Mill House
The Mill House was described by its first guests as “the wow factory.” Fifteen years later, we have dozens of repeat customers and still get every single new party saying “the website doesn’t do it justice, it is way nicer than we expected”. It’s not about the nine small bedrooms sleeping up to 22 guests – though we get compliments on the comfortable beds and gorgeous linen.
It is all about the stunning open plan reception and living space of nearly 80 square meters, with contemporary kitchen, double height dining area, and generous lounging space with three huge sofas, a 70 inch smart TV, and an open fire. Although we managed to get 120 guests sat in the space for our own wedding in September 2023, the magic of the Mill House is that the space never feels cavernous even for a group of less than a dozen.
That gorgeous central space is complemented by the two further reception rooms, each of which give onto the private gardens running down to the river, through glass French doors. There is a kids playroom behind the main sitting room area, with two sofas (one a sofabed) and full Sky TV. At a mezzanine level up the stairs and behind the kitchen area, there is another wee seating area with space for five adults and doors out to the suntrap patio with bbq, lovely original bench seating, and seven person hot tub. Spectacular woodland and forest views from the hot tub and garden.
The Mill House at Ormidale took us two and a half years and half a million pounds to restore. We market ourselves as for 14 adults and up to 10 additional children - and with rooms on four levels, it will accommodate a large group in real style and some luxury.
The dining and lounge areas feature the original exposed stone wall, and light floods through a large glass archway incorporating the house entrance from the courtyard. It’s a stunning room, and the natural communal gathering place for any party. The two matching dining tables can be placed end to end to enable you to sit down and eat in one place as a party of 22 or even 24.
The contemporary staircase in the centre of the arch gives a natural focus and pulpit like performance space for speeches! All the reception areas on ground and mezzanine levels are tiled in a natural riven slate which goes beautifully with the old stone walls and new white plaster walls, with underfloor heating throughout the house provided by environmentally sustainable ground / air source heat pumps.
The stone fireplace (not photographed because a new addition) features the saw bench from the original mill, as the mantelpiece. The Mill House reception space is big enough to seat 75 people for a wedding breakfast style function, so it is a generous sociable area for any party renting it for a house party or holiday.
With a tennis court and football pitch, with access to a scruffy but characterful Games Cottage with table tennis table, pool table and dart boards, a sunken trampoline, a dozen bikes and acres of woodland, there is loads to keep adults, teenagers and kids of all ages active on the estate itself. Sitting just a mile from the top of Loch Riddon in the beautiful Kyles of Bute, we are surrounded by beautiful scenery in great country for walking, riding, cycling, swimming, sailing, fishing, stalking or golfing.
Ormidale House is rated at the top of VisitScotland’s 4 star band for excellence. The Mill House and Old Barn were described by a VisitScotland assessor as “a solid 5 star downstairs and probably just 2.5 stars upstairs” due to the small size of the bedrooms, and we agree with those assessments - but we always stress that these houses are not part of the award scheme and do not have a star rating. Both the Mill House and the Old Barn at Ormidale have been given special awards by Tripadviser and Olivers Travels for the consistency of the 5 / 5 reviews awarded by their customers.
|
