A special celebration to mark the transformation of a former gunpowder factory near Oban into one of the UK’s most loved tourist destinations is set to go off with a bang.
Melfort Village is marking four decades since it was transformed from an explosives depot into one of the most successful holiday cottage membership resorts in the Britain, bringing people to the area from all over the UK all year round.
A series of celebrations are planned to celebrate the 40th birthday, including a drinks and canape reception where photographs and memorabilia of the resort through the ages will be on display.
The get-together will take place on Thursday November 16, with a ceilidh in the community hall the following night.
The resort is steeped in history having been in Campbell ownership since the 14th century before it was bought by an English gunpowder company in 1838. Its location was deemed ideal for the manufacturing because it was secluded and had plentiful supplies of scrub oak and a deep-water pier for deliveries of raw materials and export of the finished product.
Minor accidents were commonplace and the Oban Times of March 9, 1876, reported on an explosion destroying the powder works a with a force so powerful a bale of cloth was later found a mile away from the last building.
The development of dynamite saw the decline of the works and in 1982 Melfort Estate was purchased by Charles and Helen Stott, who had discovered the location whilst on a sailing holiday. Their vision was to create a cottage membership village where people could own ‘a week in Argyll forever’ and over the next seven years, 32 cottages were built from the ruins of the village and outlying farm buildings.
By the end of 1992, Melfort was almost fully sold out and Charles sold his interests in Melfort Village to The Melfort Club.
Tom Troubridge is the club’s current chairman and says the attraction continues to bring people to Argyll from all across the country.
He explained: “This a haven of peace in a busy world, which is partly why it is so popular with our members and, increasingly, rental guests. I have dug out my tartan trews and look forward to dancing at the ceilidh and celebrating with our members and wonderful staff.”
The reception and photographic display is open to the public and features a remarkable recorded history of the transformation of the site. Many of the cottages reflect their function within the framework of the old gunpowder village and there are ruins and lade along the banks of the River Oude and remnants of the tramway running from the village to the pier at Fearnach Bay.
The four-star resort now has around 1,200 members and is also very popular with foreign tourists seeking a little taste of Scotland.
Resort chief executive Linda Brown said: “The first time I visited Melfort Village in 2007, I knew that I had come across a wonderful hidden gem. The west coast of Scotland has always held a special place in my heart and my affection for the resort has never waned.
“There is a magical feel about Melfort Village, which is often attributed to the wonderful people connected to it, whether that’s the staff or guests who spend precious holiday time on the resort. It’s wonderful to listen to all the stories and the experiences that our owners and rental guests have had here.
“I’m so very proud to have played a part in welcoming guests to experience the magic of Melfort.”
The dog-friendly resort is also firmly embedded within the local community, promoting places to visit and eat or highlighting the array of activities on offer in nearby towns and villages.
Linda added: “Our staff have a wealth of local knowledge and we aim to give each holiday guest a wonderful experience by working together to promote the warm west coast hospitality.
“Looking to the future, we hope that the next 40 years sees new generations of families and guests discovering the magic of Melfort and sharing their experiences of the warm welcome and the strong community feel they get from Oban, Lochaber and Argyll.”