Exceptional estate with spectacular coastal setting

Glenstriven is an exceptional quality residential, sporting and waterside estate, extending in total to about 1,041 acres.

Located in Argyll and presented to the market by Strutt and Parker, it was purchased by the current owners in the early 1980s and during the past 30 years has been developed and improved in many ways.

Glenstriven House was comprehensively refurbished and modernised and has been maintained and run to a high standard. Each of the additional houses has also been modernised to provide very comfortable accommodation – for letting as holiday accommodation and for employees. Each of the properties has stunning views over Loch Striven, a sea loch providing wonderful access to world-class yachting.

For the owners’ families, Glenstriven has been a most wonderful project over more than 30 years. A second home in the true sense of the word and the most wonderful environment in which to enjoy family holidays and to entertain friends.

Glenstriven House was built in 1860 and is accessed by an unusual and attractive cobbled drive flanked by an avenue of lime trees and specimen conifers. Whilst the principal façade faces west towards Loch Striven, the drive leads to a gravel sweep adjoining the northern elevation as a result of which, the north door to the house is the most actively used. It should be noted that the public road terminates at the entrance to the estate.

Occupying an elevated position with westerly views over Loch Striven, the house is of stone construction which is painted beneath pitched slate roofs.

The northern façade of the house features a portico with decorative game-bird themed niches. Other features include dressed stone quoins and a circular cupola above the stairwell.

The internal accommodation is very well suited to the purposes of entertaining house parties of guests with spacious and well-proportioned reception rooms, eight bedrooms (including four bedroom suites) and extensive utilitarian and storage space including a purpose-built wine cellar with capacity for around 500 bottles.

Features of the interior include a sweeping central staircase with decorative cast-iron spindles and wooden balustrade, decorative cornices, panelled doors with brass door furniture and sash and casement windows throughout.

The services include private water supply, oil-fired central heating and propane gas cooker. The electrical, plumbing systems and heating systems were comprehensively renewed following the vendors’ purchase of the estate in the 1980s and have been well maintained and repaired as required since.

Glenstriven House is surrounded by several acres of kept lawns, parkland and wooded policies, beds of herbaceous shrubs, a wide variety of hybrid rhododendrons and has strategically placed seating benches to take full advantage of the stunning views across Loch Striven.

Situated within the grounds is one of the more quirky attractions of the estate. Known as The Glenstriven Arms, this is the conversion of a former generator building as a small, discreet, private bar used by guests from the main house. It comprises a single room with working bar, bench and stool seating and it exudes charm and character.

Lying close to the north of Glenstriven on the other side of the gravel parking area is the former stable block, part of which has been converted to provide auxiliary living accommodation to complement Glenstriven House. This includes two bedroom suites, which, in combination with the main house, provide accommodation for a house party of 20 people in total.

Also within this range of buildings is a timber-panelled shoot room, fur and feather game larders (including a chiller) and the former estate office.

Lying close by is a traditional stone barn with a slate roof, which is used for general storage and opposite the Stable Block is an implement shed (6.1m x 11.6m) of timber frame construction.

Lying a discreet distance from the main house and its immediate outbuildings is a general-purpose shed (16.0m x 18.3m) of steel portal frame construction with concrete block and timber-clad walls beneath a profile metal sheeting roof. With a concrete floor and extensive apron on the south side to allow for it to be extended if required, this building is used for storage of machinery and equipment associated with the shoot.

Within the estate are several houses and cottages, including Glenstriven Lodge, Flagstaff Cottage, Pier Cottage and the Old Smokehouse, and Invervegain Farmhouse and buildings.

One of the particular features and attractions of Glenstriven is its private pier. Constructed from North American greenheart timbers, the pier is about 30 metres in length with a deck width of 3 metres. It is designed to work in low or high tide and enables boats with a draft of up to 6 metres (20 feet) to dock.

The pier enables easy access to spectacular yachting and boating throughout the Firth of Clyde, together with mixed water sports and sea fishing in Loch Striven.

Whilst there is no longer any farming activity at Glenstriven, there was a hill sheep farm on the estate for many years prior to the current owners? purchase in the 1980s. Within the policies of the estate, there are several enclosures of former in-bye pasture and rough grazing extending in total to about 59 acres.

The woodland is a mix of native broadleaves and conifers, scattered along the shoreline, up gullies and at the sides of burns.
Amongst the improvements effected by the current owners is the establishment of an exceptional pheasant and partridge shoot, which has earned the reputation as one of the best shoots in Scotland. Much of the credit for this lies with the former Head Keeper who built up the shoot over 30 years.

His determination, creativity, attention to detail and hard work have attracted shooting parties from around the world to return year after year to shoot the most challenging of birds. His son has now taken on the role of Head Keeper and has continued to ensure that Glenstriven provides sport of the highest quality.

The shoot was highly commended in the Purdey Awards in 2001 for Wild Game Conservation in recognition of the quality of habitat, conservation and game management employed on the estate.

In addition to the pheasant shoot, the terrain at Glenstriven provides the opportunity for red and roe deer stalking on the open hill and woodland edge. Due to the mild climate of the west coast and shelter from the forestry, the red deer thrive and tend to grow to a larger than average size with culled stags of up to and over 20 stones being relatively common.

One of the particular features of the estate is its network of vehicular access tracks. Established in conjunction with the development of the pheasant shoot, these tracks also provide excellent opportunities for walking, riding and biking.

Whilst the owners have retained a number of days for their own enjoyment, there is a well-established letting programme with a number of loyal shooting tenants from around the UK and further afield who recognise the unique shooting experience that Glenstriven has to offer.

In addition to pheasants, there are wonderful wild fowling opportunities, good numbers of woodcock in November/December and the occasional grouse on the hill (although the current owners have elected to preserve rather than shoot them).

The agents will consider offers over £2,785,000.

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