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About Us

The Higgins family home moved in 2004 after 20 years in West Lothian to Stirling for a short spell then to Inverkip in September 2006.

Here’s why.

During a sailing trip to the West Coast in 2003. Kenny & Barbara stopped overnight at Kip Marina and decided to visit the local hotel in the village. They thought Inverkip would be a nice village to live in one day. Back at the Marina we had a look at the new yachts on display and were impressed with the Legend range. We also said if we could ever afford one we would like to keep it at Kip Marina.

Strange how things happen !

In March 2004 Kenny decided to leave BT (after 30 years service) and we took advantage to downsize puting the house at Murieston in West Lothian, on the market. We did the same with our 23 foot yacht Lady Barbara II. Taking advantage of an early retirement package and having sold Lady Barbara II and the Murieston house, Kenny and Barbara decided to return to Kip Marina and bought a new Legend 36 Yacht, which would arrive in August 2004. The new yacht was named Westlin Winds.

After leaving BT, Kenny had a break of a few weeks before deciding to start his own company “Island Communications” www.islandcommunications.co.uk

As Island Communications was based in Larbert Stirlingshire, It was time to look for another house closer to the office and they bought a temporary bungalow near Stirling. Things settled down and Barry and Andrew started new jobs. Andrew worked with Island Communications and Barry worked with Barbara at the Scottish Antique and Arts Centre at Doune.

Kenny’s work was pulling him more and more to the West of Scotland and most free weekends were also spent at Kip on the boat. Back at Inverkip we spotted a former Art Gallery, which had been converted to a cottage which was up for sale and we bought the house moving on 15th of September 2006. In March 2007 Barry decided to move back home to join Kenny, Barbara and Andrew.

Barry decided to move to West Lothian where he had found a job this left Kenny Barbara and Andrew at the new family home. The house is an open plan design with a large lounge it is ideally located being a short walk from the boat and even shorter walk from the Pub.

The cottage “Chesapeake” is well known and has its own short history since its origins as an Art Gallery. “Chesapeake” is American in origin being the name of the large Bay on the USA Eastern Seaboard at Washington, It is the name of an Indian Tribe of that area and it was also the name of the USA’s first Warship launched on 2nd December 1799 and was captured by the British Navy HMS Leopard on 1st June 1813. USS Chesapeake was 152 feet long with a beam of 41ft 3” she carried 340 crew and 48 Guns.

USS Chesapeake