Rowardennan Youth Hostel (Formerly Rowardennan Lodge), Rowardennan

Rowardennan Youth Hostel, formerly Rowardennan Lodge, is a complex plan single storey and attic building constructed in three phases, situated in a large clearing on the banks of Loch Lomond. Built in the mid-19th century as a shooting lodge, it was extended to the rear between 1860 and 1863, a large set-back east wing was added in the later 19th century, and in the 20th century a set-back single storey wing was added to the west. The building retains a distinct architectural character and is a strong example of a 19th century sporting lodge with interest deriving from its three phases of development.

The first phase of construction was the projecting central wing of the current building, which was originally L-plan with probably an additional rear north wing. The two-bay front elevation features a projecting gable to the right with two square bays with broad bracketed eaves and fishscale slate roofs. A similar bay exists on the west return gable. Both gable bays have jettied eaves above purlin height, supported by spun barley-sugar posts which rest on the roofs of the bays below. The left bay of the south elevation has a round-headed gabled dormer with similar barley-sugar posts. The east return gable has a window, originally the entrance door, to the ground floor and a round-arched double window to the first floor.

The extensions of 1860 to 1863 appear to have involved either complete rebuilding of the original rear wing or its extension by the addition of east and west gables, with the east gable containing the current entrance door, or further single storey service accommodation to the north. The later 19th century additions were mainly concerned with forming an L-plan east wing; its set-back position and scale compared with the earlier wing indicate it likely provided less prestigious or service accommodation. Nevertheless, this wing was not intended to be entirely subservient; the two-stage drum tower, corbelled from an octagonal base, was clearly intended to make a statement of quality. This phase of extension respects the character of the original section with gabled bays and pitched dormers. To the west elevation, a further gabled bay was added to the north end, repeating the mid-19th century feature of a ground floor bay, this time canted, with jettied eaves and barley-sugar posts above.

The gables of all three phases feature particularly deep bracketed eaves and distinctive bargeboards with pierced trefoils to the most prominent gables and ornate scalloped edges to most of the others. The windows throughout are timber with thick moulded timber mullions and small opening top casements, of consistent design across the three phases; their design suggests that all windows were replaced during the final 19th century building phase, as sash and case windows would have been usual in the earlier 19th century.

The interior has undergone much alteration in the 20th century, though some ornate and moulded plasterwork remains on both floors. The two principal rooms and entrance corridor of the original lodge have been knocked through to create one large room, but their cornicing indicates the original layout. The building features a timber dog-leg stair with turned balusters and carved newels and pendants, and a rear stair with cast-iron balusters.

The first phase is constructed of random light grey rubble whin with cream sandstone margins. The second phase uses snecked squared dark grey whin with red sandstone raised margins. The third phase is random dark grey whin rubble with tooled red sandstone margins and quoins, and whin relieving arches above openings. The pitched roofs are of graded slate. Most rainwater goods are cast-iron.