Ferry Building, Shore Road, Blairmore

The Ferry Building, also known as the former ticket office, is a small, rectangular building constructed around 1873 in a Swiss cottage style. It was built to serve the steamer traffic at Blairmore Pier and contributes significantly to the historic appearance of the pier complex. Its distinctive design makes it a rare survival of the style in the area.

The first pier at Blairmore was built in 1855. An earlier plan from 1857 indicates a different office with a large verandah facing the sea (east). Improvements to the pier were made in 1873, likely including the construction of the present building. The office is built of rubble stone with red sandstone dressings. It features a verandah to the south with a decorative, pierced and arched timber screen and wrought iron baluster panels, behind which is a square ticket window. A ruinous lean-to, probably a later addition used as toilets, is located to the north. Originally, small gabled canopies were present to the east and west; only the western canopy remains. The eastern elevation originally had two doors, but one was later blocked to create a window.

The building is constructed from whin and schist rubble with red sandstone dressings. Decorative timber screens and posts, wrought iron railings, and a graded grey slate roof with overhanging, bracketted eaves complete the materials.

The pier was constructed by Campbell of Monzie to encourage development along the shoreline, and regular steamer services to and from Arrochar and Lochgoilhead operated here until 1971.

The building is part of a group of buildings of group value, alongside Blairmore Pier and Hall, and Blairmore Place. Planning consent was granted in November 2004 for an extension and alteration to convert the building into a dwelling house.