Highlander House's origin dates back to 1851 when the 3rd Marquess of Bute granted property rights to waterfront properties in Rothesay, Isle of Bute.
Ensuing decades, saw the old Victorian house change hands between iron-mongers, doctors...and, eventually, hoteliers.
Around 1901 it, together with our neighbouring property, became the Windsor Hotel. Evidence still exists of where water basins and bed chamber pots were located, as well as the wrought iron balcony spanning both properties.
As told by Rothesay treasures, the Gillespie brothers, during the second world war, the house was used to billet Polish army officers. (During the war, Rothesay was a major submarine training location for Allied forces, and this incredible history is brilliantly illustrated at Rothesay's Discovery Centre, next to the ferry terminal.)
Gas lighting came and went. Victorian dress came and went. Steam paddlers bringing thousands of Glaswegian holidaymakers "doon the watter" came and went.
With a name change in between, 2018 beckoned an inspired name-change for the grand old house to...
Highlander House
...a loud, proud, and unequivocal embrace of Scotland, a country of unimaginable beauty, incredible history, magnificent sights and characterful people.
The name may have changed down the years but these walls are the same ones that lovingly enveloped guests since 1851.
We hope that you'll inscribe your name into Highlander House's guest book, sharing your experiences and memories of this grand old house to be remembered and cherished for decades to come.
After-all, in these gracious old homes, we're all just time passengers.
Fast forward 1851 to 2021...
Hi.
We’re Gus and Sherry, your welcoming hosts at Highlander House.
Both of our ancestries trace back to Argyll, Scotland, where Sherry’s McAlpine clan name rose to prominence as first King of Scotland under Kenneth MacAlpin , and Gus’s Campbell family name carved its own heritage culminating in the Duke of Argyll, current clan chief and seat occupant of Inveraray Castle.
Like you, our ancestors meandered, wandered, sought greener pastures, yet, inexplicably, both of us have ended up back in the traditional McAlpine and Campbell land of Argyll.
It was never any type of vision or calling…or, maybe it was?
We were both born in southern Africa, for which our love is immense. Embracing our wanderlust, we moved to Australia, lived there for a while. Then we moved to Vancouver Island, the “Bahamas” of west coast Canada, and lived there for 7 years. Then we moved to the Dordogne in France, and lived there for another 7 years.
Yet, inexplicably, we eventually found ourselves in Scotland… more precisely… Argyll, Scotland… the very seat of both our ancestral homes.
Everyone has a story to tell and we look forward to welcoming you and yours.