ARGYLL & THE ISLES

Argyll and the isles is a land of dramatic coastlines, steep hills and long sea lochs dotted with frequently picturesque villages.  

From a property point of view, the focal points of activity are around Helensburgh, particularly for those who work in and around Glasgow, and Oban for those who are not attached to the big city.  The rural areas in between are hugely popular for owners of a second home. Helensburgh is a prosperous town on the Gare Loch with numerous large Victorian houses, many of which have since been sub-divided.  There are good rail links into Glasgow and many residents commute to the city for work.  The proximity to the sea means that the recreational facilities are broader than you might expect from an inland town of this size and include a yacht club.  

Helensburgh was a popular holiday location in the late Victorian era and, as well as the town itself, there is a substantial hinterland of properties, many of them from that period. This is also true of Dunoon further west down the coast which was once a favoured destination of day trippers going ëdoon the watterí.  Today, Dunoon is undergoing a renaissance with steep rises in property prices.  The town has two ferry services to the south shore of the firth of Clyde which connect with train services in to Glasgow.

Oban, by contrast, is a thriving tourist centre and the main ferry terminal to the islands of the Inner Hebrides.   Many of the larger properties here are now used as guesthouses or B&Bs. Elsewhere, Argyll and the isles is largely rural with small towns or villages at key points.  The main issue here for the house buyer is to find a property for sale.  Building density is low (as you would expect from a rural area) and demand is high, both from local residents and buyers looking for a second home.