Auchlyne

Auchlyne is a substantial classical house constructed around 1760, built as a replacement for an earlier estate house that formerly stood to the north-west. It was originally the property of the Earl of Breadalbane, one of the principal Campbell landholders in the region, and was purchased by its current owners in the 1930s after many years as a rented estate property.

The house is harled and consists of three storeys with an attic, arranged in a three-bay plan with bowed projections to the north, west and east. Additional wings form a loose courtyard arrangement, making it one of the larger houses in the parish and a distinctive landscape feature. The building displays strong architectural character typical of its date.

The principal south-facing elevation is near-symmetrical, with a centre projecting bay crowned by a pediment. The pediment's apex contains an armorial panel of Campbell of Achallader. A 20th-century piended timber porch stands at ground floor level. The ground and first floor windows of the left bay were altered, probably in the mid to late 19th century, to large bipartite windows with plate glass glazing, distinguishing them by their increased size. The attic floor is lit by a pair of piended dormers, and there are two ridge stacks. The roof is piended, with a later flat-roofed single storey addition to the left.

The north-facing rear elevation features a central bowed stair tower with an entrance to the left through a modern lean-to porch. To the left projects a two-storey and attic wing with two bays and a gable stack, which was rebuilt in 1909 following a fire. To the right extends a long single storey and attic wing, partly a former stable, which terminates in a three-bay house with gabled wallhead dormers. Set at right angles partway along, facing away from the courtyard, is a three-bay wing with a pair of cart arches. The courtyard is completed by a whitewashed rubble single storey and attic range set parallel to the house and partly sunken into the ground, accessible at upper floor level from the rear. This range has a gable stack and formerly contained the laundry, with the boiler still extant. Adjacent to it stands a higher building set at right angles, possibly a former hayloft.

The interior is traditionally finished and retains much of its original architectural character. It was likely modernised when the plate glass windows were introduced to the dining and drawing rooms. The joinery includes good-quality six-panel timber doors. The drawing room features a decorative dentilled cornice and formerly displayed trompe l'oeil painted classical wall paintings, now overpainted.

The external materials are predominantly harled, with some white-painted harling to the rear courtyard wings. Windows are mostly timber sash and case, six-panes over six-panes, some with horns. The rear right wing terminates in non-traditional replacement tilt and turn windows. The roofs are slate throughout.

Auchlyne forms part of a group listing with Auchlyne House Walled Garden, Auchlyne Chapel, and Auchlyne Farm Granary. An estate has occupied this site for a considerable time. The Campbell clan became dominant in the area from the 15th century onwards, and the Breadalbane Estate represented one of their principal land holdings, second only to Inveraray in extent.