An historic ancestral home with stunning views and beautiful private gardens, this is a unique self catering holiday property in remote and beautiful north west Mull.

The garden and wood surrounding Torloisk House has evolved over almost 250 years, according to records kept by the family.

In the 1780's, French geologist Barthelemy Faujas de Saint-Fond writes about soil being brought in by Mr McLean to create a garden on top on the Basalt rock.  In the early 1800's Sir Walter Scott, a keen arboriculturist, advised the family on planting trees around the house - including the beech trees you see today.

From 1860 to 1890, the tree collection grew to include the then highly fashionable firs, (N America) cedars, (Lebanon, India) cypress, (Mediterranean, USA) pines, and monkey puzzle (Chile).  

At the time they were exotic arrivals being shipped to the UK from around the world. The 2 Monterey cypress in the depths of the garden are two of the biggest specimens in Britain. In their native California they grow to about half the height on the cliffs.

From 1920 to 1970 Edward Compton, a passionate horticulturist, planted rare shrubs and trees typically from New Zealand, South America and the Himalayas. A magnificent herbaceous border with clipped box hedges was created alongside the Victorian greenhouse. Sadly,  many of these plants perished as the garden became overgrown and invaded by animals during the second half of the 20th century.

Robin Compton and his brother Alwyne Compton Farquharson spent two weeks with axes in the 1940's cutting a gap in the beech wood along the road from the House to expose the view of waves crashing on the point of Gometra. Alwyne also planted thousands of bulbs - including many varieties of daffodils - along with lovely camellias to create a dazzling spring show.

When Richard and Lucinda Compton came to Torloisk in 1999 they began cutting back the wilderness and re-planting with shrubs and trees to create the beautiful woodland garden that visitors enjoy today. The garden restoration continues apace with plants grown at their home, Newby in Yorkshire, being brought to Torloisk.