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Escape to the Seaside - New Holiday Cottages at Harbour Green, Ballantrae
The idea of staying beside the ocean promises a blissful escape from the stresses and strains of 21st century life. The proximity of the sea is both restorative and invigorating.
Harbour Green comprises three eco-friendly cottages which have been made in 2011 partially funded by the EEC Rural Development Scheme.
The cottages occupy a unique site right on the seaside in a Conservation Area, they are adjacent to the old harbour and all three cottages have magnificent sea views.
Robert and Caroline Dalrymple farm the land around Ballantrae and have a prize winning flock of mostly Texel Cross Ewes and a suckler herd of Angus Cross Cattle producing top quality Scottish farm assured beef and lamb. For the last twenty years they have also run a successful holiday cottage business and are experienced in welcoming visitors to this beautiful and unspoilt part of the world.
The Harbour Green idea was first conceived about four years ago – the north harbour area was very overgrown and deserted and had been used as a fisherman’s dump with piles of old chain, anchors and decaying huts and boats. The Old Fisherman’s Cottage was a deserted shed – unused since salmon netting ceased in the mid 1990’s. Today the harbour is used by two or three lobster fishermen and a few small craft, there is also a slipway to launch small boats.
Caroline, who was an interior decorator before she became a farmer, has a flair for decoration and Robert an eye for good building design. So a plan was hatched to renovate the Old Fishermans Cottage and build two more cottages which would be let to holiday makers throughout the year and well absorbed into the area. Plans were drawn up, funding awarded and three cottages designed.
All the cottages give a feeling of relaxed informality – all have one spacious living room with a kitchen and dining area. All are beautifully decorated and kitted out with a light coastal touch and colours – comfortable sofas, top quality beds and White Company bed linen, soft woollen throws and beautiful Scottish coastal pictures. The kitchens are well kitted out for keen cooks, each house has a porch for outdoor kit and there are many other touches such as games and jigsaws, books, maps and shrimping nets.
Harbour Green has been built to be eco-friendly using a traditional style as required by the conservation area - whitewashed walls, cast iron gutters and natural materials involving as many local tradesmen and suppliers as possible. All three are super-insulated and designed to conserve heat in winter and be cool in summer. Each has a porch area to hang coats and outdoor kit, full utility room, huge showers in the ensuite bathrooms, underfloor heating powered by an air source heat pump and first class drying facilities. There are wood burning stoves with logs provided that come from the coppiced woods on the farm. The gardens have been planted with seaside plants that attract butterflies and insects. There is garden furniture and barbecues.
There are wonderful walks directly from the door – the Ayrshire Coastal Path – passes the property. The sandy and shingle beach is right at the doorstep and you can walk northwards along the shore for three miles. Inland there is a fabulous walk along the banks of the River Stinchar and there are many other marked walks within the area. On hot days there is good bathing. The houses are child friendly cots, high chairs and toys are available – each house has a large enclosed garden with a picket fence all round the lawns. Well behaved dogs are welcome and will have a terrific time!
