Sitting high on a wooded hillside overlooking Gare Loch, in Argyll, Doune Cottage occupies a steep site with long southern views across water and mountains. Designed and built by its engineer owner, the three-bedroom house draws on Scandinavian and alpine precedents, using timber construction, restrained detailing and carefully placed glazing to establish a close relationship with its setting. Larch cladding and a corrugated metal roof give the exterior a quiet, functional clarity, while the building sits comfortably within the surrounding trees.

The plan is organised around a 60sqm open-plan living and dining space that rises to the roofline. The exposed cross-laminated timber structure remains visible throughout, subtly ordering areas for cooking, gathering and rest. A sunken sitting area is set a step below the main floor level, while the kitchen combines oak block worktops, hued cabinetry and a central island with a Schott downdraft hob. Large glazed doors open onto a reclaimed-brick terrace oriented towards the loch.

Accommodation is split across two floors. Two ground-floor bedrooms have leafy outlooks, one with an en suite, while the upper level contains a pine-lined principal suite with built-in storage and a bathroom positioned among the treetops. A mezzanine provides flexible workspace alongside a separate cinema room. Outside, terraced paths, gabion retaining walls and naturalistic planting shape the sloping plot, with a fire-pit terrace set toward the view. Doune Cottage is listed for offers over £500,000.

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