Roaring fires, rugged landscapes and a hint of tartan make Tim and Camilla Radford's highland retreat the perfect place to spend Hogmanay

Anyone who is lucky enough to be invited to join Tim and Camilla Radford and their children for Hogmanay is guaranteed a truly unforgettable visit. “Fantastic – best holiday ever,” is typical of their guests' reactions after a stay at the property they own on the Hebridean island of Mull. For, behind this attractive part-Georgian, part-Victorian shooting lodge lies the 17,000-acre Ben More estate, with its landscape of lochs, mountains and rivers. “In the winter we sail, have picnics and go looking for the sea eagles, just as we do in summer,” says Tim.

Days spent out on the hillside end with hot baths and roaring fires, while an Aga brings constant warmth to the kitchen and thick, lined curtains keep the bedrooms snug. Camilla and Tim, along with their four children – Harry, 11, India, nine, Katie, seven, and Jamie, five – live in Lincolnshire for most of the year and, although they adore their Scottish retreat, its bracing climate stops at the front door.

The story behind their decision to purchase the house, which was once owned by Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Louise, and her husband, the ninth Duke of Argyll, is one of pure serendipity. “We have always enjoyed renting a sporting property in Scotland for holidays,” says Camilla, “and for several years we had been looking at the idea of buying one. But none of the ones we saw were near the sea, which was an essential part of the deal for the children. We also wanted a large property as we love having our friends and our children's friends to stay.” Three years ago, their search unexpectedly ended. Tim was reminiscing to their estate agent about his own idyllic childhood holidays at Knock House on Mull, which his parents used to rent, when the agent confided that he not only knew the property but thought the current owner might be interested in selling.

The deal was swift and in 2005, after a year of refurbishment, the couple and their children were able to move in. Camilla, who dedicated herself to the improvements, says, “The previous owner had already renovated the roof, the plumbing and wiring, but we wanted to re-orientate some of the rooms. We also decided to dig our own bore hole, so that there would always be enough water for baths.” The kitchen, which occupied a prime spot right at the front of the house, was moved to the rear and an adjoining utility room was transformed into a large dining room. Above this wing are two bedrooms and a bathroom, plus a bedsit for a nanny or cook. Where the kitchen once stood, there is now an oak-panelled billiards room, which sees plenty of action during the long evenings of a Scottish winter.

Because the house has 13 bedrooms and nine bathrooms – and is a day's journey from her Lincolnshire home – Camilla called on Dunbar-based interior designer Willa Elphinstone and architect Henry Dempsey for help in decorating the lodge. “It was a dark house,” Willa recalls, “with lots of wood, and we all agreed it needed lightening up. As it rains so much on Mull, I was also aware of practicalities, such as stone floors in the entrance areas. But the biggest challenge was transporting furniture onto the island. We ended up storing stuff in Oban, then using lorries to take it across by ferry.”

For the decoration, Camilla wanted to maintain the atmosphere of a traditional Scottish lodge, but without the gloom. The only stag's head is the one above the entrance to the dining room and, elsewhere, tartan in soft heathery shades on stair runners and bedroom throws brings subtle traditional touches to the interior. Sofas are upholstered in pale blue and grey tweeds, and Willa's idea of a sage-green carpet plus rugs found favour with Camilla. “The carpet is a clever shade as it seems to absorb the colours around it,” she says. The bedrooms are named after Scottish islands, with “Muck” generally occupied by one of the boys, and much of the furniture is Victorian, bought for a song at London antiques shops and Newark Antiques Fair. “It is sad how cheaply you can pick up examples of great craftsmanship,” Camilla says. “Luckily this house can accommodate such large pieces of furniture.”

Throughout Knock House, contemporary art adds flashes of dazzling colour. “We decided to concentrate on buying paintings by living Scottish artists,” says Camilla, whose particular favourite is a serene landscape of Mull, which was a gift from her father and now hangs over the sitting room fireplace.

The Radfords spend the whole of the Hogmanay week at Knock House and entertain generously. “It is traditional to invite the owners of other sporting estates over for dinner,” says Tim. “We usually have our own venison and fish on the menu and we source most of the food, including the whisky, locally.” At midnight on Hogmanay there are fireworks on the lawn – and some very tired little people in bed in Rhum, Eigg and Muck. “There can't be many other places as beautiful as this,” Tim says. And Camilla confirms, “It is magical – everyone who comes here loves it.”

SOURCEBOOK
Aga, 0845 712 5207; www.agarayburn.co.uk.
Anta, (01862) 832477; www.anta.co.uk.
Clockhouse Furniture, (01620) 860968; www.clockhouse-furniture.co.uk.
Cole & Son, (020) 7376 4628; www.cole-and-son.com.
Harry Dempsey of Harry Taylor & Co, architects (01738) 628562.
Knock House, (0131) 476 6500, www.georgegoldsmith.com.
Murray & Murray, (01592) 774363; www.murrayandmurray.co.uk.
Newark Antiques Fair, (01636) 702326; www.dmgantiquefairs.com.
Sotheby's, (020) 7293 5000; www.sothebys.com.
Stephen Church Furniture, (01379) 652457; www.stephenchurchfurniture.com.
Tim Page Carpets, (020) 8971 1714; www.timpagecarpets.co.uk.
Vaughan, (020) 7349 4600; www.vaughandesigns.com.
The White Company, 0870 900 9555; www.thewhitecompany.com.
Willa Elphinstone, interior designer, (01620) 861400.

WORDS PAT GARRATT
PHOTOGRAPHS RAY MAIN
JANUARY 2007