The story of Cowal's hidden gem, Caol Ruadh Sculpture Park

Overlooking the stunning Kyles of Bute, the grand Victorian mansion of Caol Ruadh is a special spot that means many things to many people.

Translating from Gaelic to “Red House on the Narrows”, the eye-catching building on the Cowal peninsula has a storied past, from being a grand home for titans of industry, to a place where generations of children from Glasgow got a taste of life outwith the city smog.

Most recently, it’s been a family home and, since 2012, the site of a sculpture park which attracts visitors from around the world.

Every summer, owners Karen and Colin Scotland open the gardens up to display works by local artists and some from further afield, sharing the love they have for the place with visitors, many of whom have fond memories from Caol Ruadh’s previous lives.

“I had no idea how public this building was when we bought it,” Karen, herself an artist, explained. “When we did it up, we had people coming back to see the place, so I felt I owed it to people to open it up.

“One of my main reasons for having the sculpture park is that I’m trying to give back to people their memories of the place, if I can facilitate that in any way.”

Caol Ruadh was first built in 1898 for William Connell, a Clyde shipbuilder, and was later sold in 1907 to paint manufacturer Thomas Hinshelwood.

Others who have called it home include George Bennie, the engineer who created the famous railplane at Milngavie that would inspire the invention of the monorail.

But the most emotional connections to the site come from over 50 years as a residential school. During the Second World War, it housed evacuated children and would then welcome in boys from the city of Glasgow who, due to TB, asthma and rickets, would benefit from fresh air. Children from poorer areas of the city continued to spend time there until it closed in 1998.

“We get men coming back every year to have a look at the place and remember old times,” Karen said. “They all say it was the best time of their life.

“It’s testament to the people who ran the school that these boys were so happy. They took about 40 children on average and they could be there for three to six months.

“The distance, seeing the sea and bathing in it – it’s all part of the mystery of what Caol Ruadh had to offer and what these boys had not experienced yet in their lives. It was very special.”

Pauline Muir - Seal Pup and Shimmering Shoal. — Pauline Muir – Seal Pup and Shimmering Shoal.

Tucked away near the village of Colintraive, where there is a ferry crossing to Bute, the house is accompanied by 18 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.

In the backdrop are the famous Kyles of Bute, where yachts, the paddle steamer Waverley and the occasional seal navigate the waters.

Karen is originally from Australia, but husband Colin is Scottish and knew the area well. They’d been eyeing up a place there for a few years – and Caol Ruadh itself – before spotting an advert in a magazine when it finally went on the market.

“We had done a recce of the area,” Karen said. “On the Ordnance Survey map I’d written: ‘Caol Ruadh, residential school, fabulous location, magnificent views, but unlikely to be sold.’ Then a couple of years later, there it was.”

Vanessa Lawrence - Resting. — Vanessa Lawrence – Resting.

Through a “labour of love” over 25 years, and with the help of local gardeners Jim Gilfillan and Jeremy Kaufman, they first transformed it into a family home for the couple’s four children, who were able to fish, kayak and swim and enjoy a sense of independence.

Then, inspired by similar parks down south, Karen and co-founder Anne Edmonds established it as a host for an annual celebration of art and sculpture. “I’ve designed a few gardens but I think this has been the most satisfying, even though we’re constantly having trees and branches fall down,” she said. “That’s nature’s way of saying it’s in charge!

“I love three-dimensional work and sculpture and had played a little bit with it myself. We thought we’d just try it out for one year and see what the response was.

“It was overwhelming, to say the least, and everybody had very positive feedback about carrying on. It was not something I thought would happen.

“It was a bit of trial and error, but we’ve got there in the end. I think the garden now is at its peak.”

Frances Clark - High Priestesses. — Frances Clark – High Priestesses.

Since its inception, the park has displayed works by more than 100 different artists.

This year’s exhibition includes work from Glasgow ceramic artist Janice Affleck, Bute-based stone and marble sculptor Tom Allan, and Guy Elder, who carves wood at his Argyll home.

The installations will be available to buy, and the park will also host a number of workshops for budding artists.

Artist and sculptor Lucianne Lassalle runs a portraiture session next weekend, with ceramic artists Moira Ferguson and Bill Williamson also running classes in June.

On June 29, the park hosts a clay making and storytelling workshop with sculptor Louise McVey and storyteller Selina Graham.

“It’s been glorious so far,” Karen added. “We’re grateful for that. Also there’s no midges, which is incredible!”

The park is open Thursdays to Sundays, 11am to 5pm, until Sunday, June 29, with entry, which includes a trail map, £5 for adults, free of charge for children. Visit scottishsculpturepark.com