At the heart of the home, two skylights bring life to the vaulted kitchen. A black Aga does the heavy lifting under a pair of sunshine-yellow pendants while open shelves offer easy access to the necessities. Wide oak boards run through to the dining room, where a round table hosts dining for up to 8. For supplies, make a beeline for Connage Highland Dairy in nearby Ardersier. Its self-service Connage Express is, quite literally, a vending machine – stocked with award-winning organic cheeses, local chutneys, biscuits and more, and open seven days a week.
Pine woods at the garden gate and a castle down the lane: this four-bedroom Highland farmhouse to rent has the best of both.
Property information
Some Highland escapes take you miles from anywhere. In the far north of Scotland, on the edge of the historic Cawdor Estate, Corbie House gives you the best of both worlds.
Pine woods and moorland start at the garden gate, while a short stroll brings you to Cawdor Castle, the village shop and a pint at the local tavern. Outside, it’s all honey-coloured stone and crow-stepped gables; inside, antiques from the estate’s own collection hang alongside contemporary art.
What’s included?
- Personal check-in
- Concierge and customisable services to add
- House manager
- A choice of two complimentary estate-based activities
7-night stay from: £14,000 – £21,000
3-night stay from: £7,800 – £11,700
The living spaces
Throughout, the home finds harmony with old and new. A pitched glass roof throws light across the entrance, guiding to a drawing room that takes classic styling seriously. White panelled walls are hung with harbour scenes, a striped ottoman is piled with paperbacks and plush fireside seats go to whoever gets there first. When the weather turns, the snug is the place to be; a second sitting room means there’s always somewhere to curl up.
Kitchen & dining
Bedrooms & bathrooms
A stone staircase winds up to four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom kitted out with Eucalyptus bath salts and handpicked soaps. One is all calm composure: panelled walls, a period fireplace, an antique dressing table set in the window. Next door: a pink quilted bedspread, gingham cushions and views out across the fields. On the top floor, two bedrooms are crowned with thick wooden beams overhead.
Outdoor space
The terrace table sits right against the hydrangeas, just a few steps from the kitchen door, so lunch moves outside the moment the sun appears. There’s a barbecue for summer evenings, and picnic kits for days further afield. Beyond the lawn, tracks lead straight into pine woodland and open moorland for walking and cycling. Red squirrels dart through the branches, and in autumn the woods are full of wild mushrooms for knowledgeable foragers to explore. For lunch with a view, make an expedition of it: the estate’s bothies, tucked away out on the hill, are the most memorable picnic spots for miles.
The estate
Few holiday homes come with a castle down the lane. Cawdor Castle has stood at the centre of the estate since the late 14th century: legend has it that the Thane was told in a dream to load a donkey with gold and build wherever it stopped to rest. It settled beneath a holly tree, and the tree still stands in the castle’s lowest chamber, radiocarbon-dated to c1372. In the centuries since, the castle has kept growing. From spring to early autumn, it opens doors to visitors, with centuries of family portraits, tapestries and furniture to explore. Outside, there are three different gardens to wander, nature trails, a nine-hole golf course and a courtyard café. All of it a short walk from Howff House’s front door.
Property features
The surroundings
This is Scotland at its wildest and most romantic: ancient woodland, heather-clad moorland and rivers winding through deep glens, with the golden beaches of the Moray Firth to the north and the estate stretching south towards the Cairngorms National Park.
Golfers, in particular, will find it hard to leave. Cabot Highlands, just a short drive away, pairs Gil Hanse’s celebrated Castle Stuart links with Old Petty, Tom Doak’s new course along the shores of the Moray Firth. Closer to home, Cawdor Castle has its own nine-hole course, and the championship links at Nairn are within easy reach.
Elsewhere, the days fill themselves. Cast a line on the River Findhorn, walk the woods from the front door, or spend an afternoon at Culloden Battlefield, Brodie Castle or Fort George. Nearby Tornagrain is one to watch: a new town taking shape near Inverness, built by Moray Estates in a traditional Scottish style – Scotland’s answer to Poundbury. When the sea calls, Nairn’s sandy beaches are a short drive away, and Inverness airport is around 30 minutes by car.
Guest Services
At your service
No request is too big or small for our concierge team. Premier League tickets to an all-important game, specialist piano tuners, a Michelin-starred plant-based chef. It’s a yes to all of the above.
Finesse your stay
Fine dining at home
Wellness & treatments
Childcare & entertainment
Private chauffeurs & car hire
Florists & florals
Sports tickets, music tours & events
Dining out in style
Seasonal experiences & décor
Mixologists & sommeliers
At home entertainment
Converted barn
Interiors by Cast Studio
Communal garden access
Scenic roof terrace
Designed by Finkernagel Ross
Select your preferred dates
The dates below do not reflect confirmed availability but help our team better guide your enquiry
from £2,000-£3,000 / night
Properties have a minimum rental period of 3 nights
Prices shown are based on 7-night stays. For stays of 3 nights or less, prices may vary depending on the property
Prices shown are based on 7-night stays. For stays of 3 nights or less, prices may vary depending on the property
Corbie House
from £2,000-£3,000 / night
20th March, 2025 - 11th April, 2025
from £44,000 for 22 nights
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