Lunga

Craobh Haven, Lochgilphead, Argyl and Bute, PA31 8QR
Telephone: 01852 500237
Fax: 01631 572248
Visit Scotland 3 Stars

E-mail Establishment
Lunga, Lochgilphead

Lunga House looks over the Firth of Lorne and the Sound of Jura from the West coast of the Craignish Peninsula. This ten mile promontory projects into the Inner Hebrides from the coast road where Mid-Argyll meets Lorne, at the heart of the ancient kingdom of Dalraida. It is a gentle wilderness where stretches of the Old Caledonian forest remain straggling along the rugged and indented shoreline. Scots pines and hardwoods shelter the glens were such rich and varied greenery conceals ancient habitations and a wide range of wild flowers and animals. Here is the fringe between seabird and landbird, between northern visitor and southern migrant. Groups of small islands shelter bays where seals bask on the rocks and otters and eagles await the careful observer. Certainly one of the most beautiful and least discovered parts of Scotland it is also one of the most accessible.

Lunga is a turreted and castellated Scots mansion, originally a 16th Century tower house, with additions each succeeding generation. Now it has four self-contained flats each with its own front door, leading off a central stair. There are also two guest bedrooms with private bathrooms. The great hall is a common sitting room and meals are sometimes served to residents here. The drawing room, with baby grand piano, table tennis and small snooker table, is used for parties and the occasional dance or reel. The courtyard beside the house has coachman's cottage on the south side and two studio bedrooms with private bathrooms to the north .The East wing, which has a separate entrance, has a studio gallery where artists sometimes work and where exhibitions are held. The room can be booked for dinners and parties where we serve a single group of from 8-40 with a fine highland feast. We specialize in large roasts of beef or local lamb, whole poached salmon, venison or game. Sometimes a piper plays around the house, or there is clarsach music or Gaelic singing.

Details of our holiday accommodation are given separately as there are frequent changes and improvements. People come for a week and stay for years. We do up cottages as they become free. Apart from the holiday homes there is a small community engaged in multifarious and outlandish projects. Many a tale can be told in the 'Lord of the Isles' or the 'Galley of Lorne' where fish farmers and foresters forgather with gardeners, crofters, builders and sailors.

Walk freely in the hills and glens. Pets are welcome and there are miles of forested tracks where dogs can do no harm. Do keep them on a lead when among sheep or cattle. It's their territory and they don't accept strange animals. They can do themselves or even you much damage in their confusion over a friendly, bouncy town dog.

All our flats and cottages have open fires; mostly they have old country furniture, with some fine antiques. While the house is clean and the furnishings serviceable, suitable for country holidays for families with children and pets, some are chipped and threadbare. They are old friends, and we like it that way. There is an old country house feel, the faint smell of wood smoke and piles of gum boots.

The accommodation is also quite suitable for off season living. People come for short or long spells to paint, write, design or simply come for a bit of solitude or to join in the whirl of village social life. The weather in winter is generally as good as any in Britain and one can have marvelous rides or long hill walks. Apart from Christmas, New Year and such times as we have organized house parties, we are pleased to have short bookings.

In season our flats and cottages are let self catering by the week, starting on a Saturday. Guests are expected to arrive between 4.00pm and 7.30pm. And to depart before 11.00am. In many cases long journeys make this difficult and we are happy to make special arrangements provided that we know in advance. We do not normally supply linen except duvet covers but on request can have beds made up, groceries in, fires burning, or even a hot meal in the oven. We do our best to have all flats and cottages really clean and tidy to welcome guests and expect them to leave them as they find them.

The guest rooms are available throughout the year for bed and breakfast, dinner is generally available but do let us know before arriving if you expect a meal. The rooms are fully serviced, have their own bath or shower room, with W.C and basin, and have a colour T.V and electric kettles with supplies of tea and coffee, and electric blankets. Available on request are iron and board, hair rollers, hair dryer, radio alarm clock, telephone, and ice.

Whether you are looking for peace and quiet, or prefer to tour extensively in the West Highlands, or choose to become involved in the activities and adventures available on the estate, you can be sure of a warm welcome and friendly people who will do all they can to ensure the success of your holiday. If anything is not quite right we will do our best to fix it promptly. Whatever the weather you will find some part of the day so uniquely beautiful that it makes coming to Lunga a special experience, and we hope that like many others you will return regularly.

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