A Warm Welcome from Glencoe House

We are currently the proud guardians of this magnificent mansion house, which is, as the name suggests, situated in the famous Glencoe Glen in the Highlands of Scotland.

Glencoe House offers elegant accommodation located in 10 acres of private gardens in the heart of Scotland's Highlands. This historic mansion, the former home of Lord Strathcona, offers tranquility and outdoor adventure. Suited equally to those who wish to gaze at the Pap of Glencoe from their window and those who want to walk up it, Glencoe House invites you into the comfort and refuge of your own suite.

Any one of our seven suites will welcome you with an open log fire, marble fireplaces and lavish bathrooms. Together with breakfast served at your own dining room table in your private lounge we are confident that you will enjoy your time with us.

The site is evolving and developing all the time so please keep an eye on it! We have taken a stand at the Visit Scotland Expo this year which is happening the 25-26th April at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh.

Roger Niemeyer and Judy Pate
Guardians of Glencoe House

Contact Us

If you have any questions or queries about Glencoe House, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we would be happy to help. This site is still undergoing development so in the mean time you can reach us at the following:

Roger Niemeyer: rniemeyer@alliance-hotels.com

Tel: +44(0)-208-5452676
Fax: +44(0)-208-5456404

Glencoe House
Glencoe
West Highlands
PH49 4HT
Scotland

Directions to Glencoe House

By Car From The South

Glasgow - 2 hours
Edinburgh - 3 hours
Glencoe House is located in the heart of Glencoe. If you are travelling north on the A82 follow the signs for Glencoe village. Continue on the main street, you will pass the village shop on your left hand side, and then you will reach a small, hump back stone bridge which goes over the River Coe. Then turn second left, sign posted Glencoe Lochan, and stay left where the road divides. You will see Glencoe House ahead of you at the end of the drive.

By Car From The North

Fort William - 30 minutes
Inverness - 2 hours
Glencoe House is located in the heart of Glencoe. If you are travelling south on the A82 follow the signs for Glencoe village. Continue on the main street, you will pass the village shop on your left hand side, and then you will reach a small, hump back stone bridge which goes over the River Coe. Then turn second left, sign posted Glencoe Lochan, and stay left where the road divides. You will see Glencoe House ahead of you at the end of the drive,

By Air

Inverness Airport, http://www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport, is a 1 hour and 50 minutes or 90 miles drive from Glencoe House.

Glasgow Airport, http://www.glasgowairport.com, is a 1 hour and 40 minutes or 83 miles from Glencoe House by car.

Edinburgh Airport, http://www.edinburghairport,com is a 2 hour and 30 minutes or 110 miles drive from Glencoe House.

By Private Aircraft or Helicopter

For private aircraft, Oban Airport is situated just off the A828 by the village of North Connel, a 40 minute drive from Glencoe House.

Oban Airport Summer Opening Times
Monday - Thursday.........08:30 to 18:00 (Local)

Friday - Sunday..............09:00 to 18:00 (Local)

The Garden Suite

The Garden Suite occupies half of the ground floor and benefits from having a private terrace (currently under development) that enjoys views of the garden and the panoramic vista down Loch Leven and the Atlantic Ocean. The entrance to the suite is via a private sweeping staircase which enters a generously proportioned foyer. The Garden Suite also has its own cloakroom together with direct access to the private terrace. The spacious suite is comprised of a generous bedroom and bathroom along with your substantial private sitting room; the total floor space is 95 square metres.

The Bedroom

The bedroom boasts a number of original period features including a marble fire place and ornate plasterwork on the ceiling; the room is a generous 28 square metres. The "Glencoe House rejuvenating bed concept" allows for a restful and restoring nights sleep and is tailored to your every need with a choice of 300 count Egyptian cotton or satin bedding. We offer a turndown service that includes closing the window shutters and a hot water bottle to warm the bed if desired. The antique dressing table and wardrobe give the finishing touches to an elegant and refined room.

Room amenities at a glance:

• Glencoe Rejunevating Bed Concept
• Dressing table with free standing mirror
• Hairdryer
• Cotton wool and cotton buds
• Adjustable ambient lighting

The Bathroom

The bathroom takes all needs into account whether you favour sipping champagne in the free standing slipper bath overlooking Loch Leven or enjoying the "Glencoe House energising shower concept". This shower, designed by leading German bathroom manufacturers Hansgrohe, has a 300mm shower head where water and air are blended to emit large rain drops. This outstanding shower technology envelops your entire body in a deluge of hot water; however owing to the innovative technology it is also environmentally friendly. The room also boasts "his" and "hers" wash hand basins for that individual touch. The bathroom toiletries extend the sense of opulence with generous full sized bottles of Aveda and Molton Brown products.

Room amenities at a glance:

• Free standing slipper bath with supply of candles
• Separate shower cabinet
• Champagne bucket and stand
• Aveda and Molton Brown bathroom amenities
• Scales
• His and Hers sinks
• Luxurious white towels
• Bathrobes and slippers

The Sitting Room

One of the key defining features of Glencoe House's elegant accommodation is your personal private sitting room, which creates the ultimate retreat and hideaway. The Garden Suite's sitting room is 43 square metres and its unique period features have been preserved which gives a feeling of grandeur. The room contains an impressive original open fireplace, which can be lit to give a warm glow of an afternoon or in the evening while enjoying a drink from the generously stocked "maxi" bar in your antique sideboard. Other period features include the herringbone parquet flooring, window shutters and ornate ceiling.

Room amenities at a glance:

• Open fire with complementary supply of firewood
• Private dining room table
• Antique pedestal desk with stationery and office supplies
• Maxi bar
• Snacks
• Large sofa, chair and footstool
• Flatscreen TV and radio
• DVD player and selection of movies
• International TV channels
• IPod with varied music
• Complimentary wireless internet access
• Adjustable ambient lighting

The Breakfast

It is said that you should breakfast like a King and you certainly have this opportunity at Glencoe House. Breakfast is served at your private dining room table in your sitting room which allows you the luxury of easing yourself into the day sitting in your robe; reading a newspaper of your choice and admiring the view. Breakfast is served at a time of your pleasing; you just need to place your order the night before. A wide selection is on offer and all is served on Villeroy & Boch china for a refined breakfast experience.

The typical breakfast menu consists of your choice of the following:

Continental Breakfast: a selection of fresh juices, a variety of tea and coffee, a small fruit salad and an assortment from the bakery basket.

High Energy Breakfast: the smoothie of the day, a variety of tea and coffee, porridge, a blossom honey and berry compote and a selection from the bakery basket.

Glencoe House: a selection of fresh juice, a variety of tea and coffee, eggs (scrambled, poached, boiled or fried), a selection of cold meats, sliced cheddar cheese and a selection from the bakery basket. All served with a chilled glass of champagne to get your day off to a fabulous start.

Full Scottish Breakfast: a selection of fresh juices, a variety of tea and coffee, scrambled, poached, boiled or fried eggs with pork sausage, bacon, mushroom, tomato, haggis and black pudding. A selection from the bakery basket is also provided with this breakfast choice.

Full Vegetarian Breakfast: a selection of fresh juices, a variety of tea and coffee, scrambled poached, boiled or fried eggs with vegetarian sausage, soya bacon, mushroom, tomato and hash brown. A selection from the bakery basket is also provided with this breakfast choice.

The A La Carte Menu: create your own breakfast from any of the elements outlined above or the additional items on the menu such as Scottish smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and homemade pancakes and maple syrup.

The Lunchbox

For those who wish to tour around during the day or are inspired to explore the hills, Glencoe House offers a lunch box to take away with you. It comprises still or spring water, your choice of sandwich (typically Scottish cheddar, ham, grilled chicken breast or smoked salmon) on a choice of bread. You can also select additional items on your sandwich such as salad, mayonnaise, mustard or chutney. A homemade chocolate brownie is also included in the lunch box.

Afternoon Cake

As a "naughty but nice" treat on holiday, Glencoe House extends the Highland hospitality by providing a complimentary selection of cakes in your suite for your enjoyment after a bracing walk in the hills for just as an indulgence while taking it easy in your suite.

Evening Platter

While on holiday it's always exciting to explore the restaurants in the area. At Glencoe House, while we do not offer a restaurant facility at this time, we do provide evening platters for those who would like to remain in the sanctuary of their suite in the evening. Just place your order the night before and we will take care of everything else. The following platters can be served in the privacy of your suite:

Seafood Platter

Typically this includes lobster oysters, langoustine, mussels, clams and crab served with aioli, crusty bread, olive oil and lemon.

Antipasto Platter

This platter comprises marinated artichokes, olives, grissini, Parma ham, Milano salami, Coppa ham and crusty bread.

Cheese Platter

A wide selection of cheeses and typically includes soft cheese such as Brie as well as blue cheese smoked cheese and cheddar, which is served with crusty baguette, celery, grapes and chutney.

In Room Private Bar

Each of the suites at Glencoe House contains a generous in room bar or "maxi bar". A selection of drinks including malt whiskey, and Bombay Sapphire Gin can be found on the antique side board along with crystal glasses for those who relish a fireside drink in the evening. Chilled drinks are also available in your suite with a selection of Champagne, white wine and non alcoholic drinks. Nibbles and snacks are also just a step away so that you can remain in the sanctuary of your suite should you choose to do so.

Donald Alexander Smith
Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal

Donald Alexander Smith was born in Forres, Scotland on the 6th August 1820. He entered an era of unprecedented change and ingenuity. From fairly humble beginnings, Donald Smith would become a leading light in the development of Canada and in so doing, become a self made millionaire. In short, he was a remarkable man.

Donald's dreams and ambitions were shaped from an early age by his uncles, Robert and John, who worked in Canada for the Hudson Bay Company. Their tales of adventure and excitement would lure him away from Scotland and his job in Watson's legal firm where he copied legal texts. He joined Hudson Bay Company and left Britain on the 16th May 1838, setting sail with a sense of anticipation, eagerness and hope.

Donald was employed as an apprentice clerk by the Hudson Bay Company, who at that time owned a considerable amount of land in Canada. He was stationed at the trading post of Tadoussac, Quebec, that comprised of no more than an occasional house. It was a severe and demanding landscape which was particularly inhospitable during the winter months and such an experience was to shape Donald's character. His job was to value furs and detail the various transactions in the financial accounts. His talents were apparent to the company and he steadily rose through the ranks: 1855 he managed the district of Esqimaux; 1862 he became Chief Factor; 1871 Chief Commissioner; 1874 Land Commissioner and finally Governor of Hudson Bay Company in 1886.

Canadian Transcontinental Railway

Arguably one of Donald's greatest feats, however, was beyond the confines of the Hudson Bay Company. Donald Smith was instrumental in the ambitious and bold project of building a pioneering transcontinental railway from Montreal to Vancouver on the Pacific coast.

In this colossal venture, Donald was both Director of the syndicate and principal shareholder. His vision and perseverance in this far-sighted endeavour earned him the right to drive in the last spike of the railway line on the 7th November 1885; a ritual that is repeated even to this day, which illustrates the impact of this accomplishment. This railway opened up the North-West of Canada for trade, industry and settlers by reducing the Montreal-Vancouver journey from two weeks to two and a half days.

A Man of Substance

During this time he also became a very shrewd and astute investor and developed a considerable share portfolio. The magnitude of his influence and power was perhaps demonstrated through his directorship of the Bank of Montreal in 1872 and becoming the President of the Bank in 1886. By this stage he was certainly a man of substance and a key figure in Montreal and Canada more broadly. In 1896, however, he was to return to London and the UK in order to take up a post as High Commissioner essentially Canada's representative in the UK, a post he would relinquish only at the age of 90. His lifelong work and his illustrious career was publicly acknowledged in 1895 when he was bestowed the Knight Grand Cross of St Michael and St George. He was also to enter the peerage in 1897, when he became Lord Strathcona in Argyll and Mount Royal in Quebec and Canada.

Donald Alexander Smith: The Man

Unsurprisingly there is a great deal of literature written on Donald Smith's business achievements, which were numerous and also impressive in nature. Care must be taken not to overlook other aspects of his life as his business career demonstrates only one facet of his personality. His philanthropic work was prolific and he gave generously to numerous institutions from Ballachulish & Glencoe Shinty Club to King Edward's Hospital Fund. A series of donations worth noting, as it demonstrates one side of Donald's character, are his donations to McGill University in Montreal. Distinctively, he felt strongly that women should be have the opportunity to participate in higher education and bestowed a $50,000 endowment in 1884 specifically to fund women's education. In fact, he joined the University's board and in 1899 appointed the first female principal, Hilda Oakley, to the University.

We might be forgiven for failing to consider the more personal side of Donald Smith as his achievements seem to overshadow all else. In terms of appearance, an observer, Mr McClintock, in August 1860 commented on Donald's appearance, "he was about forty years old, some five feet ten inches high, with long sandy hair, a bushy red beard and very thick red eyebrows". This very Celtic red colouring would fade into a very distinguished white.

"I have breakfast at 9am and dinner at 9pm and that gives me eleven hours daily for work"
Lord Strathcona

He was fastidious in his habits and ate sparingly believing that it maintained an alert and reasoned mind and was the secret to health and long life. He clearly lived and breathed his work. Donald Alexander Smith, Lord Strathcona, died at the age of 93 on the 21st January 1914. Messages of sympathy were sent by many including the King himself. Sir Wilfred Laurier, former Prime Minister of Canada perhaps summarised the feelings of many:

"I do not think there has been any Canadian whose loss was occasioned so deep and so universal sorrow. He is mourned by His Majesty, by the authorities of commerce and finance in London whose equal he showed himself to be, by the poor of London for his generosity, by the people of Scotland with whom he remained in close relations to the end, and by Canadians, high and low, rich and poor, of whatever race or creed"
Sir Wilfred Laurier, Prime Minister of Canada 1896-1911

"The best way to live to an old age is by not thinking about age at all, but just going on doing your work"
Lord Strathcona, aged 91

Lord and Lady Strathcona

Everything we see and read about Donald Alexander Smith shouts of convention, hard work and moral standing, for example his philanthropic work, even his motto was "perseverance". Arguably, one area that demonstrates a different side to Donald's character was through his relationship with Isabella.

They met while Donald was working in Labrador, Canada in the early 1850s. At this time she was actually married to a cousin of Donalds, John Grant, who married in 1851. The whirlwind romance between Isabella and John, however, was not to last and they, unusual for the time, separated in 1852. It was Isabella who took charge of their son, John. She was repudiated to be a very strong woman who knew her own mind and she had set her sights on Donald Alexander Smith.

Donald and Isabella relationship flourished in 1855 and they had a child, Margaret Charlotte Smith on 17th Jan 1854. They were not actually married at the time, which was scandalous for the era. Donald was a man of principle and so this behaviour is perhaps out of character and demonstrates the strength of love between them. They were married in June 1859 but the question of the legal legitimacy of this ceremony would haunt Donald throughout his life.

Such was his love for Isabella, Glencoe House was to be a grand love letter from Donald to Bella in celebration of their life together. There are many symbols on the building that reflect this, for example their initials DAS and ISS. The separate initials were to demonstrate that Isabella was an individual in her own right, again reinforcing the impact of her character. They enjoyed a long union which was only to be broken on Isabella's death on the 12th November 1913.

The Building of Glencoe House

The pull of Scotland, the place of Donald's birth, would prove strong and it was always his ambition to return to his 'homeland' to build a home for himself, Isabella and also as a legacy for future generations. Donald left Scotland as a man of potential and returned a man of substance.

In 1894 Donald was involved in a land auction in Edinburgh and was successful in his purchase of a considerable amount of land in Glencoe; one of Scotland's most famous glens. It was stated that he paid £13,330 for the 48,000 acre estate, which included slate mines, numerous farms and crofts as well as moorland.

Not long after he purchased the estate, in 1895, he commissioned Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, Scotland's premier architect of the era, to design a new house that would be the jewel in the crown of the estate. Donald's instructions were that the house should commemorate his marriage and provide a Scottish base for future generations; as Donald was 75 years old when he commissioned the house, he anticipated the future use of the building by his daughter and her children.

The house held a magnificent position and was to dominate the landscape as it was designed to make the most of the views to Loch Leven on one side and the Pap of Glencoe on the other. The house was built in local granite and dressed with red sandstone. In the external stone work, expert stonemasons carved numerous symbols into the stone. For example, Donald's crest of a Beaver gnawing at the base of a maple tree was fashioned into the stone along with his motto of 'Perseverance'.

Donald and Isabella's initials, DAS and ISS (sometimes JSS in Latin) were also carved above some of the windows; the initials were separate and demonstrated that she was an individual in her own right and not merely an extension of her husband, which again underlines the strength of Isabella's character.

The internal features of the building continued the theme of Donald and Isabella's marriage. The ceilings were a particular feature with intricate plaster work comprising thistles, fleurs-de-lis, roses, maple leaves and oak leaves, which were to symbolise the Scottish, English and Canadian heritage of their grand children. There is no doubt that it was built to impress with the elaborate plasterwork, wood carving and a white marble staircase. No expense was spared in the construction of the building and its interior is a testimony to the skilled craftsmen of the era. It was reported to have cost in excess of £30,000 to build. Nonetheless, it is still difficult to overlook the original premise of the building;

"The house was a grand love letter from Donald to Bella in celebration of their life together"
MacDonald, 2002

In reality the couple were to spend 4-6 weeks a year at Glencoe House with Donald's work tying him to London. Glencoe House was to host numerous family gatherings though. This can be seen in Gwendolen Marjorie Howard's photographs in 1905, and are courtesy of the Osler Library, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Gwendolen was sister in law to Margaret Charlotte Smith (Donald and Isabella's daughter).

Glencoe House's Architect: Sir Robert Rowand Anderson

Robert Rowand Anderson was born on the 5th April 1835 in Edinburgh. Despite initially following his father into legal practice, he started studying architecture at the Trustees Academy in 1849 before starting as an assistant for George Gilbert Scott in Trafalgar Square, London. He has been described as 'The Premier Architect of Scotland', designing numerous striking and imposing public buildings. He was even commissioned by King Edward to modify Balmoral Castle. He was widely recognised by his peers of the era as a distinguished and truly talented architect.

He returned to Edinburgh in 1860 where his skill and flair earned him invitations to compete for prestigious tenders, for example the University of Edinburgh's graduation hall and medical school in September 1874; a competition in which he was to ultimately succeed. His most prominent work includes: Holyrood Abbey in 1877; Mount Stuart for the 3rd Marques of Bute in 1878; National Portrait Gallery and Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh 1884; Glencoe House in 1895; North British Railway hotel in 1895 now known as the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh and the Royal residence of Balmoral Castle in 1902.

He was awarded many honours, most notably a Knighthood in 1902 and in 1916 he was presented the Royal Gold Medal, which was the highest accolade from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

"He was by general admission, the premier architect of Scotland... A great Scot... we honour him; as a great educationalist also, but most of all as a great architect"
A.N. Anderson (President of the Institute of Scottish Architects), 1921

Vintage Photographs

We've done alot of research into the history of the house since we took it over and have unearthed numerous photos from when it was occupied by Lord Strathcona. Some of which have been gathered into the photo slideshow below.