Barcaldine House Hotel
Encyclopedia
Barcaldine House is a historic mansion in Barcaldine near Oban
, Scotland, now a hotel.
of Breadalbane, who had built Barcaldine Castle in about 1594, one of six castles including Kilchurn
, Edinample
and Taymouth Castle
. At that time the lands extended from Loch Tay
continuously to the west coast of Scotland.
The House was originally built in 1709, by ‘Red Patrick’, 4th of Barcaldine when the family abandoned the nearby Barcaldine Castle for a more comfortable home. The house became the home of his son by his first marriage, Duncan Campbell (1716–1784). Duncan’s half brother (by Red Patrick’s 2nd wife) was Colin Campbell of Glenure, the Red Fox in RL Stevenson’s Kidnapped
, who was assassinated in the woods at Lettermore near Duror on the 14th May 1752. The question as to ‘who shot the Red Fox?’ has become known as The Appin Mystery. The body of the Red Fox rested in the Drawing Room of Barcaldine House on the way to his burial site at Ardchattan Priory
.
Barcaldine House was extended by the great grandson of Red Patrick, Duncan Campbell 1st Baronet (1786–1842) who received his baronetcy in 1831 for services in the army during the Napolenic wars. Campbell laid out the 20 feet (6.1 m) high walled garden which is now the nearby caravan park with huge heated glass houses with vines where he grew peaches, pineapples, nectarines and other exotic fruits. Some trees from that time survive, over 200 years old. The 30000 acres (121.4 km²) estate was sold in 1842 to clear family debts.
In 1925 the Forestry Commission
began after their purchase of most of the estate grounds. By the 1950s the house lay derelict.
in the village of Barcaldine about 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Oban
in Argyll and Bute
, Scotland
. This is near to Loch Creran
and Loch Etive
.
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
, Scotland, now a hotel.
Campbell Ownership 1709-1842
The lands were originally part of the extensive estates of the CampbellClan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
of Breadalbane, who had built Barcaldine Castle in about 1594, one of six castles including Kilchurn
Kilchurn Castle
Kilchurn Castle is a ruined 15th century structure on the northeastern end of Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.It was the ancestral home of the Campbells of Glen Orchy, who later became the Earls of Breadalbane also known as the Breadalbane family branch, of the Clan Campbell. The earliest...
, Edinample
Edinample Castle
Edinample Castle is a late 16th century castle on the southern shores of Loch Earn near Balquhidder in the Stirling council area of Scotland....
and Taymouth Castle
Taymouth Castle
Taymouth Castle is situated just north-east of the village of Kenmore, Perth and Kinross in the Highlands of Scotland.It stands on the site of the much older Balloch Castle , which was demolished to be rebuilt on a much larger scale in the early 19th century by the Campbells of Breadalbane.It was...
. At that time the lands extended from Loch Tay
Loch Tay
Loch Tay is a freshwater loch in the central highlands of Scotland, in the district of Perthshire.It is a long narrow loch of around 14 miles long, and typically around 1 to 1½ miles wide, following the line of the valley from the south west to north east...
continuously to the west coast of Scotland.
The House was originally built in 1709, by ‘Red Patrick’, 4th of Barcaldine when the family abandoned the nearby Barcaldine Castle for a more comfortable home. The house became the home of his son by his first marriage, Duncan Campbell (1716–1784). Duncan’s half brother (by Red Patrick’s 2nd wife) was Colin Campbell of Glenure, the Red Fox in RL Stevenson’s Kidnapped
Kidnapped (novel)
Kidnapped is a historical fiction adventure novel by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. Written as a "boys' novel" and first published in the magazine Young Folks from May to July 1886, the novel has attracted the praise and admiration of writers as diverse as Henry James, Jorge Luis...
, who was assassinated in the woods at Lettermore near Duror on the 14th May 1752. The question as to ‘who shot the Red Fox?’ has become known as The Appin Mystery. The body of the Red Fox rested in the Drawing Room of Barcaldine House on the way to his burial site at Ardchattan Priory
Ardchattan Priory
The Ardchattan Priory was a Valliscaulian monastic community in Ardchattan, Argyll, Scotland. It was founded in 1230 by Duncan MacDougal, Lord of Argyll. From the early 14th century, the Prior of Ardchattan held the chantership of Lismore Cathedral. In April 1510 it was incorporated as a cell of...
.
Barcaldine House was extended by the great grandson of Red Patrick, Duncan Campbell 1st Baronet (1786–1842) who received his baronetcy in 1831 for services in the army during the Napolenic wars. Campbell laid out the 20 feet (6.1 m) high walled garden which is now the nearby caravan park with huge heated glass houses with vines where he grew peaches, pineapples, nectarines and other exotic fruits. Some trees from that time survive, over 200 years old. The 30000 acres (121.4 km²) estate was sold in 1842 to clear family debts.
Decline 1842-1959
It was purchased by Donald Charles Cameron in 1842 and remained in the Cameron family until acquired by the Stewart-Rankine family in the late 19th century.In 1925 the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
began after their purchase of most of the estate grounds. By the 1950s the house lay derelict.
Revival and Hotel 1959 to date
The house lay semi-derelict until 1959 when it was purchased by Miss Kathleen Hunter, a health food supplements manufacturer. Since about 1985, Barcaldine has been a luxury hotel with eight en suite rooms, and the former servants quarters converted to self-catering cottages.Location
Barcaldine House Hotel and Cottages are just off the A828A828 road
The A828 road is a primary route along the western coast of ScotlandAt its northern end the A828 meets the A82 at South Ballachulish and it runs to a junction with the A85 at Connel; the total length being some . It passes through Highland and Argyll and Bute council areas...
in the village of Barcaldine about 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
in Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. This is near to Loch Creran
Loch Creran
Loch Creran is a sea loch in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. It is about long from its head at Invercreran to its mouth on the Lynn of Lorne, part of Loch Linnhe. The loch separates the areas of Benderloch to the south and Appin to the north. The island of Eriska lies at the mouth of the...
and Loch Etive
Loch Etive
Loch Etive is a 30 km sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It reaches the sea at Connel, 5 km north of Oban. It measures 31.6 km in length and from 1.2 km to in width...
.