Take the plunge
Croft plots come with scenic lochside setting, writes Jenny Shields
HOW many of us have driven though the Loch Lomond and The Tros sachs National Park and idly thought about living amid its splendours? It’s the sort of place that invites daydreams and wild flights of fancy involving a private beach and a bespoke property.
Peace, solitude and beauty all have a high price tag these days – and there’s no guarantee you can find somewhere combining all three.
Just on the market is something that offers a real lifestyle choice. At Cormonachan on the shores of Loch Goil – right at the heart of Scotland’s first National Park – are two crofts, each with a quarter of a mile of private loch frontage.
Incredibly, given the strict planning laws that govern what can and cannot be built within its boundaries, the park authority has given full planning permission for two, four-bedroomed croft houses to be constructed on the two parcels of land.
Only the ruins of an old croft house remain but the planners have agreed that two new properties may be erected. In keeping with the vernacular style, they will be one-and-a-half- storey homes, clad in traditional white render and with natural slate roofs.
In order to minimise their carbon footprint, each will be ecofriendly, with high levels of insulation, double glazing, ground source heat pumps and wood burning stoves. The crofts, Imir Buidhe, which is a 21 acre plot, and Gob a Chaimain, which is a 23 acre plot, will be registered with the Crofting Commission and must be held as crofts, not used as holiday homes, although the planners have made a concession and allowed for bed and breakfast business.
Before any building work commences, a full archaeological field survey must be carried out. To satisfy croft legislation, the new owner will have to undertake to keep at least two animals per croft – family pets do not qualify.
This could be the opportunity not just to build a one-off ‘statement house’ and commute to the city, but to embrace the whole ethos of the croft and try, if not to live completely off the land, at least to do more with it.
The crofts are on the market for offers over £500,000 each. More details from KA & R Holdings.