John Dickson

“MARY, what did Nicky say was the hottest Aga ring?” I shouted through to my other half from the well-equipped dining kitchen in our first house swap. “I can’t remember. I’m busy trying to lit the wood burning stove in the front room!” Mary sounded harassed.

Home swapping is definitely a different holiday experience. A bit like AirBnB without any money changing hands. The main difference, of course, is that the people whose house you’re living in are, at that very moment in time… living in your house. That certainly adds a frisson of trepidation: as I climbed into my co-swappee’s bed that first night, I pictured another couple lying in our equally comfortable bed. I was fine by the second night.

The house exchange was Mary’s idea, after our daughter Kathleen moved into her first flat and turned us into empty-nesters. We have a comfortable family-sized home in Kirkintilloch with great views of the Campsies. “We could swap with folk anywhere in the world. There are houses all over Europe and America. Even as far as Australia and New Zealand. The world could finally be your oyster!” She said, throwing my old cliche back at me.

Could I cope with the idea? Some friends and family were aghast at the concept. “Your home is your sanctuary. What if they find skeletons in your cupboards?”

But I’m a great believer in ‘Why Not’ – when my philosophy changes to ‘Why Bother?... I’ll be slithering down that slippery slope to perpetual boredom. So I’m open to new experiences and adventures while I can still manage. There are a number of websites offering a platform and we chose Guardian Home Exchange, which seemed good value for a year’s subscription of £59.

The concept is very straightforward. Trawl through the thousands of homes on offer, then fill out the site’s online form and upload photos of your home and surrounding area, giving a decent description of the upsides of having a shot of living your life. Then, either sit back and wait for all those folk in Hawaii, Rio or California to flood your inbox with offers… or you can send any one of them an offer of a swap, especially if their profile mentions that they might fancy a trip to sunny Scotland.

A few days after posting our house on the site we received a message from a woman in Tarbert called Nicky. She asked if we’d fancy a long weekend on Loch Fyne. After some online chat and a couple of phone calls we agreed our dates.

Coincidently, this was Nicky and her husband’s first foray into house swapping. Nicky seemed pretty au fait with the idea, having already swapped with family and friends. Although she was quite pleased when it turned out that she’d get to meet us on the changeover day. That was a comfort for us also.

Excitement mounted as the day approached. Mary made a list of things that "had to be done" to make our house fit for visitors. The local charity shops did well as we took the opportunity to declutter and house hadn’t looked so good in years.

Reaching Tarbert and the top of the long driveway we came in sight of a stunning Victorian villa overlooking large wooded gardens. Nicky and her three delightful children met us when we arrived in Tarbert and gave us the grand tour of the house as Mary, her sister Peggy and I took in the impressive vista.

“The house is called ‘Dun Alistair’ after the first owner, but we call it ‘Fun Alistair’! We just moved here last year.”

The children eagerly guided us through the house with its large bay windowed lounge and spare bedroom/playroom on the ground floor. The wide hallway leads into the big dining kitchen with the Aga being the centre piece. This became Mary’s nemesis as she battled to produce a sumptuous dinner in time for our daughter's arrival the next day. Kathleen had been touring Scotland with two New York friends in a campervan and they were looking forward to getting a shower for the first time in days.

At one point, poor Mary cried out, “I need an Aganey Aunt!” Boom! Boom!

Mary’s a great cook, but she’s used to the immediacy of high speed gas and the Aga seemed to need more relaxed and patient handling.

Upstairs, three large bedrooms and another playroom provided plenty of accommodation. Looking through the bay window of our master bedroom we could make out the hills of Argyll around Portavadie across the waters of Loch Fyne. Exquisite.

We woke up early the next morning to a crisp blue sky, the colours of the hills glistened pinks then reds as the sun crept over the craggy horizon. It fair competes with our Campsie sunset views.

That first evening we received an unexpected message on our extended family Whatsapp group. Our nephew Graham had posted: "No way! Just delivered Domino’s to John and Mary’s house, expecting it to be for Rhys and Declan [our grandsons]… but it was for some randoms! Just remembered they’re doing a house swap thing."

There are a lot of Dickson cousins and the app came alive with all the activities that could possibly be going on in our house at that very moment. "I hear they’re planning a rave in the back garden." Hmm...

Morning came with a charming text from Nicky. "Sun streaming on Campsie Hills! We all love your house!”

We explored the environs of Tarbert, wandering along the harbour with its flotilla of yachts moored in the bay, and the occasional sighting of the Portavadie ferry. We followed the coastal path down from our temporary home, along the rock strewn sandy beaches.

Just after dusk Kathleen arrived in her rented campervan. She and her New Yorker chums spilled into the house. They had whistle-stopped all over Scotland – from Aviemore to St Andrews, Loch Lomond and Inveraray and now Tarbert.

That evening felt surreal; sitting round the big candle-lit conservatory table, tucking into Aga cooked, Scottish stew and all the trimmings, enjoying the twenty-somethings' chat, comparing Central Park and the NY subway to the wilds of Scotland’s single track roads.

“It’s so much greener than I expected.” Cora exclaimed. Amba, her flatmate, loved Inveraray where some locals had offered their driveway to park the camper for the night. “That was really friendly.”

Next morning, the girls left early, more whistle-stopping ahead and we decided to have lunch on Gigha. A drive towards Campbeltown, then a short ferry crossing to the most southerly Hebridean island. It was a glorious blue-sky day, albeit windy.

We took shelter and coffees in the prosaically named but welcoming, Big Jessie’s Café beside the ferry terminal.

Twenty minutes of bracing sailing and we were walking the quarter mile along the narrow road to the Gigha Hotel. A surprisingly spacious establishment. Traditional Sunday lunch overlooking Ardminish Bay was well worth the journey.

Back at ‘Fun Alistair’ we went for a last evening stroll down to the harbour. The Corner House pub’s lights welcomed us in to a traditional local where the chat was friendly and we had a chance to review our first House Swap.

Mary chinked her pinot grigio. “Well, apart from the quirkiness of that Aga contraption I think it’s been great. I loved the notes from the children ‘Welcome to our home’.”

Peggy thought for a moment. “Keeping that lounge log fire going. It’s quite therapeutic you know.”

We left after a light breakfast the next morning, leaving everything ship shape. We took the even more scenic route home. The ferry across to Portavadie then single track roads looking down on the magnificent Kyles of Bute. A glimpse of Loch Striven, then followed the Holy Loch to Dunoon and across to Gourock,

We came back to a tidy house and more notes from the children, thanking us for the fun they had enjoyed. All in all, a great success and we can’t wait for that next escapade from somewhere in the world popping onto our computer screen.

Home Swapping Tips:

1 Check out the website www.guardianhomeexchange.co.uk. You’ll find user friendly help and guidance to get you started.

2 Once you’ve received an offer you like. Reply asap. After communicating via the website, exchange phone numbers, and call.

3 Once mutually suitable dates are agreed, get your house in order.

4 Turn the housekeeping chore into a plus by enjoying the decluttering.

5 Any private or business papers etc should be locked away.

6 Leave clear written instructions for heating, cookers etc.

7 If you’re not able to meet your co-swappees personally ask a friend or relative to meet them with keys and show them round your house.

8 Let your neighbours know. We forgot, but they figured it out.

9 Leave a welcoming gift such as a bottle of wine and a note.

10 Once home enjoy trawling through the world of possibilities for your next adventure.