A LIGHTHOUSE cottage designed by the father of Robert Louis Stevenson and in a magnificent, remote location is on sale for offers over £225,000.
The property on Mull might appeal to stressed-out city dwellers desperate to escape the rat race – or perhaps those wanting to recreate the famous Chewin’ the Fat’s “gonnae no dae that” sketch.
Rubha nan Gall is not connected by road and can only be accessed by a mile-long walk along a footpath from Tobermory or boat.
The property – which does not included the lighthouse in the sale – was built in 1857 by Thomas Stevenson and his brother David.
The Stevenson brothers built a series of lighthouses around Scotland, and the family business would provide inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s works including Treasure Island.
Originally designed as two semi-detached houses, the property is now a single, spacious dwelling, but otherwise remains almost exactly as it would have appeared when it was first occupied, with no mains electricity, water or sewer connections.
Water comes from a private spring and heat from solid fuel or paraffin stoves.
In winter months the path, known as the “Old Road” can become inaccessible, so the only way of reaching the outside world is by a boat from the jetty.
The cottage has not been used by lighthouse keepers for several decades and has been in private ownership, but its current owners are looking to sell it.
The property includes a 32-hectare area of land with an “extremely productive vegetable patch” in the garden.
The cottage enjoys uninterrupted, spectacular views across the Sound of Mull and the Ardnamurchan Peninsula.
Gregor King of Bell Ingram’s Oban office said: “The cottage inevitably makes you think of the long suffering lighthouse keepers in the BBC’s Chewin’ the Fat.
“But this is definitely a unique property that people are gonnae need to dae.
“It offers superb potential for buyer who is really looking for the ultimate get-away-from-it-all property, or the buyer who is looking for a property in a stunning setting that can be developed into a luxury home.
“The house in its current state offers a real back-to-basics living experience – and while this may be appealing to some buyers, and even provide plenty of comedy value, there is potential for the property to be extensively modernised.”
The Lighthouse Keepers sketch in the BBc show Chewin’ the Fat, which began in 1999 features Duncan and Malcom on the fictional Aonoch Mor lighthouse in 1901.
To relieve the boredom of the monotonous job, one keeper plays increasingly bizarre pranks on each other – followed by the catchphrase “gonna no dae that?”
The sketches ended with the explosion of the lighthouse.
