Despite promising themselves they would not buy a house which needed work, the spectacular views from just outside Oban persuaded one couple to change their minds, writes Susan Welsh
In the porch of a modern house, Hassendean at Wee Ganavan, on the northern outskirts of Oban, there’s two much-loved comfortable chairs that mean a great deal to their owners.
They’re in a house belonging to Harvey and Sue Tordoff, and the porch is their favourite room.
The couple, both born in West Yorkshire, made their first trip to Scotland in 1970, to visit Skye.
That was the first of many trips, as Harvey’s work often took him north, and they felt a strong connection to Scotland.
Over the years, they returned many times to the mainland and islands and decided to look for a property here when Harvey retired in 2006.
“We knew we wanted a house with water in the view, and we didn’t want a project,” said Harvey
“We have done three major renovations, and didn’t want another.
“We also knew that having a list of criteria doesn’t work with house-hunting; it’s much more intangible, like falling in love.
“Our focus was the west coast, with its wonderful headlands and islands, and the search went on for three years.
“We were returning to West Sussex from Skye after yet another fruitless house-hunting trip and coming over the bridge at Ballachulish when Sue said, on impulse, ‘Let’s take the coast road down to Oban.’
“We looked in the estate agent’s windows as soon as we arrived (before looking for somewhere to stay for the night) and saw a house at Wee Ganavan.
“The price was more than we wanted to pay, but Sue had stayed at Ganavan Sands many years ago and had fond memories of the area.
“We arranged a viewing for the next day.
“The house had been somewhat neglected for many years but we didn’t care.
“We didn’t look at what needed doing. In every room we just went straight to the window and looked out.
“We couldn’t believe it – a small beach right in front of the house, a small island in the bay.
“Beyond that, Kerrera to the left, Lismore to the right, Mull straight ahead, the Sound of Mull fading into the distance, the hills of Morvern beyond Lismore.
“We had to have it.”
It’s easy to see why they lost their hearts to this home in Wee Ganavan, which is a about a mile and a half from the centre of Oban, just beyond Dunollie Castle, the ancestral home of Clan McDougall.
From the garden, there’s direct access to the wonderful woodland walks of Dunollie Estate, while around a headland is Ganavan Sands, long a favourite bathing and picnic spot for local people.
But Wee Ganavan has its own sandy beach, right below the dozen or so houses which face west over the water towards the Isle of Mull.
The view from the three-bedroomed, detached house is spectacular.
In the immediate foreground is the small Maiden Island, with Kerrera to the left, Lismore to the right, and beyond them Mull and its craggy mountain tops.
The Calmac ferries to Mull and beyond ply the waters in front of Wee Ganavan, passing between Kerrera and Maiden Island, and can be seen passing in or out of view between Lismore and Duart Point on Mull.
The waters are frequented by yachtsmen too.
It is a vista that is ever-changing, depending on the time of day and the weather.
Hassendean was designed to make the most of its setting, and the modifications by the present owners have made even more of it.
Buying the house was the easy part for Harvey and Sue.
“Dealing with the project that we hadn’t wanted was more of a challenge, but gradually we got rid of partitions, improved insulation, replaced windows and doors, installed a new kitchen, bathroom and heating system and created a light and airy home in which we could be comfortable,” said Harvey.
In addition to large west-facing windows there are corner windows on the south-west elevation, expanding the view from both the sitting room and the main bedroom above.
All three bedrooms have sea views, with the bathroom at the back of the house.
Originally, the sitting room and the dining area were separate rooms; now it is one generous, light-filled space, with timber flooring throughout.
The original front porch has been turned into a sun room with bi-fold glass doors from the dining area, and the entrance is now at the rear of the house, where there is a large parking area – no need for cars to clutter up the space at the front, spoiling the view.
In the last four years, the couple have installed a new central-heating system, replaced some of the windows, weatherproofed the external rendering and refitted the kitchen and bathroom.
“Our favourite room is the porch, which we insulated and opened up to the dining area,” said Sue.
“It has a small table for two, and we can sit there over lunch and watch the CalMac ferries heading off to islands that we know so well.
“The ferry boats all have different shapes and we have learned to recognise them from a distance.
“Oban claims to be the Gateway to the Isles and we love being able to see through that open gate.”
Outside, there is a front garden laid mainly to lawn with established planting and a slope down to Ganavan Road and the beach.
A tarred drive with white painted gate pillars leads past the side of the house up to the parking area at the rear.
While this couple used Hassendean as a holiday home for years, it would make a lovely practical and comfortable, permanent home.
The amazing view is beyond price, but the guide price for the house is offers over £395,000.
“This whole area is steeped in history, with ancient standing stones, ruined castles and sites of battles and massacres,” said Harvey.
“It is a truly wonderful location and yet we have decided to sell, the main reason being a change in circumstances involving family and health.
“We no longer feel able to spend months at a time in Oban, far less move here permanently.
“The journey is becoming increasingly difficult – 12 hours door-to-door on a good day.
“Looking ahead, we can see a time when we will simply be unable to come several times a year, and the house deserves to be enjoyed more than that.
“We will miss the glorious sunsets over Mull, but we count ourselves lucky that we have had it for five years. Now it’s someone else’s turn.”
Contact: Savills on 0141 222 5875.