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Balinakill nestles on a hillside in 7 acres of peaceful grounds on the west side of the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll, easily accessible by air, boat or road. This impressive victorian country house retains a wealth of period features and is set in mature gardens on the edge of the village of Clachan, one of the oldest settlements in Kintyre.
Balinakill has 12 double/twin en suite bedrooms, an additional children's play/bedroom, 3 large public rooms, a fully equipped country kitchen, a Victorian dining room, and a cosy gunroom bar with a wood burning stove. A separate catering kitchen is also available should guests choose to arrange full or partial contract catering during their stay. On arrival you will find fresh flowers in the public rooms, the fires and the stoves set.
The rental in...Balinakill nestles on a hillside in 7 acres of peaceful grounds on the west side of the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll, easily accessible by air, boat or road. This impressive victorian country house retains a wealth of period features and is set in mature gardens on the edge of the village of Clachan, one of the oldest settlements in Kintyre.
Balinakill has 12 double/twin en suite bedrooms, an additional children's play/bedroom, 3 large public rooms, a fully equipped country kitchen, a Victorian dining room, and a cosy gunroom bar with a wood burning stove. A separate catering kitchen is also available should guests choose to arrange full or partial contract catering during their stay. On arrival you will find fresh flowers in the public rooms, the fires and the stoves set.
The rental includes all fuel, bed-linen,towels and kitchen accessories together with a small selection of toiletries and cleaning materials. Full laundry and ironing facilities are available for guest's use and a house-keeping service is available on request.
The village shop can also supply a stocking and delivery service prior to arrival for fresh meat and dairy, fruit and vegetables, general groceries, wine and spirits.
Whether it's a holiday, weekend, family and friends get-together, wedding celebration, corporate/training event or surprise party, Balinakill offers the perfect location to make the occasion special and memorable. Balinakill comes alive when full of people enjoying themselves and whether you want live music or a quiet time watching the sunset in the upstairs lounge, with a choice of welcoming and comfortable public rooms we can cater for everyone.
The bar is often a magnet for those just wanting to chat over a drink while the dining room allows everyone to sit down to a meal together before ceilidh dancing, partying or just enjoying being together in the oak room. While staying in the house you stock your own bar and there are pipes for real and draft ale which can also be delivered prior to arrival.
If during your stay you feel the house needs a tidy, or you would like someone to come in quietly to service the rooms or reset the fires we will happily tailor our services to your specific requirements.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss any of your ideas or special requests!
House Rules
Pet-friendlyKid friendlyNo smoking
We are perfect for family and friends get togethers, special birthday and anniversary celebrations, reunions, weddings and civil partnership ceremonies.
Balinakill is grand but warm and welcoming wth plenty of space for all generations to relax and enjoy all that this wonderful old house , and Kintyre, has to offer! Please contact Ann for information on catering ,deliveries ofsupplies and local services and events.
You even have your own bar!
Late check out (4pm ) on Sundays
Bedrooms
1 King1 Queen9 Fulls2 Sofas5 Twins2 Cribs
Bathrooms
12 Attached (ensuite)
Meet the host
Ann D
Hosting since December 2010
Languages spoken: English
Response Rate: 81%
Response Time: Within a day
Interaction with guests:Â When you arrive at Balinakill our house keeper will be there to welcome you, give you house keys and show you everything you need to know.
No staff will then be present during you stay unless by request. Contact details are available in the house book in the unlikely event there are any issues during your stay.
Additional services such as house keeping, fire setting, room servicing and bar service can be arranged by request for additional charge.
Fantastic house for a four generation family holiday
Balinakill provided the perfect setting for our Easter family break, with plenty of room for 25 of us (ranging in age from 2 to 92) plus our 4 dogs. The en-suites in most of the rooms were a real bonus, and the number of public rooms meant that it didn’t feel like we were all living on top of each other. The house provided the setting for everything from an Easter egg hunt for the children, to a murder mystery, a pub quiz and a ceilidh! It was great to be able to all get together round the huge dining table for dinner each evening, and we enjoyed gathering round a roaring fire in the lovely wood-panelled sitting room once the children were in bed. The bar was a hit too - it was like having our very own pub!
We would happily return to Balinakill and would thoroughly recommend it as the ideal base for exploring a lovely part of the country.
Visited April 2023
Written May 8, 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Colin H
5 contributions
A unforgettable weekend in a truly stunning house.
I cannot recommend this place highly enough! Massive, high ceilinged rooms, oak panelled walls, sumptuous staircases, loads of luxurious bedrooms and places to hang out and a fantastic kitchen and dining room. Oh, and it's very own bar where you are the boss and you can keep it open as long as you like!
The hot tub came in handy the next day to get rid of the hangover!
This is a stunning house, beautifully maintained surrounded by a gorgeous garden that is great for big gatherings and family events. Spotlessly clean too. I can't wait to go back there!
Visited March 2023
Written April 21, 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ana Ines L
1 contribution
Amazing house for a special celebration
Everything about Balinakill is special. The house, the location, the gardens, the amenities, the deco, Ann & Uta (owner and house keeper). We rented it to celebrate my 50th birthday with a large group of friends, including a lot of kids (and a couple of dogs), and we had the best time. Every room is on suite and all the public rooms are amazing, including the kitchen (great for breakfast), the dining room (sits 20+ very well) and the two amazing sitting rooms. The hot tub was the cherry on the cake. All in all the perfect house for a big group who needs a lot of space and a little bit of luxury (but not in a stuff way) in a beautiful corner of Scotland.
Visited March 2023
Written April 21, 2023. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
birnabjor
Reykjavik, Iceland3 contributions
Amazing house in a beautiful countryside - perfect for a group of friends
The house is so beautiful with everything you need. We stayed with a group of 20 people for four nights, which was perfect. Every couple had a room with a bathroom and could have space for themselves. Every room had such a character. The social area is so convenient, with the bar, beautiful dining area, huge living room, pool area, garden, hot tub, and more. There was a fireplace in many rooms. Ann, the owner, and her staff were extremely helpful, giving us tips about what to do in the area and finding services like getting a cook into the house and Scottish dance instructors. We were blown away by the house and can´t wait to return.
Visited September 2022
Written November 27, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
astasol
19 contributions
Gorgeous villa in the beautiful Scottish country side
Balinakill Country House was a perfect rental for a large group of friends spending a long weekend in Scotland. The house is really beautiful and well kept with many different living areas on three floors. It was very easy to be all of us together and also have a private time if people preferred that. Ann was very accommodating and helpful with planning activities in the area. I give Balinakill Country House my highest recommendation and we would love to be back soon.
Visited September 2022
Written November 9, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Vikki E
2 contributions
Great house for large groups
I am always a little nervous when booking a house for a large group - everyone wants different things. That wasn't really an issue here as the house seemed to have everything, even the WOW facter. Seriously, I think we spent the first 30 min just exploring the house with open mouths.
The bedrooms are great so no-one felt like they missed out on 'the nice room'. The kitchen had everything you would need to actually feed 20+ people (which a lot of houses don't). The dining table was large but I'm not sure it could sit 20 adults, 17 was perfect though! We had a chef come in on night to cook for us which was just lovely.
We came mostly to visit whiskey distilleries so at times we got a bit loud, but those that wanted to go to bed early didn't realise due to the fact that sound just doesn't travel in the house. Due to the thick walls and miles of space probably.
As one reviewer previously suggested - we played hide and seek. Yes, 17 grown men and women running round a house in the dark with torches. It was hillarious and it would suggest it to anyone.
Visited October 2022
Written November 9, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
balinakill c
Thank you Vikki - absolutely delighted you enjoyed Balinakill!
To clarify the dining room situation - we can fit 24 round the table with a table added. ( and room to set a separate table for more to the side)
We have also managed to squeeze on 30 with adding 2 tables to make a T-shape although admittedly this is tight!
Written November 11, 2022. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charles M
1 contribution
Wedding celebration
The wedding celebration we had at Balinakill was everything we hoped it would be! I think despite all the pictures, we underestimated how much space we'd have. The two sitting rooms, two dining areas, big backyard sitting area and a bar made it great and very COVID safe. The place was beautiful and the staff super helpful/lovely to deal with. My new wife is already looking for excuses to come back!
Visited August 2022
Written September 1, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Stephanie
Edinburgh, United Kingdom2 contributions
Perfect for our small wedding!
We had a wedding of 24 people and Balinakill could not have been more perfect! We had a whole week to enjoy the property with our family and friends, we loved the bar, hot tub, cozy fireplaces and much more. Ann was amazing with communication and even helped me find a last minute bouquet for my wedding day when my original flowers fell through. Thank you so much for an incredible stay and we can't wait to come back!
Visited July 2022
Written August 21, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shoaib C
Sale, United Kingdom6 contributions
Fantastic place - it was perfect for our family get together
Our extended multigenerational family found Balinakill perfect for our get together. The property is clean, well maintained and furnished, with plenty of living/entertainment space and generous bedrooms for all 24 members of our group. Balinakill is very comfortable and Ann and the team have paid attention to every detail - we particularly liked the beautiful fresh flower arrangements in every room. The gardens are lovely. With a snooker table/table tennis/games/bluetooth speakers the younger generation were happy and we all enjoyed the hot tub and Sky TV/Sports.
Nearby there are some fantastic beaches, walks and places to eat, such as the Skipness Seafood Cabin and The Boat House on Gigha.
We really enjoyed our week here and would thoroughly recommend Balinakill.
Visited August 2022
Written August 9, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Curiosity801748
1 contribution
Big Birthday Celebration
I had the pleasure of staying at Balinakill Country House for the weekend to celebrate turning 50 with friends and family.
From the very beginning Ann and her team couldn't have been more helpful and answered all my questions of the room layouts with great patience and detail.
The house itself is magnificent yet somehow manages to still feel cosy and was the perfect location for the glorious weather we had which allowed us to make use of the hot tub and bbq.
Everyone that attended raved about the house and the bar was particularly well used and everyone had a ball playing "bartender" for the evening.
We mostly stayed around the house and took full advantage of the pool table and garden.
We had a caterer in one night and the fact there was a separate catering kitchen with everything you could need was very useful and made the clean up very easy.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Balinakill for any gathering you're having and the location was just the cherry on top.
Visited April 2022
Written August 9, 2022. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
There are activities and places of interest for all ages and abilities in kintyre including; golf (5 local golf courses including the newly opened Machrihanish Dunes),riding, hunting , shooting fishing, clay-pigeon shooting, walking, bird/nature watching, surfing, sailing, kayaking, diving,visiting local galleries , gardens and craft workshops, Kilmartin Archaelogical Museum, Crinan Canal, and the Owl sanctuary.
We can also arrange cookery and art courses in-house at Balinakill, and are happy to help you arrange any activities in advance of your holiday/weekend.
Getting around
This is quite a remote area so if you wish to get out and about and explore this stunningly beautiful area please bring your own car or hire one locally.
There are also many nearby islands to visit including Gigha, Islay, Jura and Arran. Please contact Ann for further details and suggestions for local day trips from Balinakill.
Access
Car required
How to get there
To Balinakill by road;
The majority of visitors to the peninsula travel by road from Glasgow driving along the west coast of Loch Lomond, over the mountainous route through the Rest and be Thankful and on into Argyll where the roads become quieter and the scenery more and more spectacular. The drive takes approximately 2.5 hours direct from Glasgow but there are many distractions along the way including the famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and the picturesque village of Inveraray and Inveraray Castle, home of the Duke of Argyll.
100% refund within 24 hours after booking (provided the stay is at least 60 days away).
No refund available once booking is confirmed
About this property
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