Briar Cottage, Lochearnhead

Briar Cottage in Lochearnhead is likely from the late 18th century or early 19th century. It was renovated from a derelict state with additions made to the west end and rear by Findlay McKinnell Associates between 1997 and 2000. The building is a linear range of two single-storey thatched cottages that have been joined to form one cottage. It consists of a three-bay cruck-framed cottage on the east, a slightly taller and longer three-bay cottage in the center, and a two-bay section to the west. The 1997 extension is positioned at right angles to the rear of the larger cottage.

Each former cottage features a central door flanked by windows. The central cottage has a two-leaf timber-boarded door, while the east cottage has a half-glazed timber door. The 1997 renovation included rubble chimney stacks that replaced the original rendered stacks on the east gable end of each cottage. Although cruck-framed cottages were once common, very few remain today, making this a notable example of a cruck-framed thatched cottage, prominently located by the A85.

Inside, the east cottage has a cruck-framed roof with two central crucks, braced at the top with two cross-beams and three purlins on each side, supporting closely-laid common rafters. There is a 1997 rubble chimneypiece in the east cottage and an arched rubble chimneypiece in the central cottage, which serves as the kitchen. The east cottage's interior is open to the rafters, exposing the roof construction.

The materials used include random rubble, with some large boulders primarily at the base and quoins. The windows feature 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case style. The roof is thatched with Tay reed and has a turf ridge, while the rear addition has a corrugated metal roof. During the renovation, the harl was removed, and the stonework was pointed and left exposed.