Although it appears tranquil, birds and animals are always busy around The Boat House. Possibly the most captivating are red squirrels, one of the most at risk species in the U.K., constantly on the move, leaping between branches and running and down tree trunks. Molehills appear overnight on the lawn, buzzards call plaintively overhead, occasionally a golden eagle flies to its eyrie in the surrounding mountains and there are always several species of duck on the river with the burn a favourite for herons. Swallows or house martins nest in the old garage, purebred ‘hairy’ Highland cattle and ponies often graze in the adjoining fields.

Until twenty years ago The Boat House was a family home with fresh veg, fruit and flowers growing where there is now mown grass. However ancient apple and pear trees still produce apples in the Autumn, there’s fresh rhubarb in Spring and pots with fresh herbs during the summer   Tiny scented pink flowers cover a six-foot high shrub all winter, followed by blue bluebells covering a bank,, clumps of golden daffodils beside the drive, then clouds of sweet cicely, golden martagan lilies, red poppies, a bush of red flowering quince and honeysuckle all growing wild, this year joined by self-sown white foxgloves alongside the drive.

Our very first guest needed a hidden, very private and suitably luxurious retreat while she starred in the latest James Bond 007 movie, ‘No Time to Die’.

“Thank you so much for this amazing place.
I had the time of my life”,
Léa Seydoux, August 2019

We hope you do as well.