CAMERON HOUSE, Duck Bay, Loch Lomond
ACCESS : Main entrance accessible from Duck Bay.
There is an alternative smaller road from the Old Luss Road from Balloch. This is reached from the approach to Lomond Shores, turn to the left off the second roundabout near the Princess Rose restaurant.
There are various sections of which we concentrate on the main hotel building here.
Listed - A.
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Cameron House is today renowned for its hotel, chalets, spa, restaurants and marina. The original building was built in the mid-1700s and later pruchased by James Smollett. After a fire in 1865, it was rebuilt in a grander 4 storey Baronial manner, complete with castellated parapets, gables and turrets and some "Tudor" details.
The land on which it stands was part of the Smollett estate for over 300 years, although that has since been greatly reduced, there are still 44 hectares of wooded land overlooking Loch Lomond.
As a home it is usually associated with Alexander Tobias Telford Smollett. It also hosted such figures as James Boswell and Samuel Johnson (who referred to it simply as "Cameron"), the Empress Eugenie of France, Princess Margaret and Lord Louis Mountbatten, and Winston Churchill.
In 2017 a devasting fire broke out in the older section resulting in two deaths and extensive damage. Work to stabilise and restore it ensued over quite a long period.
These two pictures with a startling black decor were taken in the entrance and bar prior to the restoration and refurbishment after the fire.
The smoke from the fire could be seen from miles around.
In this 16th map by Timothy Pont we see "Camron" at A. Nearby at B is "Tullichewym". Across from where the Leven leaves Loch Lomond at C is "Bellach". At D are "Over Achindunen" and "Nether Achindunen". Across towards Cardross we find "Lylftoun" at E and Achinfail" at F. All these place names are identifiable with modern equivalents, but this is an early map and all of them were subsequently rebuilt. NLS © as ref below.
John Wood compiled this map in 1818, even noting the property owners at that time. The landscape has become quite busy. A= Arden > Buchanan Esq; B = Belritero ; (the earlier name of Auchendennan)> Miss Rouet; C = Cameron House > Smollett Esq; D = Balloch Castle; F = Woodbank > Miss Scott, the hotel and F = Tullichewan Castle > Horrocks Esq. NLS © as ref below.
By 1861 (rev 1902) it starts to look more familiar. A = Cameron; B = Cameron Home Farm; C = Auchendennan; D = Balloch Castle and E = the original Balloch Castle. You can even see the railway reaching right up to where the steam boats took visitors across Loch Lomond. NLS © as ref below.
BRITISH LISTED BUILDINGS with map : https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200331607-cameron-house-hotel-and-country-estate-bonhill#.X8koS7lxdPY
CANMORE : https://canmore.org.uk/site/126477/cameron-house-hotel-and-country-estate
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND : MAPS : Mapmaker: Pont, Timothy, 1560?-1614?. Title: Levinia Vicecomitatus. The Province of Lennox, called the Shyre of Dun-Britton /... Date: 1890. https://maps.nls.uk/view/216547779
and Sheet 30 - Glasgow. Publication date: Surveyed: 1855 to 1861, Revised: 1902, Published: 1905, Railways: 1914, Minor corrections: 1913. https://maps.nls.uk/view/189526735
and Mapmaker: Wood, John, ca. 1780-1847. Title: Map of Dumbarton Shire from actual survey ... / by John Wood ... T. Clerk sculpt... Date: 1818. https://maps.nls.uk/view/216442554
