Millbank, Ascog, Isle of Bute, PA20

Millbank is an elegant Victorian country house commanding an elevated position overlooking the eastern shore of the island with beautiful views over the Firth of Clyde and towards Ascog Bay. Listed Category B, Millbank features some especially fine and intricate period details and a wealth of original features are preserved within its walls. Externally the property is handsome and finished in exposed stone with smooth ashlar at quoins, window mullions and doors, the architecture is intricate and includes a timeless oriel bay window formation with stone parapet, a lovely period projecting bay window formation at the first floor and much tooled stonework with carved corbels, overhung eves and a slated roof at the roofline. The property is privately set amidst sheltered wooded garden grounds extending to approximately 2.5 acres and from where there are wonderful waterscape views.

Ground Floor The house begins with an entrance vestibule leading into a welcoming reception hallway, all centred around the beautiful feature staircase with ornate Charles Rennie Mackintosh style wood panelling and dome cupola. To the left is the grand formal dining room, with dual aspects overlooking the Firth of Clyde and ceiling height windows flooding the room with natural light. On from the hallway the impressive drawing room offers plenty of original character, with dual aspect bay windows, decorative cornicing and fireplace. Opposite the dining room is the library, currently used as a study, with an adjacent wc. Inner hallway leads past a utility and larder to the dining kitchen, bedroom (currently set up as a home gym). Beyond the kitchen is the former maid’s staircase which leads up to a bedroom and en suite bathroom.

First Floor The grand main staircase with its original cast iron spindles and balustrading leads from the reception hallway to the first-floor landing. Off the landing are three double bedrooms, one with an en suite bathroom, and the main shower room. One of the bedrooms features French doors which open onto the curved stone parapet from where there are spectacular views over the water, whilst another bedroom has the projecting bay to take advantage of the same open aspects.

Gardens & Grounds Access to Millbank is via a shared unpaved driveway which leads to a private track, timber swing gate providing access to ample private vehicular hard standing, turning and parking area. The immediate garden ground which wrap around Millbank are to paving stone and lawn with a pretty water feature pond. From the immediate gardens there are utterly breath-taking views across the Firth of Clyde to the mainland adjacent. The broader gardens are to a gradient with mature beds, bushes and specimen trees, various pathways meander their way through the gardens offering a great sense of peace, tranquility and intrigue. The extreme rear garden are a complete delight with a well maintained and very pretty rose garden which is bound by a stone wall. The gardens extend to circa 2.5 acres all of which are bounded by mature beds, bushes and specimen trees and stone dykes, offering privacy, seclusion and protected boundaries.

Situation Millbank sits above the charming ribbon settlement of Ascog which is just to the east of the main town of Rothesay on the west of Scotland Island of Bute.

Millbank has an elevated and private setting and overlooks the enchanting and sheltered Ascog Bay. From Millbank there are wonderful 270 degree panoramic waterscape aspects out across the firth of Clyde to include, the island of Cumbrae in the south, the mainland to the east and the Toward light and the Cowal peninsula to the north.

Rothesay, the capital town of the island of Bute has thriving shopping, leisure and educational facilities including a larger sized Co-op. Caledonian MacBrayne operates a frequent ferry service to Wemyss Bay, which has direct rail links to Glasgow. A second ferry service runs between Rhubodach on the north of Bute to Colintraive giving access to Argyll and the West Highlands.

The two nearest airports are Glasgow and Prestwick, which are a circa 40 and 50 minutes’ drive respectively in normal driving conditions from Wemyss Bay.

Leisure Rothesay has an 18 hole golf course from where there are outstanding views of the Firth of Clyde and Arran. Smaller courses are at Port Bannatyne and Kingarth. Bute is an area of significant natural beauty and enjoys a mild climate, with many opportunities for coastal and hill walking and mountain biking. Fresh water and sea fishing are available, and there are shooting and stalking opportunities. The island has its own grass airstrip for light aircraft and microlights.

Sailing The area is notable for its sailing on the famous Kyles of Bute, which is a National Scenic Area. Tighnabruaich and Colintraive to the north, and the Crinan Canal and Tarbert to the West, are centres of lively sailing activity throughout the season. There are marinas, sheltered moorings, chandlery and boating services in Rothesay and Port Bannatyne.

Services Mains water supply, drainage is by direct outflow, electric night storage heating (only some heaters are in working order), part double glazing.

Note: The services have not been checked by the selling agents.

Local Authorities Argyll and Bute Council Tel: .

Council Tax Millbank is in Band G, and the amount of council tax payable for 2025/2026 is £3646.75 to including water & excluding sewage.

Travel Directions From Glasgow, travel west on the M8 to Greenock, and then continue on the A78 to Wemyss Bay. Take the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry to Rothesay circa (35 minutes). On arrival at Rothesay, turn left, and follow the A844 along the coast for circa 2.2 miles, proceed pass the signpost ‘Ascog’ and burnside road, taking the first unmarked right hand turn off the A844, proceed up the gravel track taking the first left hand turn off the gravel track road, to find Millbank at the end of the drive.