The Boat House

The Boat House is a traditional house, full of character, which has recently been transformed into a luxurious three-bedroom, dog friendly country house with state-of-the-art facilities and sublime furnishings.

Located amongst wonderful scenery, tucked away off the road, next to the River Spey, The Boat House offers luxury accommodation for six in style and comfort (3 bedrooms). It’s part of the historic Rothiemurchus Estate, just outside Aviemore.

Luxury accommodation for six

It’s been refurbished by renowned interior designer Fanny Ward and the interiors are exceptional. It has the charm and vibe of traditional country house with contemporary styling and superb facilities, including two roll top baths, large open plan kitchen, excellent WIFI, and a state-of-the-art wall-mounted 75” 4K Ultra HD television connected to a Sonos sound system.
Located on Rothiemurchus Estate in the beauty of Cairngorms National Park, you’re spoilt for choice for activities, walking, cycling, skiing and boarding, watersports, fishing and many popular attractions are close at hand.

Generous  welcome pack

On arrival we had warm welcome from James, and he explained a few things about the house. There was a generous  welcome pack with chocolates, wine, delicious shortbread, oatcakes, jam and pickle from Huntly Herbs, as well as fresh milk and butter in the fridge.

Guests can make use ‘Friends of Rothiemurchus’ membership cards in The Boat House for use during the guest’s stay‘which includes, complimentary parking at Loch an Eilein as well as 10% off nearly everything in Rothiemurchus Centre shops including Rothiemurchus beef, venison and their cheese counter with a few exceptions such as alcohol.

Antique prints and wood-burning stove

At the heart of the house is the snug, a cosy room with a large leather sofa, comfy armchair, antique prints and wood-burning stove set within the old fireplace, (with plenty of logs provided) and a loads of books and maps to help plan your next day’s exploring. It’s just the place to relax by the fire with a book, enjoy a family board game or even a dram!
This leads into my favorite room in the house, the large open plan kitchen. This is delightful, with a corner window seat, breakfast bar, Belfast sink, range cooker, fridge and freezer, dishwasher, Lavazza coffee machine, (with pods provided) nutribullet juicer and superb selection of cooking equipment.

Thoughtfully, it also has jars of herbs and olive oil, and a large thermos flask which is really handy for a day on the hill or out exploring in the forest. It also boasts, as do all the bedrooms, its own Sonos play and a radio to keep you entertained when cooking or relaxing in the snug. There’s underfloor heating throughout the kitchen and dining areas, ideal for the winter months before you head out skiing or walking.

Stunning slate-topped table that seats eight

Adjoining the kitchen is the dining room with a stunning slate-topped table that easily seats eight and contemporary lighting. This is a wonderful room to enjoy a meal with friends and family. There’s a door which opens onto a paved patio area in the garden with wooden trestle table, benches and a wood fired Indian fire bowl, There’s also fresh herbs growing in pots, the perfect place to enjoy a drink or even dinner in the summer.

Also located on the ground floor is The Rowan Bedroom. This large, stylish bedroom with super king bed has an adjoining wet room and is ideal for guests with mobility issues; wheelchair-accessible with toilet, basin and walk-in shower space, (and shower seat with grab rails).

Wall-mounted 75” 4K Ultra HD television & sound system

Also, on the ground floor is the chill out room, with woodburning stove, super comfy sofa and incredible wall-mounted 75” 4K Ultra HD television and sound system. It has built in Freesat and a whole array of streaming apps. you can sign yourselves into including Netflix, Amazon Prime and iPlayer and makes for an incredible viewing experience. The house had good WIFI throughout. There’s also a side passageway with an area for hanging up wet clothes and a washing machine.

Fabulous double-ended roll top freestanding bath

Heading upstairs there are two large bedrooms. Drumore is a lovely room with stunning interiors; antique prints, wonderful wallpapers and stylish furnishings. The huge super king-sized bed was so comfortable, apparently all the beds are handmade by a Scottish craftsman. This room enjoys breathtaking view across to the woods towards the Cairngorms.
The highlight however, is the sensational en suite bathroom. It’s huge and the double-ended roll top freestanding bath has to be experienced. There’s a table next to it with candles to enjoy while you soak away the day’s exertions. There’s also a selection of lovely soaps, shower gels and lotions from Highland Fine Soaps and complementary bathrobes. This bathroom also offers a large walk-in shower, while underfloor heating completes the five-star experience.

Next door there is a vintage style toilet in a wooden panelled room.Down the hall and past the old nursery, which is now a charming space for reading and relaxing, lies the Milton Burn bedroom. Built under the eaves, its full of character with a delightful window seat with views towards the River Spey. Again, it has a super king and super comfy bed. It’s ideal for romantic breaks, with the wonderful wood-burning stove, you can lie in bed and watch the flames. The large adjoining bathroom has another fabulous freestanding bath with candles luxury soaps and bathrobes.

Sublime holiday  house that oozes charm

The Boat House is a sublime holiday  house set in woods on the celebrated Rothiemurchus Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms. Its such a relaxing and comfortable house which oozes charm.

Luxury self-catering at its best, accommodating six in generous comfort, packed full of character and charm, yet with state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll love it! Dogs are welcome too, which is unusual in such a high-end property. It’s the perfect place for a year-round holiday in this wonderful part of the Scottish Highlands.

Perfect Days

The Boat House is an ideal base for exploring the many attractions of the Rothiemurchus and Cairngorms National Park; there’s a wealth of activities to enjoy; walking, cycling, winter sports and fly fishing are just a few.

Go for a walk under the beech tree planted 150 years ago on the riverbank along the River Spey and just along the road you can explore the amazing Loch an Eilein. A magical place surrounded by trees and mountains.

Hire bikes and explore the old logging and forest trails around Rothiemurchus and Glenmore. The rides to the green lochan or around Loch Morlich are superb.

Why not book a morning pony-trekking, or fly fishing? How about an afternoon quad biking? It’s great fun and a brilliant way to explore.Your host can arrange this.

In summer you can enjoy watersports at nearby Loch Morlich or have a picnic on the sandy beach. Depending on the water conditions, your host can arrange watersports all year round including river tubing, paddle boarding, gorge walking, canyoning, canoeing or kayaking.

There are some fantasic hillwalks available on the Cairngorms plateau, including, The Northern Corries, Cairngorm (1245m) and Ben Macdui (1309m).

In winter you can enjoy Snowsports on Cairngorm Mountain, with ski and board hire available.

Explore the nearby Treezone Arial assault course or head to the nearby Landmark Forest Adventure Park, a fantastic family day out with rides, slides, and treetop adventures as well as a new dinosaur attraction!

Go and visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, a guided trip into the hills to see these wonderful animals.

Take the train, you can take the steam train from Aviemore on the Strathspey railway to Boat of Garten, a unique experience puffing along enjoying the splendid scenery.

Go for a walk, then lunch in Duie café next to the farm shop and then buy some local venison or trout for a slap-up dinner back at the house.

How to book

Call  44 01479 812345 or complete the form below.