Scotland’s Top Sporting Lodges

The best shooting lodges and sporting rentals in Scotland: from the traditional to the truly grand and glorious.

Ellemford Estate, Scottish Borders

A traditional Borders farmhouse set amidst 3,000 acres of spectacular countryside on the edge of the Lammermuir Hills near Duns. The house sits in an idyllic, secluded position and boasts magnificent views over the River Whiteadder to open countryside beyond. Ellemford Estate is perfect for shooting parties. There are over twenty different drives providing excellent sport over one or two days including pheasant, partridge, grouse and duck. Bag sizes can be arranged with the estate to your own requirements. It’s also possible to organise Roe stalking, accompanied by the estate's gamekeeper, and clay-pigeon shooting is available locally. Walking, fishing and shooting parties have access to a drying/boot room and a strong room for guns and ammunition. The house has nine en-suite bedrooms split between the main house and annexe, with superb entertaining space including a dining room seating up to 18 and a 'games room' with pool table. Unusually, the bedrooms are all of a similar size making the house a diplomatic choice. The house can be let fully-serviced with a butler, cook, housekeeper and nanny. More info: Crabtree & Crabtree, tel: 01573 226711

Letterewe Estate, Ross-shire

Letterewe Estate was owned by the late Paul van Vlissingen and is known as "The Last Great Wilderness" of Scotland. Letterewe was originally built as a shooting lodge and is only accessible by private boat across Loch Maree. Letterewe successfully combines grand accommodation with a social ambience. The family kitchen is a cook’s delight, the atmospheric dining room has a large log fire, the cosy sitting room and study are ideal for relaxing whilst the games area provides entertainment. Letterewe is a self-catering house. The maximum number of guests is 17 and 19 incl. the 4 poster bedroom. This is a great sporting estate stretching over four deer forests, and you may wish to experience a week stalking. You can fish for wild brown trout in wild and lovely hill lochs. Among these lochs, you will enjoy some of the most famous wild trout fishing in Britain. Fishing is possible from the banks of most lochs, but you can also fish from boats with one of the skilled and friendly keepers. Fly fishing is the tradition on the estate and the keepers are happy to teach beginners the rudiments. Spinning is allowed on the smaller hill lochs. More info: Letterewe Estate, tel: 01445 760207

Halliburton, Scottish Borders

A stunning, period farmhouse set in captivating Borders countryside, Halliburton provides an outstanding setting for sporting lets and mixed groups. Located less than an hour from Edinburgh, Halliburton is ideal for mixed groups of those with sporting and non-sporting interests. Clay shooting and fishing can all be easily arranged nearby. Whilst those of a non-sporting bent can explore the beautiful Scottish Borders towns, countryside and coast. Presented in a traditional country house style, the spacious accommodation features a number of interesting pieces sourced by the owners including a blend of antique furniture punctuated by delightful objets d’art, offset against soft, earthy colours and muted tweeds in keeping with the surroundings. Downstairs there’s an elegant drawing room and a separate cosy sitting room both with magnificent, uninterrupted views over rolling Borders countryside. The large farmhouse kitchen and dining area provide the perfect setting for convivial cooking and long, atmospheric meals. A large boot room/drying room provides plenty of space for outdoor kit and dogs. More info: Crabtree & Crabtree, tel: 01573 226711

Black Corries Lodge, Highlands

Black Corries Estate is a 30,000-acre traditional sporting estate situated in the dramatic and beautiful area of Glencoe. The estate offers a wide range of sporting opportunities including walked-up grouse shooting over the estate pointers, trout fishing on the estate lochs, salmon and sea trout fishing on the nearby River Leven, red deer stalking, and walked-up shooting for snipe, ptarmigan shooting on the high ground and red deer stalking later on. Black Corries Lodge has been recently renovated and sleeps 12 guests plus a bedroom for a cook. There are 2 double bedrooms, 3 twin bedrooms and 1 bunk bedroom. All of these rooms have vanity units and hand basins. One of the twin rooms (ground level) is a very large room with an en-suite bathroom and shower. This bedroom is next to the cook's annexe. There are 3 further bathrooms comprising of 1 shower room and 2 bathrooms. The lodge is let on a self-catered basis which includes housekeeping. A cook can be arranged if required. More info: George Goldsmith, 0131 476 6500

Forest Lodge, Perthshire

Atholl Estates extends to 60,000 hectares in the heart of Highland Perthshire. The Estates are centred around the historic Blair Castle, the traditional home of the Dukes of Atholl. The Estate, which is renowned for its scenery and wildlife, offers salmon and trout fishing, deer stalking and walked-up grouse shooting. The Lodge is let on a self-catering basis and is fully equipped and includes heating, electricity and a full linen service. Additional cooking or cleaning services can usually be arranged given appropriate notice. Forest Lodge is located eight miles along a private road from the village of Blair Atholl. Set against the dramatic and beautiful back-drop of Glen Tilt it offers comfortable, centrally-heated accommodation for up to 20 people and although recently redecorated and refurbished, the Lodge retains its original Victorian character. It is the perfect retreat for shooting, stalking and fishing parties. More info: Atholl Estates, tel: 01796 481355

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