What’s going for it? The phrase “planned town” probably conjures up Stevenage. Or Crawley. Maybe Milton Keynes. Places not without their merits, but generally with a dusting of post-war ennui. The word “pretty” doesn’t immediately spring to mind. But towns – even pretty towns – have been planned for millennia. Inveraray was planned into being in the mid-18th century by the Duke of Argyll to kill three birds with one stone: to art-direct his estate’s hoi polloi and herring fishers into a more picturesque arrangement; and one a tad further away from his front door; finally, to improve the infrastructure out here in the sticks with grid-iron streets, to better hurry troops to quash any more clan uprisings.
The duke had style, though, employing the Adam brothers, and Robert Mylne, to create a heavenly white mirage against the loch.
The case against The trouble with planned towns is, well, they’re planned. It’s well protected, too, so no grand designs, please. Small and isolated.
Well connected? No train; the nearest is at Oban, an hour’s drive, or, better still, Tarbet, 30 mins away, with several trains a day to Glasgow (90 mins) and northwards to Fort William (2hrs 30 mins). Driving: the other main drag, Lochgilphead, is 30 mins away, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs 45 mins away, and Glasgow 90 mins. Buses go to Glasgow (every two hours, 1hr 45 mins) and Oban (four a day, 70 mins).
Schools Primaries: Inveraray Primary is mostly “very good” or “good”, says HMIE, though the report is almost a decade old. Down the coast Furnace Primary is mostly “good” or “very good”. Secondaries: the nearest is a 30-min drive away at Lochgilphead, whose Joint Campus is mostly “very good”.
Hang out at… The George is a handsome, cosy coaching inn in which to down a whisky or five.
Where to buy The tiny main town is a grid of whitewashed, uniform Georgiana. Beyond the planned town, all hell breaks loose with Victorian villas, 1920s detacheds, bungalows and craziness. Views of and proximity to Loch Fyne are a (pricey) boon. Large detacheds, £200,000-£550,000. Townhouses, £180,000-£400,000. Detacheds, £125,000-£200,000. Semis, £100,000-£200,000. Terraces and cottages, £90,000-£180,000. Rentals: there’s hardly a market, but a three-bedroom house might go for £900 pcm.
Bargain of the week A three-bedroom cottage, right on the loch with views of the old town, £179,995 with millerstewart.com.
From the streets
Roy Scott “The Samphire seafood restaurant is a hidden gem. Great food and lovely staff. The lemon sole is incredible.”
Judith Hoggan “Inveraray Castle is dramatic, steeped in history and well worth a visit. The jail and Auchindrain Museum are also educational and fun family days out.”
- Do you live in Wye and the Great Stour Valley, Kent? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by Tuesday 10 March.
