Saddell House

Saddell, Kintyre, Argyll and Bute

Overview

Saddell House is a light, spacious and rather grand house, rebuilt in 1900 on an 18th-century core. Make the most of staying in a Scottish country seat as well as the stunning beauty of the Kintyre coast and Arran beyond. 

See all our Landmarks at Saddell

 

  • Dogs AllowedDogs Allowed
  • Electric Car Charging PointElectric Car Charging Point
  • CotCot
  • Mobile signalMobile signal
  • Fire or StoveFire or Stove
  • Open SpaceOpen Space
  • Logs availableLogs available
  • Parking AvailableParking Available
  • BathBath
  • DishwasherDishwasher
  • MicrowaveMicrowave
  • ShowerShower
  • Table Tennis TableTable Tennis Table
  • Washing MachineWashing Machine

Beds 1 Single, 4 Twin, 2 Double

Sleeps
13
4 nights from
£715 equivalent to £13.75 per person, per night

A bay of wild and unspoilt beauty

The 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. Memories of the house's past and  residents' hunting achievements are never far away, with stags’ heads surveying its particularly fine panelled dining room.

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. By 1600 the Campbells owned the castle and they built Saddell House as a more modern residence in the 18th century. The whole of Saddell Bay with its long white strand and rocky point now belongs to Landmark, including the castle, this later mansion and four cottages. Each building stands alone and those who stay in them can explore the the whole bay in all its wild and unspoilt beauty.

Fortunately repaired after a fire in 1899

Saddell House was built in 1774 by Colonel Donald Campbell. 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 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 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 rebuilt almost at once. It became what it remains today: an  Edwardian house for a generation or three to spend a holiday together, close enough to an outdoors life but also a comfortable haven from the elements.

Floor Plan

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Map & local info

Saddell House sits at the centre of Saddell bay on the edge of the beach enjoying views across the Kilbrannan Sound towards Arran and the woodland inland. Less than a mile away on the east Kintyre road towards Carradale lies the tiny hamlet of Saddell. From here you can take a short walk to the beautiful ruin of Saddell Abbey

Follow the The Kintyre Way around the stunning peninsula and enjoy exploring its wealth of hidden coves, deserted beaches and fishing communities offering local produce.

Wildlife enthusiasts can experience the superb bird watching facilities at  The Machrihanish Seabird & Wildlife Observatory  or take a  boat trip around the islands of Sanda, Ailsa Craig and the Mull of Kintyre to see puffins, seals and other exciting forms of sealife.

Golfers will enjoy the fine choice of  golf courses  around Kintyre claimed to be some of the best in Scotland.

Take a look at our  Pinterest map for more ideas of things to do and see during your stay at Saddell House. Discover local walks for dogs with our friends at Walkiees.co.uk, the dog walks community.

Please Note: The Landmark Trust does not take any responsibility and makes no warranties, representations or undertakings about the content of any website accessed by hypertext link. Links should not be taken as an endorsement of any kind. The Landmark Trust has no control over the availability of the linked pages.

See all our Landmarks at Saddell

Clear directions
Essential info
What you need to know about this building
  • Yes. You are welcome to bring up to two dogs. A charge of £20 per stay is made for each dog.

    Please contact booking enquiries if you have an assistance dog, for which there is no charge.
  • Via an estate track from the main road.
  • Glasgow – 123 miles.
  • There is parking for five cars adjacent to the property.
  • There is oil-fired central heating and an open fire.
  • Logs may be purchased and delivered under a private arrangement. Further details will be provided with your booking confirmation.
  • To check up-to-date mobile network coverage in the area, visit signalchecker.co.uk. Due to the location and structure of many of our buildings, signal strength may differ to those indicated.
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • The kitchen is fully equipped with all plates, cutlery, fridge etc.
    There is also an electric cooker, a dishwasher, an upright freezer and a microwave.

  • There are four bathrooms, two with showers and two with baths.
  • The stairs are wide but not particularly steep.
  • There are large open grounds and direct access to the beach.
    Please note that public footpaths run through the estate.
  • There is a Type 2 Electric Vehicle charge point, delivering a 7.2kW charge, at the property. You will need to request this facility at the time of booking to ensure the outlet has been enabled for your arrival. There is a small charge to cover the cost of electricity provided.
Booking and Payment
  • If the weather is bad, please contact our booking office who will be able to tell you whether the Landmark is accessible. If the housekeeper can safely get to the building to prepare it then we consider that it is open and available for guests. However if we cannot undertake a changeover then we will do our utmost to transfer your stay to another Landmark, depending on what we have available. It may not be of a similar size or in the same part of the country as your original booking. If the building is accessible but the customer cannot travel due to poor weather in his/her local area then please be aware that Landmark will not provide a refund. However the customer may be able to claim on his/her own travel insurance. We recommend that all guests take out travel insurance when they first secure a booking.
  • We accept Maestro (if issued in the UK), Visa, MasterCard, direct transfer and sterling cheques drawn on a UK bank. Cheques should be made payable to the Landmark Trust except for Lundy stays and boat/helicopter tickets which should be payable to The Lundy Company Ltd. All payments must be in sterling.
  • The key arrangements will be included in the Further Infomation document which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • If your stay starts more than two months from the date you make the booking, you are required to pay a deposit of one third of the cost of your stay (or £100 per booking, if greater) at the time of booking. Camping on Lundy and The Bunk House at Llwyn Celyn must be paid for in full at the time of booking.
  • If you wish to cancel or change your booking, please contact our Booking Office on 01628 825925
  • At the moment we only accept payment in sterling.
  • Our housekeeper will leave the key in a suitable place, the details of which will be sent to you prior to your stay.
  • It depends. Some of our most popular Landmarks are booked up a long time in advance, but many can be booked at short notice. We will always have Landmarks free for the coming weekend so it’s always worth checking our availability list.
  • No, Landmarks are available to be booked for anyone.
  • No, all the information you need can be found on our website, although we’d like you to buy one anyway as it will be a pleasure to own!
Staying at a Landmark
  • Some of our Landmarks are suitable for people with disabilities or limited mobility. However, many Landmarks have steep or narrow staircases, uneven floors and thresholds, changes of level, low ceilings or beams, as well as indistinct colours on steps and in corridors. We recommend that you call Booking Enquiries on 01628 825925 if you would like to find out the suitability of a particular Landmark for anyone with a specific disability.  Further information on access when visiting Lundy can also be found here.
  • Yes, Landmarks are only available as self-catering accommodation. We do not offer bed and breakfast.
  • Landmark does not provide catering, but we can recommend Greycoat Lumleys who can arrange for expert and well-trained staff to cater for one evening or for your entire holiday. Their cooks and chefs are able to work with you to meet your specific requirements
  • You may bring up to two dogs to properties where dogs are allowed (please see specific property details for exemptions however dogs are not permitted on Lundy except assistance dogs). They must be kept off the furniture and under proper control. A charge of £20 per stay is made for each dog. Please contact booking enquiries if a registered assistance dog is supporting one of the guests, for which there is no charge.
  • Apart from two dogs (see above) no other pets are permitted.
  • Arrival is from 4pm and departure is by 10am.
  • We do not carry insurance for breakages. However we appreciate that accidents do sometimes happen. If you have a breakage during your stay, please let the housekeeper know and if appropriate we reserve the right to invoice you accordingly.
  • Yes, most of our Landmarks are perfect for children, with gardens to play in and secret places to discover. Our furniture is surprisingly robust and we positively encourage families to stay. However, some of our buildings may not be suitable for small children; for example, some of them have steep or uneven spiral staircases. We recommend that you call the Booking Enquiries team if you would like to find out the suitability of any of our Landmarks for young children.
  • Unfortunately, most of our Landmarks are not licensed for weddings. However, you may get married on Lundy.
  • All our larger Landmarks are perfect for gatherings of family or friends. You may invite an additional two guests to visit you during your stay, however they must not stay overnight. This is very important because our fire regulations specifically note the maximum number of people in any one building. In addition our properties are prepared, furnished and equipped for the number of people specified and greater numbers cause damage and excessive wear and tear to vulnerable buildings. Should this condition be ignored we shall make a retrospective charge per person per day (whether or not they stay overnight) for each guest over the permitted limit, the charge being pro-rated on the total cost of your booking.
  • We deliberately do not provide televisions and find that most people appreciate this.
  • One of the challenges of restoring unloved buildings is gaining access to them. We frequently have to negotiate rights with our neighbours and share tracks with them. In many cases tracks do not belong to us and we have no right to maintain them. Wherever possible we work with our neighbours to provide you with a good quality surface, but where this is a problem then you will be warned at the time of booking.
  • Yes, we have standard electricity sockets for UK appliances. If you are coming from outside the UK, you will need to bring your own adaptor plug(s). If you are visiting one of our European properties we have standard European electricity sockets. If you are visiting from the UK, you will need to bring your own adapter plug (s).
  • Landmark’s electrical systems have not been designed to provide continuous power from one socket over several hours.  If an ordinary socket is used to charge an electric vehicle, there is significant risk of an electrical fire and consequent danger to life.  Therefore, we are unable to allow electric vehicle charging from most of our Landmarks at present.

    We are working to provide Type 2 Electric Vehicle charge points at our properties where there is private parking.  Where this is available, please request this facility when booking the property to ensure the outlet is enabled on your arrival.  There is a small charge to cover the cost of electricity provided.  Please book this facility in advance.
  • No, we do not allow smoking in any Landmark.
Facilities
  • Sometimes our kitchens and bathrooms have to be imaginatively fitted into the available space in buildings where before there were none, but they are all planned and equipped to a high and modern standard.
  • Yes, Landmarks are fully equipped with sheets and towels. All the beds are fully made up for your arrival. Except for the Llwyn Celyn Bunkhouse.
  • Yes, our kitchens are well equipped with cookers and fridges. There are freezers and dishwashers (in larger buildings) and, where space allows, microwaves as well as a wide and standard range of utensils. A full equipment list is available at time of booking.
  • Logs are provided at many of our Landmarks for an additional cost.
  • Mobile coverage varies. Some Landmarks have an excellent signal, but others have none at all. You can find those with 4G and 5G signal on our Landmarks with mobile signal page and each building has a link to signal checker in the Essential Information so you can check individual service providers' coverage in the area.
  • The majority of properties do not offer WiFi but many now have mobile coverage. Facilities in some properties rely on WiFi to function and we are currently piloting guest use of WiFi at a few of our buildings. We are going to extend the pilot across more properties and review customer feedback in 2025.
  • A welcome tray with tea and sugar awaits your arrival and you will find a pint of milk in the fridge. We also provide toilet rolls and a bar of soap per basin, but no other toiletries. Hairdryers are provided.

Do you have other questions?

Our Booking Enquiries team can help with information about each building.

Booking Enquiries
01628 825925
[email protected]

Opening hours
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm


History

A licence to build castles

In 1508 James IV, King of Scotland, granted the lands of Saddell Abbey to David Hamilton, Bishop of Argyll, with licence to "build castles ... and fortify them with stone walls". Saddell Castle was the result, a tower-house typical of the period. It was probably completed by 1512, and used by the Bishop as an occasional residence.

In 1556 Saddell was transferred to James Macdonald, who had been busy annoying the English army in Ireland. In retaliation the Earl of Sussex mounted a raid on Kintyre in 1558, during which he burned and sacked the Castle, which he described as "a fayre pyle and a stronge". The Castle seems to have been left as a ruin for the next hundred years, even after it was granted to Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyll, in 1607. Then in 1650 the Earl, in turn, granted Saddell to William Ralston of that Ilk, a fugitive from religious persecution in the Lowlands, on condition that he made it habitable within two years, which he did. William Ralston soon moved elsewhere, and by the end of the 17th century the estate had been granted to a junior branch of the Campbell family, who became known as the Campbells of Glensaddell.

During the 18th century the Campbells tried to make the Castle more comfortable, but must have felt they were fighting a losing battle, because in about 1774 Colonel Donald Campbell (1726-84) decided to build a new and more convenient home, which he called Saddell House. Colonel Campbell had served in India with distinction but was wounded in 1771 and it seems likely that a reward from the Nawab of Arcot provided the funds to build Saddell House. The Colonel’s new house was Classical in style and is typical of the country seats built by the merchants and military men returning after a successful career overseas during this time of prosperity in Scotland.

With three storeys, generously proportioned rooms across four floors and large windows, Saddell House was in marked contrast to the castle, with its small, defensive windows and turnpike stairs. The house commands perhaps the best position right at the centre of the bay and was carefully aligned to look out both across the Kilbrannan Sound onto the Ailsa Craig and back up Saddell Glen. A natural change in level allowed the house to be entered at piano nobile level on the landward side, while originally also affording the basement rooms views across the beach. The house was always approached along a carriageway over the bridge across the burn, but its original front entrance was centrally positioned through a portico beneath the pediment. An early drawing shows two small pavilions flanking the house but we have found no physical evidence of these. Sometime in the first half of the 19th century, the sunken area was created all around the house, and then in the later Victorian period, the Classical symmetry of a central entrance was sacrificed for a roomy, two storey porch block, added to the western end.

In 1899, however, there was a disastrous fire. This was during the tenure of Colonel Macleod, great-great-nephew of the builder of Saddell House and who had also just refurbished Saddell Castle. The house was let at the time to an English shooting party and while they were out a fire in the kitchen chimney is thought to have spread to joists in a lumber room. The house was gutted, only walls and porch block remaining. This led to extensive refurbishment, so that internally today the house presents more of a late Victorian than Georgian appearance. A complete set of servants’ rooms remains on the basement floor, including a game room and kitchen with range - this floor was left relatively undamaged by the fire.

On the ground floor, the butler’s pantry on the ground floor has survived with all its Edwardian fittings, and on each landing is a maid’s cupboard with sturdy shelves for bedlinen and a sink, all providing a fascinating record of existence in such country seats. The reception rooms and bedrooms are all large, some with bay windows looking out across the shore.

In 1937 the Saddell Estate was bought by Colonel and Mrs Moreton. During the war, when (the then) Captain Moreton was recalled to active service, Saddell House became home to children evacuated from Glasgow as well as to the Moreton’s own children. The boys slept in the attic and the girls on the first floor and though these were tense days, it seems many happy memories were generated.

The Landmark Trust’s involvement with the estate and buildings at Saddell Bay on Kintyre dates back to 1975. The estate and its buildings were purchased from Colonel and Mrs Moreton to enable them to survive and Mrs Moreton was given a life tenancy of Saddell House, which came to an end in 1998.

A short history of Saddell House and bay

The full history album for Saddell House

Download the children's Explorer pack for Saddell House

Restoration

Thanks to two generous private donations

Landmark refurbished Saddell House in 2004, with the help of two very generous private donors. Externally, the windows were repaired and overhauled. The present harling is cemetitious and was probably applied after the fire in 1899. It has been left for now and repainted to match traces found of the original 18th-century colour. In time, we will hope to replace it with a more traditional lime harling. The stone dressings have also been repainted, as have the window dressings and portico in a darker grey as is traditional in Scotland, specially mixed by our decorator.

The railings around the area (or basement well) have been extensively repaired and overhauled. Electrical cables were buried and new drainage installed. There is no doubt that Colonel Donald Campbell originally intended the view towards Arran to be enjoyed and so we also felled some of the conifers to the front of the house, planted by the Moretons in the 1930s but grown so tall that they were hemming the house in.

Internally, the work done was almost entirely ordinary maintenance, repair and redecoration, carried out mostly by Landmark’s own small internal team of craftsmen, together with local contractor Roly Mauchline and electrical contractor Jim Martin. The original dining room and Colonel Moreton’s Rod Room on the ground floor were made into bedrooms (as indeed the former may originally have been) and the 18th-century entrance hall or Trophy Room became the dining room. The house was completely rewired and a new central heating system installed. A shower was added to the porch, to aid recovery for those brave enough to bathe in the Kilbrannan Sound and also to provide ground floor bathroom facilities. Much of the panelling and joinery was re-grained and a replacement sink put in the butler’s pantry.

We altered the location of the bathroom on the attic floor to provide better views. Otherwise, the attic floor was made weathertight but is not furnished. The basement, which was largely untouched by the fire and so retains much of its 18th-century form, has been left unfurnished for Landmarkers to explore the large kitchen, game room and laundry room.

Availability & booking

Select a changeover day to start your booking...

What's a changeover day? and Why can't I select other dates?Explain MoreQuestion

A changeover day is a particular day of the week when holidays start and end at our properties. These tend to be on a Friday or a Monday but can sometimes vary. All stays run from one changeover day until another changeover day.