Email
Swallow Cottage enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around Oban
Swallow Cottage is a two hundred year old stone built highland farm cottage
nestling in the glen of Feochan near Kilmore in the region of mid Argyllshire
known historically as Lorn.
Swallow cottage is a stone built highland farm cottage that dates from the beginning of the 19th century. It is set in farmland and forest about 6 miles south of Oban which has plenty of facilities for all ages and is a 15 minute drive away.
Swallow Cottage Accommodation
It has been fully modernized with gas central heating,(for which we have to add a surcharge) en suite shower rooms and satellite TV in the larger sitting room as well as a log fire in the smaller sitting room which is ideal for someone wanting a quiet read while others watch TV.
Accommodation comprises two en suite double bedrooms, one on the ground floor with wheelchair access and en suite with wet area. The larger bedroom on the ground floor is adapted for wheelchair use and the parking and entrance are fully adapted to wheelchair access. The smaller bedroom upstairs is accessed via a short set of stairs.
The main access is directly from the resident’s parking area via a gravel path and a tiled entrance area. There is also a wheelchair ramp through a widened front door if needed.
The kitchen is relatively compact but has all the modern facilities including fridge, freezer, dual gas and electric cooker, washing machine and dryer and microwave cooker. There is no dishwasher due to the private water supply.
A small kitchen connects two living rooms, the smaller with a stone built fireplace and the larger with a 42 inch flatscreen TV with satellite dish service.
The property has wooden beams throughout on the ground floor in keeping with the nature of the cottage and the paintings and prints as well as artifacts display a fishing and nature theme. All in all the cottage is a very private and quiet place ideal for those really wanting the peace of the countryside but to still be near to a town’s facilities.
A phone can be provided and there is a small garden area with decking and chairs for the use of the residents. The accommodation is self-contained and solely for the use of the booking party.
Attractions and Activities
The area is one of outstanding natural beauty with ample opportunities
for walking, fishing, touring and visiting historical sites. In addition
the wildlife in the area is exceptional with deer, otters, pine marten,
red squirrel and golden eagles to be seen. Otherwise there are many species
of insects and birds readily at hand, including rare moths and butterflies.
It is 4 miles by car into Oban, which takes about fifteen minutes, where there is ample shopping and plenty of bars and restaurants, as well as tours of the isles and nature watching trips.
Historically the area abounds in interest as the scene of many clan disputes and murders including that of John Campbell of Cawdor just down the road at Knipoch. Traditionally the first great clan to live in the area was the MacDougalls who still own Dunollie Castle and the Isle of Kerrera.
Over time many other clans moved into the area which ultimately after the 17th century came under the control of the Campbells of Loch Nell, which is near Benderloch. Their castle is still there.
Earlier still the area has many stone age remains, in the field by the cottage are burial mounds and just 25 miles down the main road in Kilmartin glen and over the moss to Crinan are some of the most enigmatic cup and ring carvings in Britain, dating from 2,400 BC.
There are many standing stones as well some carved with the cup and ring markings unique to northern Britain.
From the late medieval period the Campbell Carnasserie Castle is well worth a visit, set in beautiful parkland just off the A816 at Kilmartin. Argyll means headland of the gaels and from the 6th century onwards these fierce Irish warriors invaded and settled the area building their many duns or forts (one of which Duniadain overlooks the cottage), battling constantly with the Picts and at one time being expelled completely.
After time these peoples combined under a joint ruler, Kenneth MacAlpin, who ruled all Scotland in the 9th century from the castle at Dunadd, just south of Kilmartin on the A816. A visit here is essential, especially to see the king’s footprint which marked the place of the accession to the throne of the Dalriadic (Irish) Kings of Scotland. All in all the area is fascinating to anyone interested in the ancient and medieval history of Scotland.
For the nature lover there are walks everywhere, across to Loch Awe and over the hills above the cottage. There are many unusual species to see including eagles, buzzard, red squirrels and deer and if you are about very early in the morning you may see wildcat, fox, otter and pine marten although you need to persist!
The immediate area also has rare moths and butterflies in late May and June. There are opportunities to fish both freshwater and sea in the area and Oban also has a diving school.
Above all if you want a quiet holiday with opportunities to stretch yourself when you want to or if you wish to tour the islands or go to Glencoe on day trips from Oban this is the ideal spot. We look forward to welcoming you!
DIRECTIONS
Getting there from the Information Centre:
We are approx 4 miles from the tourist information centre in Argyll square
, Oban, via the A816 Lochgilphead road travelling south from Oban to Kilmore.
We are on the Musdale road which is signposted at Kilmore two and a quarter
miles up the glen on the right. Follow signs to Musdale. There is a sign
outside the cottage on your right.
Getting There by Car:
Take the A816 south from Oban to Kilmore for four miles and then turn
left at the bottom of the hill, after the phone box, following the signs
to Musdale. At the T junction after about four hundred yards turn right
again following the signs to Musdale. We are exactly two miles up the
glen on the right. There is a sign outside the cottage.
Getting There by Railway:
Oban station is reached from Queen street station Glasgow. The journey
is over three hours. There is a bus from outside the station to Kilmore.
Please phone the cottage from there and someone will pick you up.
Email Swallow Cottage enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
