LOCHSIDE SECRETS
A hidden idyll on banks of Loch Lomond.
KEVIN and Vanessa Mackenzie first spied picturesque Little Eden on a walking break.
Little did they know that the captivating period cottage nestled on the banks of beautiful Loch Lomond would one day become their holiday home.
Vanessa says: “The cottage is a two storey detached ‘but & ben’ built in the early 1800s for milling grain and sits in a rural lochside location on the more remote east side of Loch Lomond.
“We saw it while walking the West Highland Way a few years previously.
“We thought that it looked amazing.
“Kevin inherited some money in 2016 and when the cottage became available for purchase, it seemed like a dream come true.
“The first thing that struck us was the peace and quiet and the babbling of the Ross burn and the lapping of the loch.
“We love the three ponds in the rear garden and its wildlife.
“It is a hidden oasis tucked away from the bustle of modern life and yet still very accessible if need be.”
Vanessa adds: “The cottage had last been refurbished in the 1980s and so whilst it was charming, it needed some freshening up. We refurbished it throughout, installing new electrics, as well as underfloor heating on the ground floor to assist the existing log-burner.
“We added a new hot water heating system, a new bathroom, and new kitchen units.”
The Mackenzies – who describe their interior design as “subtly Scottish” – admit their choice of kitchen supplier was restricted. Not everyone could deliver to what is a relatively remote location.
They explain: “We therefore chose a kitchen from a high street supplier but added pallet cladding as a splashback and end pieces to try and make it look more unique.
“And we particularly like the splashback in the bathroom.
“The six tiles were found in a bathroom showroom in
Bournemouth and were being discontinued.”
The couple, whose dream cottage is available for holiday lets, then turned their attention to furnishings and making it the most comfortable of country retreats.
“We furnished it with comfy sofas, chairs and beds.
“We added a phone landline for the first time in 20 years, as well as satellite TV and a Sonos sound system for entertainment on a rainy day.”
The work started in February last year and was finished by May.
But it wasn’t without its challenges.
“The remote location created some challenges with getting material to site, as did the weather.
“The team were working through the snow and driving rain of a Scottish spring.”
But it was worth the work. They are thrilled with the end result and tell iN10: “We are delighted with the cottage and have received so many delightful compliments from guests who have enjoyed their stay so much that they are reluctant to leave.
“Our favourite feature is the large comfy window seat in the living room which affords uninterrupted views of the garden and the surrounding oak woodland.”
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