All about Inshriach House

Inshriach House was originally a grand sporting lodge built in 1906 for the Black family. It was passed on to the famous alpine gardener Jack Drake before coming into the Micklethwait family in 1970. The whole estate needed restoring by the time Walter Micklethwait and his mother Lucy, (an antique dealer turned serial DIYer and art historian respectively) took over 2 years ago, setting about the renovations in a characteristically resourceful style. Now that the main house (all 10 bedrooms of it) is finished and getting a following for itself, Walter has turned his attention to the other buildings on the estate and to running the yurt, as well as a sideline restoring classic British cars down on the farm and hosting The Insider Festival.

Environmental Policy

The Micklethwaits view themselves as being a bit like The Wombles. All over Inshriach you will find resourceful re-use, from stiles to bridges, furniture to fencing, all made from foraged and flung out materials. The platform for the yurt is made from discarded fence posts, scaffold planks and timber, the barbecue from a truck wheel and all the furnishings are relics from the house and restored bits from junk shops. There are extensive kitchen gardens at Inshriach and at certain times of year the family and other residents on the estate get to gorge themselves on salad.

Inshriach is also the scene of the Insider Festival, another exercise in making brass from muck. All the bars and backdrops are made from recycled, donated and reclaimed materials. The festival features some of the hottest folk and emerging acts from across Scotland, and this year also turned its attention to firewood, renewable fuels and whittling things from wood. It is also a chance to taste the best food in the valley, all locally sourced, and a fully Scottish (as in very full and sourced from Scotland) bar.

Wildlife

There are 3 separate SSSIs on the estate and they are working with the RSPB to improve habitats for rare birds. Keep your bacon in the yurt or the badgers or pine martens will have it. You get the odd wild cat and red and roe deer come down from the moors through the winter to graze in the gardens. There are red squirrels in the trees, ospreys nesting across the river, buzzards, eagles and other birds of prey in the sky. Along the river you could meet anything from oystercatchers to goldeneye ducks, otters and voles. There are also highland ponies kept on the farm, highland cattle, a small spaniel cross called Monty and there have even been recent sightings of a panther in the woods.

Also at Inshriach

Inshriach House is available to rent for groups of up to 17 people for holidays, weddings, photo shoots, location work, creative courses and events.

Getting there

Inshriach House, nr Aviemore PH22 1QP

By car

Take the A9 to Aviemore, at the roundabout at the south end of the town turn towards Coylumbridge, then take a right turn to Inshriach and Feshiebridge on the B970. After 4 miles go past the Inshriach Nursery Gardens and Inshriach Farm is your next turning on the right.

By train

Aviemore is 4 miles from Inshriach, taxis or bikes can take you the rest of the way.

By Boat

Come down the Spey. You enter Inshriach waters half a mile from Loch Insh, 2 miles later keep your eyes peeled for a yurt on your right hand side. Disembark.

If you are getting to the Cabin by train, bus or any other non-car means you can think of be sure to take a photo and enter our Go Greenly competition to win a 4 night stay at The Wagon or The Ark.

Things to do

Outdoor & active

The National Park has something for everyone, Loch an Eilean and Glen Feshie are an easy hike from the house and, for the more determined, the Argyll stone gives spectacular views down Glen Einich and into the Cairngorms.

Rothiemurchus estate offers all sorts of activities from mountain bike hire to clay pigeon shooting, off road driving and dog sledding.

Sailing, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing and fishing are available on Loch Morlich and Loch Insh.

Alvie Estate have a riding school and also offer falconry, archery and more.

Or you can go flying at the gliding school, climbing at the climbing wall or in the mountains, or to the Kincraig Wildlife Park to see the tigers.

If all of this sounds a bit too much, kick back and go fishing with the Inshriach Fishings or take a stroll around one of the local museums.

Places to visit

Inverness is a 45 minute drive if you feel the need to do any shopping in its old Victorian Market or new, award winning shopping complex.

Loch Ness is only an hour away should you fancy your chances of seeing the monster.

Festivals, celebrations and special days

Inshriach house is home to the Insider Festival, which showcases some of the hottest folk and emerging acts from across Scotland over the 16th, 17th and 18th of June. The festival is a celebration of local music, crafts and locally sourced food and drink, of course.

Eating & drinking

Eating & drinking at Inshriach House

The Old School Shop at Rothiemurchus sells meat from the neighbouring estate, as well as the best selection of whisky and wine in the area and good local cheeses. And right next door is the well-known Inshriach Alpine Nursery Garden where, as well as plants, there is an excellent cake (we can vouch for their delciousness) and coffee shop open every day except Wednesday. Whole cakes to take away can be ordered in advance.

Pubs & restaurants

The Ord Ban Restaurant, Aviemore (2 miles). An intimate space now open every night with excellent local food all beautifully prepared.

The Old Bridge Inn, Avienmore (2.5 miles). An excellent pub with fine food.

There are plenty of bars in Aviemore and a handful of distilleries within reach of Inshriach for that tasty nightcap.

All about Inshriach House

Inshriach House was originally a grand sporting lodge built in 1906 for the Black family. It was passed on to the famous alpine gardener Jack Drake before coming into the Micklethwait family in 1970. The whole estate needed restoring by the time Walter Micklethwait and his mother Lucy, (an antique dealer turned serial DIYer and art historian respectively) took over 2 years ago, setting about the renovations in a characteristically resourceful style. Now that the main house (all 10 bedrooms of it) is finished and getting a following for itself, Walter has turned his attention to the other buildings on the estate and to running the yurt, as well as a sideline restoring classic British cars down on the farm and hosting The Insider Festival.

Environmental Policy

The Micklethwaits view themselves as being a bit like The Wombles. All over Inshriach you will find resourceful re-use, from stiles to bridges, furniture to fencing, all made from foraged and flung out materials. The platform for the yurt is made from discarded fence posts, scaffold planks and timber, the barbecue from a truck wheel and all the furnishings are relics from the house and restored bits from junk shops. There are extensive kitchen gardens at Inshriach and at certain times of year the family and other residents on the estate get to gorge themselves on salad.

Inshriach is also the scene of the Insider Festival, another exercise in making brass from muck. All the bars and backdrops are made from recycled, donated and reclaimed materials. The festival features some of the hottest folk and emerging acts from across Scotland, and this year also turned its attention to firewood, renewable fuels and whittling things from wood. It is also a chance to taste the best food in the valley, all locally sourced, and a fully Scottish (as in very full and sourced from Scotland) bar.

Wildlife

There are 3 separate SSSIs on the estate and they are working with the RSPB to improve habitats for rare birds. Keep your bacon in the yurt or the badgers or pine martens will have it. You get the odd wild cat and red and roe deer come down from the moors through the winter to graze in the gardens. There are red squirrels in the trees, ospreys nesting across the river, buzzards, eagles and other birds of prey in the sky. Along the river you could meet anything from oystercatchers to goldeneye ducks, otters and voles. There are also highland ponies kept on the farm, highland cattle, a small spaniel cross called Monty and there have even been recent sightings of a panther in the woods.

Also at Inshriach

Inshriach House is available to rent for groups of up to 17 people for holidays, weddings, photo shoots, location work, creative courses and events.