Shepherd's Cottage Badanloch

Shepherd’s Cottage is a wonderful property situated on the Badanloch Estate in majestic Sutherland in the Northern Highlands of Scotland.
Badanloch comprises approximately 27, 500 acres of wild country, and is located in the Strath of Helmsdale, west of KInbrace in the north of Scotland and on the southern reaches of the ‘Flow Country’. The Estate land incorporates the mountain Ben Griam More, at its’ highest point, with a summit at 590m above sea level. The second highest mountain on the Estate is Cnoc Liath-bhaid Mhoir at 432m. the remainder of the land comprises a combination of flows, mountain and water features, with the majority of the land heather covered, with coarse white grass, suitable for deer and in places sheep farming. There is a broad cross section of biodiversity on the Estate, achieved through a lot of hard work by the keepers, supported by the trustees and the wider family interest in the Estate.
The Estate was bought by the present owners in 1954 and is much loved and enjoyed by the family to this day. Estate business principally comprises forestry, fishing, deer stalking and sheep farming, with some 1200 breeding North Country Cheviot ewes at the heart of the farm business. Shepherd’s Cottage is the first holiday cottage on the estate, and it has been lovingly renovated and extended to create a very comfortable and impressive place to stay. The high standard of accommodation coupled with the cottage location in a truly awe-inspiring spot makes for the perfect Highland getaway for family, a group of friends, or those keen to cast a fly on the local lochs and rivers.
On entering the cottage there’s a fantastic, glazed sunroom porch and sitting area, with coat and boot storage and a concealed drying cupboard, great for drying wet gear or washing. It enjoys views over Lochs Badanloch and Rimsdale and beyond to west Sutherland and Ben Hope. A lovely spot to relax in and have a dram at the end of the day.
Beyond the sunroom and into the original part of the building, the open plan living room is off to the left with glass fronted wood burner taking centre stage and comfortable sofas to relax in after days out exploring. The attractive décor stands out immediately and you’ll be pleased to realise that it runs through the entire cottage. Beyond the sitting room, the kitchen/dining room is located at the rear of the house. It’s a great space and again the views out across the landscape are spectacular. There’s access to the garden from the kitchen, which is fully enclosed and wraps right around the property.
At the front of the house there’s also a comfortable double bedroom with spacious shower room adjacent to it. On the first floor there are two twin rooms with lovely views and a shared shower room.
Shepherd’s Cottage is a very special holiday home, not only because of its stunning location and proximity to so many amazing sights in the Northern Highlands, but also because of the added benefits the estate is so kindly offering to those that stay.
During the fishing season guests will have access to one of the Estate trout lochs, by boat or bank fishing, on each of the days that they are staying at no extra cost. Prior arrangement with the head gamekeeper is required. For novices a short fishing lesson may be available with gear provided, but those seasoned fishing guests will need to bring their own tackle including life jackets for the boat.
And during the winter months, the estate provides supplementary feeding to the wild deer population. By arrangement with the head gamekeeper, guests may be able to accompany the team whilst they are feeding at no charge. This is an excellent opportunity to see the deer in close-proximity and learn more about how a Highland estate works, including what is done to maintain the ecological balance. Shop, pub and restaurant 22 miles.