Kilberry Castle Kilberry, Tarbert, Argyll and Bute PLAY VIDEO Kilberry Castle Kilberry, Tarbert, Argyll and Bute, PA29 6YD Historic 15th century castle in the Scots baronial style in need of refurbishment with cottage and walled garden situated in South Knapdale with fabulous coastal views. Tarbert 15 miles, Lochgilphead 20 miles, Glasgow Airport 99 miles (All distances are approximate) An historic 15th century tower house with 5 principal reception rooms, 10 principal bedrooms, 4 secondary bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and basement with ancillary accommodation. Laundry Cottage with 3 bedrooms used as a holiday cottage Plot with planning consent within the woodland polices to construct a 4-bedroom house Mature policies including a large walled garden | Attractive burn| Mature woodland Mausoleum and chapel remains Fabulous coastal views to Islay, Jura, Gigha and the Mull of Kintyre Wonderful secluded sandy beach within walking distance For sale as a whole About 21.08 Acres Oban Edinburgh Gibraltar Street, Oban, Argyll 80 Queen Street, Edinburgh PA34 4AY EH2 4NF Tel: 01631 705 480 Tel: 0131 222 9600 [email protected] [email protected] theestatesofficeargyll.com knightfrank.co.uk Situation Kilberry Castle is situated in a private position on the west coast of South Knapdale which adjoins the Kintyre Peninsula between Lochgilphead and Tarbert. On driving to Kilberry around the Knapdale Peninsula you are treated to stunning coastal views towards Islay, Jura, Gigha and the Mull of Kintyre. The village of Kilberry is a small hamlet which boasts a renowned restaurant at the Kilberry Inn. The picturesque fishing village of Tarbert is only 15 miles away and has a range of amenities including shops, cafes, restaurants, hotels, a supermarket, as well as nursery, primary and secondary schooling. Tarbert also hosts an annual seafood festival, music festival and sailing regatta. More extensive services can be found in Lochgilphead (20 miles away) including a community hospital, larger supermarket, swimming pool and home of the Argyll & Bute Council. Regular ferries run from Kennacraig (5 miles South of Tarbert) to the Isles of Islay, Jura and Colonsay. A ferry also runs from Tarbert to Portavadie on the Cowal peninsula which offers an alternative route to Glasgow via Dunoon. The surrounding countryside around Kilberry Castle is a fantastic base for exploring the west coast of Scotland with a great variety of outdoor activities available. This includes some secluded sandy beaches just south of Kilberry at Loch Stornoway and to the north at Loch Caolisport. The B8024 road to Kilberry forms part of the SUSTRAN cycle network with a challenging but rewarding route (SUSTRAN RN 78). Fishing, mountain biking, sailing and diving are all available nearby. There is a marina at Tarbert. For the golfer there are courses at Tarbert, and Lochgilphead as well as two renowned major courses at Machrihanish (54 miles away). Campbeltown, the principal town for Kintyre is home to three whisky distilleries and has an airport with daily flights to Glasgow. It also has a fast ferry (RIB) service to Ballycastle in Northern Island during the Spring and Summer. Historical Note Christianity reached the area around the time of St Columba Knapdale came under the ownership of the MacDonalds/ (521-597 AD), when Knapdale was part of the kingdom of The Lords of the Isles. Dalriada with its capital at Dunadd near Crinan. The MacMurachies are believed to have held the castle The name Kilberry means ‘cella (cell or chapel) of Berach’. under the Lords of the Isles to 1493 and then under the Earls St Berach reputedly never visited Kilberry but was named of Argylls up until the Campbells of Kilberry were installed. after him in honour by a pupil. Most place names containing In 1493 the Lords of the Isles forfeited his Knapdale lands the element ‘Kil’ were formed by the 9th century, and there to the crown, and James IV ordered the Earl of Argyll, his was almost certainly a church at Kilberry by then, probably chancellor, to install reliable tenants – junior family members where the ruins of the medieval church lie buried between of the Campbell clan. The Campbells of Kilberry took up the the castle and the Campbell mausoleum. ‘middle management’ of its lands in about 1550 and it has been in the family ever since. Local tradition claims a monastery also – perhaps a small Celtic community. There is no hard evidence for a medieval Captain Proby, an English pirate, attacked and burnt the monastery, despite tales of a ‘stone room where the monks castle in 1513. This event is recorded above the front door ate’ and rumours of treasure buried on the hill to escape During the civil war 1643-45 the castle was besieged by a raiders. royalist contingent from the islands. The incumbent Colin Perhaps the castle began as a defensive work to guard Campbell fought under Argyll and the parliament. His wife the church and its people from the Viking raids that swept was a Macdonald of Largie and her brother fought under the coasts from 800 AD. From 1314 onwards the lands of Montrose for the King. The Campbell mausoleum was built by Dugald Campbell of The last total renovation was undertaken in 1873 by John Kilberry, a Privateer, in 1733. Campbell 10th Kilberry using his wife’s dowry. The heyday of the estate lasted until his death in 1908. He kept a daily diary Through surviving family letter there are all sorts of of life on a West Highland estate. tantalising glimpses of mysteries. He started off with a privateer’s commission and reputedly somehow got into A poignant piece of family history remains on the top floor a fortune and lived in Florence as a captain – thanks no of the castle. In 1885 a young Archie Campbell contracted doubt to that old naval toast ‘a long war and a sickly season’ scarlet fever and was confined to his room for several ensuring promotion. months. To keep him entertained he and his nurse papered the walls with pages from the London Illustrated News, Captain Dugald Campbell later had command of the mostly political cartoons. One wall remains virtually intact ‘Walpole’ in the Mediterranean and had been captured today. His unfortunate sister did not survive the outbreak and held in a Turkish prison from which he escaped with and is buried in the mausoleum. After retiring as an Indian the aid of a beautiful Turkish lady he wanted to bring home High Court judge, he became one of the giants of 20th and marry – but while he was in prison the British consul in century piping and his famous Kilberry book of Ceol Mor, Genoa, a Mr Crowe, embezzled all his prize money so he although the subject of some controversy when it was first couldn’t rescue his ‘fair Turk’. Consul Crowe is real and this published, it has since gone on to be the biggest selling wasn’t the only prize money he had liberated into the 18th Piobraireachd book of all times. century equivalent of a numbered account in Switzerland. The original 16th century Kilberry estate stretched from His career at sea was closely aligned with his cousin 'Great Loch Stornoway in the south, all the way north to Achahoish Daniel of Shawfield and Islay' who became one of the richest and included the present Ormsary estate. It consisted of and most influential Scots of the 18th century. 20-30,000 acres. Over the years family sub-divisions and The castle burnt down in 1773 during the time of Colin sales reduced the estate to approximately 10,000 acres Campbell of Kilberry. He was controversially involved in in the middle of the 19th century. Finally, in the 1950’s a duel/murder on the island of Martinique with ensign Marion Campbell sold off the remaining 5 farms and all that McHarg. He fought in the battle of Culloden with the Argyll remained was the castle and its immediate policies. militia. He was lampooned in later life in Kays book of Marion Campbell, the well-known and respected Argyllshire Edinburgh worthies. He assumed the title of Lord Berners of author and archaeologist, lived at Kilberry Castle all her life. which he had some justification. She was a landowner, farmer, politician, district councillor The castle then lay semi-derelict until 1843 when John and historian. She helped to set up the local antiquarian Campbell 9th of Kilberry restored the ruins and added the society and she was a leading figure in the formation of tower and northern extension. Lord Cockburn describes the Kilmartin museum and the Auchendrain township. The in his circuit journeys visiting Kilberry and expressed present owner inherited Kilberry castle from her. astonishment that John Campbell the Laird chose to rebuild The Kilberry stones, now in the care of Historic Scotland, the ruined castle. ‘Because it was the family place’ was his are a collection of early Christian and medieval gravestones, explanation. The other reason involved running short of discovered within the grounds of the castle. They are now funds and owning two estates and being unable to break housed in a shelter at the top of the drive. Some in the past the entail on the Kilberry estate. He was obliged to sell the had been put to practical use as bridge supports. nearby Minard estate instead and decamp to Kilberry. History of Kilberry sculptured The collection comprises 26 sculptured stones. The stones throughout, the four storey tower house requires a complete cover a range of styles and eras - from early Christian to refurbishment. With lots of potential to restore the property stones late-medieval grave-slabs. The centre piece is the Kilberry to its former glory, the castle comprises of 5 principal Kilberry's sculptured stones collection is thought to have Cross.