Wednesday 3 March 2010

Tower, Ruin and Folly

Despite the peace and beauty of this place, most residents on West Ardnamurchan find that they occasionally make the two-hour journey to Fort William. Some visit ‘the Fort’ regularly, make a day of it, have a meal, do some shopping; some, like crofters and other business people, are obliged to do it as part of their business; and some, like us, go in when we have to and get back as soon as we can.

On our way in today we passed Greenwood, where Lois and Richard Livett run a small business which is typical of what can be achieved in this remote place. Richard originally came here when he was sixteen to work in forestry, and Lois ran Glenborrodale Castle which, in the late Seventies, was an hotel in the Trust House Forte chain. By the mid-Eighties they had bought and renovated two cottages at Glenmore, which they have since sold, before moving to their present home half way between Kilchoan and Salen.

It’s a magnificent, south-facing site in a clearing in extensive oak woodland, on land sloping down to Loch Sunart. Their first project must be unique to the area: The Tower. This was followed by the renovation of The Ruin, a stone croft house that hadn’t been inhabited in a century, along with its adjacent byre.

All the building and renovations are done by Richard, who can only be described as a master craftsman. His joinery, in particular, is of a quality that most builders never dream of approaching, and this attention to detail is continued in all aspects of the houses. And Lois' experience in hotel management shows in the presentation of the accommodation and the cheerful welcome visitors receive.

Richard is now working on something even more ambitious, The Folly. As with all Richard’s projects, it’s taking time, but the result will be well worth the wait.

Their website is here.

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