will provide an exlcusive look at our maintenance project at Saddell Castle, from the heights of the scaffold. You’ll be provided with a hard hat, and a high vis vest, and taken on a one-hour tour of the scaffold for an up-close view of the skills and techniques being used to maintain this spectacular, Category A listed, building.
Discover Saddell Bay
Situated on the eastern side of the Kintyre Peninsula in Scotland, the special qualities of Saddell Bay have long been recognised. In 1160 the Cistercian monastery Saddell Abbey was established just in land, with Saddell Castle built in 1508 and Saddell House in 1774.
In the 1970s a youthful Paul McCartney and Wings performed ‘Mull of Kintyre’ on this shoreline, accompanied by the Campbeltown Pipe Band. Today there are, in addition to the Castle, five further Landmarks to experience and seals, otters and countless seabirds to spot.
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Cul-na-Shee
This special haven of tranquillity gives uninterrupted views of the sea toward the Isle of Arran. Fittingly, 'Cul na Shee' translates to "nook of peace" in Gaelic.
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Saddell Lodge
This simple granite gate lodge sits at the entrance to Saddell Bay, with views of the Kilbrannan Sound. A great base to explore all of Saddell with the ruins of Saddell Abbey nearby.
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Ferryman's Cottage
Ferryman's Cottage is filled with coastal light. Its sheltered position on Saddell Bay means that you can enjoy the sea views whilst being protected from the weather.
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Shore Cottage
This stylish Victorian building looks out towards Saddell Bay. The sitting room door leads directly on to the foreshore, where you can explore the rock pools at low tide.
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Saddell House
The grand Saddell House commands and overlooks the centre of Saddell Bay with wide views of the Isle of Arran on one side and up the glen on the other.
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Saddell Castle
Currently under refurbishment, Saddell Castle was built in the early 16th-century and looks out across the Kilbrannan Sound to the Isle of Arran in a magnificent location on Saddell Bay.
GRIP
To mark Landmark’s 50th anniversary in 2015, Anthony Gormley designed five sculptures celebrating the special relationship between people, places and time. Collectively called LAND, the life-size standing sculptures were cast in iron and installed at Landmarks across Britain selected by the artist. The sculptures were originally commissioned to remain for just 12 months, as temporary structures alongside places of permanence. However thanks to an anonymous donor, GRIP remains steadfast on the shores of the Kilbrannan Sound.
