A formal dining room comes dressed for all occasions. Hand-sketched murals of the hunt circle the walls: ponies and stags in soft sepia, watching over a long table set for the whole party. Mornings are slower in the breakfast room, a cosy spot with a round table, a crackling wood-burner and a window seat for second cups of coffee.
Highland living at its most soul-stirring. In the far north of Scotland, this 12-bedroom lodge to rent trades city noise for river song and heather hills.
Property information
Few places capture the Highlands quite like this. In the far north of Scotland, between the snow-dusted summits of the Cairngorms and the golden sands of the Moray Firth, a quiet valley opens out to river, woodland and heather-clad hills.
At its heart sits The Shoot Lodge. Set on a working estate of 42,000 acres – with a history that dates back to the 11th century – it’s all farmland, forestry and valley views. Inside, the design is a joyful take on tradition. Expect tartan carpets, raspberry velvet by the fire and a dining room where you can await delights from the resident chef.
What’s included?
- Personal check-in
- Concierge and customisable services to add
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Fully staffed, including live-in chef and house manager (additional chef charges may apply)
- A choice of two complimentary estate-based activities
7-night stay from: £42,000 – £56,000
3-night stay from: £23,400 – £31,200
The living spaces
Come in from the cold and the lodge wraps around you. The drawing room is where days wind down: velvet sofas gather around an open fire, logs stack high beside the hearth and tartan curtains frame the hills. The neighbouring room is a sunnier affair, with buttery yellow sofas and walls brimming with well-thumbed books. Claim one of the green velvet armchairs in the bay window and watch the weather roll down the glen. Should you need to connect with the outside world, there’s a separate study room.
History is never far away here – look out for the grouse chart, which tracks the estate’s shoot records from 1838 onwards; a fascinating read that displays numbers soaring in the bumper season of 1912.
Kitchen & dining
The lodge comes fully staffed, and the cooking is a highlight in its own right. The estate hand-picks its chefs – some flown in from London and across Europe – who bring Scottish traditions to the table with a distinctly modern touch. Expect dining that draws on the Highland larder and cooking with real flair from the full commercial kitchen.
Bedrooms & bathrooms
After a day in the open air, sleep comes easily here. Each of the twelve bedrooms has a character of its own. Wake beneath a four-poster wrapped in floral wallpaper, under a cascade of chintz canopy, or in a cornflower-blue room with its own fireplace. Sash windows look out over lawns, rivers and hills, so the first thing you glimpse each morning is the glen. Nine bathrooms keep the period charm.
Outdoor space
Step outside and the Highlands are yours to roam. Ancient oaks shade the lawns, pheasants stroll by, and the grass runs down to a bank where the Findhorn rushes over its stones. Seven miles of fly-fishing water await, driven shooting can be arranged across the estate, and the heather hills await keen walkers. Come back to a panelled boot room for the muddy wellies, then take a drink out to the pink-washed courtyard.
The estate
Few holiday homes come with a castle on site. 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 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 drive from the lodge.
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 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.
Off the course, the days fill themselves. Cast a line on the Findhorn, walk the valley from the front door, or spend an afternoon at Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield, Brodie Castle or Fort George. 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
Pool, nightclub and extensive leisure facilities
Select your preferred dates
The dates below do not reflect confirmed availability but help our team better guide your enquiry
from £6,000-£8,000 / 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
The Shoot Lodge
from £6,000-£8,000 / night
20th March, 2025 - 11th April, 2025
from £44,000 for 22 nights
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