Enjoy the outdoors

Larch House sits in a large area of its own garden and woods, with a river forming one boundary. There are many ways to enjoy the space available.

Soak in our wood-fired hot tub, with towels and robes provided, or socialise in the evening on the seating around our two fire pits – one in the garden and the other down by the river bank, with lots of logs available.

Explore the path from the house down to the water's edge – it is steep, but includes steps and handrail – where there's a large area of private river bank to relax among the ancient trees and wild flowers.

Use the covered patio at rear of the house for outdoor dining, with a barbecue and outdoor seating for warmer days, beside the suspended walkway which reaches out over the valley side, giving views up and down the river and the mountains beyond.

Guests can store their bikes, golf clubs and skis securely in the outside boot room, which is lockable. It has underfloor heating for the purposes of drying outdoor clothing and boots.

Wildlife

There is a lot of wildlife in the garden. Visitors to the garden include red squirrels, hares, pheasants, roe deer (especially at night) and lots of different birds including visiting migratory species (cuckoos and swifts) and various birds of prey (golden eagles are not unknown).

There has also been a visit from a lone feral goat, an animal whose ancestors were abandoned during the clearance of the Highlands in the 18th century.

Large numbers of red deer come off the mountains and into the local area when the weather gets wintry. Also Spring sees a frog migration which may be spotted crossing the grounds to reach the river.

Woodland regeneration

The woodland throughout our site is currently the subject of a long term programme of preservation of the old trees and regeneration through planting of new (pine, larch, alder, birch and juniper). This will encourage a new more varied woodland than that currently, and restore the area to its former splendor of mixed native woodland. This will allow a whole ecosystem of plants and wildlife to return and thrive within the shelter of its habitat, and from the food sources created

We are particularly minded to plant trees favoured by the resident red squirrels, and to avoid those trees which might attract invasive grey squirrels, which are a serious threat to the existing red squirrels in the area.

Enjoy the outdoors

"Larch House sits in a large area of its own garden and woods, with a river forming one boundary. There are many ways to enjoy the space available."

Wildlife

Woodland regeneration