Location

From Glasgow city centre take the M8/A8 west past Port Glasgow, then take the A770 through Greenock and Gourock to the Western Ferries' terminal at McInroy's Point. Take the ferry to Hunter's Quay, Dunoon. Leave the terminal and turn right on the A815 through Sandbank. After 3½ miles turn left on to the B836. After 11 miles turn right on to the A886. After 1½ miles turn left onto the A8003 to Tighnabruaich.

On entering Tighnabruaich stay on the high road; Dunara sits on the right hand side.

Tighnabruaich, along with the adjoining village of Kames, provides a remarkably good range of facilities. These include a medical surgery/pharmacy, a bank, two post offices, fire and police stations and a filling station. There are also two grocery stores, an antique shop, a hairdresser and an art gallery. A mobile library and a mobile cinema visit regularly and there are good hotels and eating places nearby. Local clubs cater for art, horticultural and craft interests amongst others. Tighnabruaich has its own primary school. Secondary schooling (day and boarding) is available in Dunoon (25 miles) which also provides wider shopping options.

The area offers much in the way of outdoor pursuits and is well known for its natural beauty and dramatic scenery. Ever popular with the sailing fraternity, the area has also much to offer wildlife enthusiasts; cormorants, herons, guillemots, seals, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks have all been observed. Sea, river and loch fishing is available in the area. Kames has a nine hole golf course and a tennis court.

The world's last sea-going paddle steamer, the Waverley, calls regularly at Tighnabruaich on excursions. The Kyles of Bute Sailing Club is based in the village, as is the local RNLI lifeboat station.

Description

Dunara is an impressive traditional villa set in a superb elevated position. Built of stone under a slate roof, the house provides excellent family accommodation with the bonus of a self-contained, first floor apartment at the rear of the house.

The house begins with double storm doors which open into a vestibule with mosaic tiled floor which in turn leads into the main reception hallway. This has beautiful cornicing and corbels and off here are the living room, family room , kitchen, games room and dining room.

The living room has a decorative cornice, a carved wooden fireplace with a wood burning stove, and a bay window with panoramic views over the Kyles of Bute. The dining room also has detailed cornicing and corbels and equally magnificent sea views. The sitting room has a wood burning stove. The kitchen has an oil fired four oven AGA and a substantial walk-in pantry. A door leads to a back lobby with access to the rear gardens. Off the inner hall are a games room and a boiler room which also serves as a boot/cloakroom.

From the reception hallway, stairs lead to a half landing from which there is access to a self contained apartment. The apartment can also be accessed by a secondary staircase from an inner hall on the ground floor, and offers three bedrooms, a sitting room and a bathroom.

On the main upper floor there are four double bedrooms, the principal with en suite and breathtaking views through its bay window. There is also a single bedroom/study, a shower room and a family bathroom.

The grounds of Dunara extend to a sizeable plot and include a kitchen garden with soft fruit bushes and extensive lawns which at one time served as the village bowling green.

Outbuildings: There are three excellent outbuildings, one of which has three separate outhouses within a detached single storey block with slate roof. There is also a wooden chalet outbuilding and a double shed.