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Knap Guest House

Knap House from the Victorian Age to the 21st Century

The word Knap means mountain top or summit and comes from the local area of Knapdale. Knap House was built around 1898 for a Doctor McMillan who commissioned the Architects Alan B Crombie of Dumfries. There remit was to build a dispensary, consulting room and a town house above. Over the years various shops and warehouses were added, the original drawings still hang in the house today.

The present incarnation of Knap house was undertaken by Mr and Mrs Alan Campbell when they bought the property in 2004 and undertook a very substantial refurbishment programme. The beautiful Thai carvings throughout, hail directly from Mrs Campbell’s homeland and add a delightful Asian theme to the Scottish modern/traditional decor. The Guest house is situated in the heart of the village and is close to many shops, restaurants, galleries cafes and the bus and ferry terminals to the Islands. Parking is to the front of Knap house or in the nearby car park.

The picturesque fishing village of Tarbert is situated on the East coast of the famous Mull of Kintyre and the harbour it overlooks provides one of the most sheltered havens in Britain. The harbour itself is dominated by Tarbert Castle and just a short walk to it offers unmatched views of the village.

The name Tarbert is an anglicised version of the Gaelic word Tairbeart. It is composed of tar “across” and beir “carry” and literally translates as “across-carrying”. This refers to the narrowest strip of land between the two bodies of water of East and West Loch Tarbert, over which goods or even entire boats were carried.

Modern Tarbert is a bustling, friendly village with many visitors, yachts and leisure boats coming to enjoy its renowned hospitality in the bars, restaurants and cafes and browse the shops and interesting galleries around the harbour. Throughout the year there are many events for locals and visitors to enjoy and an abundance of things to do around Argyll.

The locals are known affectionately as “Dookers” and you might want take a wee “dook” in the sea yourself from the White Shore beach situated a short walk from the village at the entrance to the harbour.

Enjoy your stay!