Bob Dylan’s former Scottish Highlands retreat, Tomintoul House, a grand 16-bedroom A-listed stately home near Nethy Bridge, is poised for significant renovations after a planning application was approved by the Highland Council.
The iconic musician, who purchased the estate in the early 2000s, spent years at this secluded property nestled in the Cairngorms National Park.
With a rich architectural history dating back to the early 20th century, the estate now prepares for new owners to breathe fresh life into it after gaining listed building consent for numerous changes to the home’s interior and exterior.
Features included in the Tambourine Man’s former home
Originally built between 1912 and 1922, Tomintoul House features Mannerist classical architecture (popular during the Renaissance), with a symmetrical design, polished ashlar dressings (cut stone structure), bull-faced granite base courses and urn-adorned parapets (walls from the roof).
The property includes a range of original architectural features, including a grand staircase with wrought-iron balustrades, marble flooring and several late-18th-century chimneypieces.
Bob Dylan purchased the house in the early 2000s for £2.2 million, and it remained in his ownership for several years. Now under the ownership of Angus Dundee Distillers, the property is poised for restoration and redevelopment.
Proposed renovations and changes to the estate
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The renovation plans include several alterations aimed at modernising the property while respecting its historical features.
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Key changes include the creation of staff accommodation on the ground floor, the addition of en suites to the first floor, and the conversion of the loft into larger leisure areas, such as a cinema and games room.
Other planned changes include:
- Main entrance steps: The current concrete entrance steps will be replaced with new stone steps, designed to complement the architectural character of the house. This modification was deemed necessary as the existing steps were not original to the house.
- Fountain restoration: The fountain at the property will be reinstated as a centrepiece, ensuring it reflects the original design.
- Driveway repairs and edging: The driveway will undergo repairs, including edging work to improve the overall appearance. However, the use of tarmac for the driveway was carefully considered. To minimise visual impact, it was agreed that a grey or buff tarmac with surface chips would be used, rather than standard black tarmac.
- Internal changes: Other works to the interior, such as upgrading bathrooms and the addition of cornice work, will help modernise the property without affecting the principal rooms or original architectural features.
- External drainage work: As part of the renovations, the external drainage pipework will be replaced with cast-iron piping that matches the existing profile and colour, to maintain the aesthetic integrity of the listed building.
Why the council approved the plans
The Highland Council granted listed building consent for the renovation plans, with careful consideration given to the house’s historic value.
According to the council, the proposed alterations were well within the scope of what is acceptable for a listed building and would not harm the estate’s character. A spokesperson for the council explained: “The works proposed mainly affect secondary areas of the house and do not detract from the building’s architectural integrity.”
One point of concern raised by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) was the proposed resurfacing of the driveway with tarmac, which could affect the setting of the listed building.
However, following consultations, it was agreed that the tarmac should be in a lighter shade, such as grey or buff, with surface chips added to blend with the surrounding landscape The restoration of the existing fireplaces and the careful preservation of original materials were said to be key aspects of the plans.
HES further advised that the main alterations, such as the removal of partitions in secondary attic rooms to form larger spaces, were acceptable as the changes would not negatively impact the historical fabric of the building.
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