As summer’s vibrant blooms take center stage, gardening enthusiasts are seeking their next horticultural adventure. Those interested in a unique opportunity should turn their attention to Seil Island, located near Oban, where a stunning five-bedroom historic residence awaits, featuring one of Scotland’s most remarkable gardens.

Known as An Cala, which translates to “the haven” in Scots Gaelic, this property has its roots in three dilapidated Victorian workers’ cottages nestled along the west coast, sheltered by a dramatic horseshoe of slate cliffs. This charming setting was transformed in the 1930s by Colonel Arthur Murray, later named Viscount Elibank, and his wife, the actress Faith Celli, famous for her portrayal of Peter Pan in West End theaters.

Following his inheritance of one of the cottages, Murray expanded his domain by acquiring the other two, eventually merging and transforming them into a spacious 3,800 sq ft home that bathes in natural light across two levels, offering breathtaking views of the sea towards Islay, Jura, and Mull. In 1935, he commissioned Thomas Mawson and Sons, leading landscape architects of the time, to curate the nearly three-acre gardens of An Cala.

A dedicated team of six men, along with their families, relocated to Seil for a year to undertake this grand project. They blasted bedrock to create stunning terraces, brought in thousands of tons of topsoil, fashioned lily ponds from a natural waterfall, and cultivated a garden filled with magnificent azaleas, rhododendrons, and Japanese flowering cherries. Notably, a statue within one of the ponds was a gift from Sir Edward Gray, a close friend of Murray and Britain’s longest-serving foreign secretary of the 20th century, who also shared camaraderie with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

After Celli’s passing in 1942, Murray sold the estate to a friend who served in the military. In 1985, Tom and Sheila Downie, a Scottish couple returning from Saudi Arabia, impulsively purchased An Cala, even consulting an old school atlas to locate Seil. They became the fortunate stewards of this enchanting property, which enriched their lives for 40 years.

“When we arrived, the house was unchanged since the Thirties,” recalls Karen Milne-Home, the Downies’ daughter, sharing insights on her elderly mother’s experiences. As a teenager, she remembers, “It needed some repairs and a bit of reconfiguring inside, but we left the exterior untouched.”

The garden, initially wild and overgrown, became a passion project for the family as they researched An Cala’s history and located the original planting designs. “My mother embraced the restoration, aiming to return the garden to its former glory,” Milne-Home reflects.

The Downies were so enamored with their garden that they opened it to the public through Scotland’s Gardens Scheme and various community initiatives. It has gained recognition in publications such as Country Life and The Times. “We host garden tours from visitors worldwide, with many declaring it their favorite garden ever,” Milne-Home shares. “Local schoolchildren regularly visit, and it serves as a venue for plays and weddings.”

Future owners will have the opportunity to decide whether to continue this cherished legacy or take An Cala in a new direction. “We hope to find someone who will appreciate and preserve its incredible history as we did,” Milne-Home expresses.

With offers starting at £775,000, this extraordinary property is a unique chance to own a piece of history.