For sale: The beautiful and historic Scottish country house that was the unlikely birthplace of British Special Forces

Dating from 1864 when it was built as a shooting lodge to a design by leading English architect and father of the Arts and Crafts movement, Philip Webb (his only Scottish work), Arisaig House was substantially rebuilt in the 1930s after a major fire.

In 1941 the house was requisitioned by the British Army as headquarters for the training of a new elite taskforce of agents and operatives for missions in Occupied Europe and there are bullet casements and markings in a fireplace on the lower ground floor; fascinating evidence of the room being used for short distance target shooting by the Special Operations Executive (SOE).

Arisaig House retains numerous Art Deco and Art Nouveau-influenced original features, along with decorative wood and plasterwork. The splendid principal reception rooms face south and include a dining room with original William Morris wallpaper and a drawing room with an Italian vaulted ceiling.

Other ground floor rooms include the morning room, sitting room and library along with a commercial kitchen. A broad elaborately carved oak staircase is a particular highlight. There are 12 bedroom suites, and four self contained flats within the main house, and special mention must be made of the second floor billiard room with full size billiard table.

See more pictures inside Arisaig House: A look around historic Highlands country estate Arisaig House, on the market for over £2.25 million

The sale of Arisaig House includes five additional detached properties used variously as owner’s accommodation, holiday lets and for staff.

Orchard House has been beautifully refurbished and is now a very attractive five bedroom property with stunning views of the sea, and which retains the sole surviving part of the original Victorian house. The other properties are Achnaganat, a four bedroom modern bungalow; Fagas Lodge, a three bedroom lodge; Gardener’s Cottage, with two bedrooms; and the one bedroom Chef’s Cottage.

The gardens and grounds of Arisaig House are themselves Listed, as is the house, by Historic Environment Scotland, and include majestic specimen trees, a substantial and productive walled garden which is also the location for an all-weather tennis court, a rose garden, and immaculate lawns with carefully planted beds and borders.

Cameron Ewer for Savills, who are marketing the property, said: “Surely one of the most significant and handsome Highland country houses to come onto the market in recent years, Arisaig House was run as a boutique hotel until early 2019, while the upgraded additional properties have all proved to be successful Airbnb holiday lets.

"The house and estate would lend themselves perfectly as an exclusive use weekend/vacation or events venue, and of course, this most elegant and exquisitely located of houses would also make an exceptional private home.”

Arisaig House and estate is on the market for offers over £2,250,000. Further details can be found HERE.