Torosay Castle
For centuries all the land in this part of the Isle of Mull belonged to the Maclean's of Duart. Unfortunately, they lost their estates during the first Jacobite uprising in 1689, and the land was given to the Dukes of Argyll. Torosay and Duart were sold to Colonel Campbell of Possil Park in Glasgow in the 1820s. The Colonel immediately started work on gardens and on a Georgian house that in 1829 stood on the site now occupied by Torosay Castle.
John Campbell, the Colonol's son, inherited the house and demolished his father's Georgian mansion, commissioning Edinburgh architect David Bryce to build something grander. Originally named Duart House, the name was changed following the restoration Duart Castle. Unfortunately John Campbell was forced to sell Torosay after only 10 years, when his business interests were damaged by the American Civil War, to Arbuthnot Charles Guthrie. The Guthrie family have remained there ever since.
Sitting in 12 acres of ornamental gardens, including a Japanese Garden, terracing and a statue walk, it is still a family home.
There are some fascinating accounts of the life of the late head of the family, David Guthrie Jones. He was captured on his motor gunboat during World War Two, then escaped from Colditz. After the War, he sailed around the world on his yacht, and took part in a polar exploration. He was an MP, and visitors can leaf through the big red book from his appearance on the TV show "This is Your Life".
One room houses a huge table covered with scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings cataloguing decades of local events. Signs around the house encourage you to sit on the furniture and stay a while if the weather is inclement outside.
The grounds include a series of magnificent Italian statues, sculpted fountains, water garden, Japanese garden, rockery, stone lions, a domed folly and elaborate square towers on the edge of the terrace which house a very comprehensive display of the geological history of Mull, complete with photographs, timecharts and models. Well worth a visit.
Torosay Castle
For centuries all the land in this part of the Isle of Mull belonged to the Maclean's of Duart. Unfortunately, they lost their estates during the first Jacobite uprising in 1689, and the land was given to the Dukes of Argyll. Torosay and Duart were sold to Colonel Campbell of Possil Park in Glasgow in the 1820s. The Colonel immediately started work on gardens and on a Georgian house that in 1829 stood on the site now occupied by Torosay Castle.
John Campbell, the Colonol's son, inherited the house and demolished his father's Georgian mansion, commissioning Edinburgh architect David Bryce to build something grander. Originally named Duart House, the name was changed following the restoration Duart Castle. Unfortunately John Campbell was forced to sell Torosay after only 10 years, when his business interests were damaged by the American Civil War, to Arbuthnot Charles Guthrie. The Guthrie family have remained there ever since.
Sitting in 12 acres of ornamental gardens, including a Japanese Garden, terracing and a statue walk, it is still a family home.
There are some fascinating accounts of the life of the late head of the family, David Guthrie Jones. He was captured on his motor gunboat during World War Two, then escaped from Colditz. After the War, he sailed around the world on his yacht, and took part in a polar exploration. He was an MP, and visitors can leaf through the big red book from his appearance on the TV show "This is Your Life".
One room houses a huge table covered with scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings cataloguing decades of local events. Signs around the house encourage you to sit on the furniture and stay a while if the weather is inclement outside.
The grounds include a series of magnificent Italian statues, sculpted fountains, water garden, Japanese garden, rockery, stone lions, a domed folly and elaborate square towers on the edge of the terrace which house a very comprehensive display of the geological history of Mull, complete with photographs, timecharts and models. Well worth a visit.