History

Past
For centuries Tigh-na-Bruaich was part of Clan Chisholm lands until the estate was sold in 1935 to Baron and Baroness Stackelberg who lived there until 1963 when the now widowed Baroness Phyllis Stackelberg sold on the estate.

 

When Baroness Stackelberg sold on Erchless Estate she excluded Tigh-na-Bruaich cottage and its grounds from the sale, retaining full ownership for herself. The reason she supposedly gave was that, out of the whole 1200 acres of this Estate, she found Tigh-na-Bruaich to be a special place of quiet beauty and tranquillity. She resided here until 1973 when she eventually retired to nearby Teanassie House and sold Tigh-na-Bruaich to Mrs Linda Christie.

 

Mrs Christie lived here for 37 years and during that time used Tigh-na-Bruaich as a retreat for her clients to whom she offered a counselling and therapy service and a place where they could get away from the stresses of everyday life.  In 2010 Mrs Christie decided to retire and sell Tigh-na-Bruaich in order to spend more time with her daughter.  

 

For myself and how I came to own Tigh-na-Bruaich, well I was born and grew up in the USA and moved to the U.K. with my parents back in 1980s. I discovered Scotland through meeting my future husband who introduced me to this wonderful country where I have lived for over 20 years now. Together we have visited the wild and remote parts of Scotland where we have enjoyed trekking, climbing and wild camping. It reminds me in many ways of Northern Minnesota (even down to the midges!) where I spent many a happy summer on my grandparents small farm.


After many years running our I.T. Consultancy business my husband and I resolved to have a serious work/life change and so we decided to set up a holiday letting business in the Highlands. We then spent many years looking for just the right property to fulfil this aspiration, the reason it took so long was that I was looking for a place that was much more than just accommodation – it had to reflect all the special qualities that I had come to love during my travels through the Scottish Highlands. I believe that with Tigh-na-Bruaich I have indeed found this.

 

 

Present
We have spent the past years upgrading Tigh-na-Bruaich little by little, but always with great care not to take way from its special character. We upgraded the access from a dirt-track to a proper driveway for our guests, as well as installing a footpath with natural stone steps leading up to Fern Cottage. We also created tracks up through the small birch woodland to the North to allow you to explore the wilder areas of the grounds. Gradually we are sensitively clearing the overgrown areas around the cottages and planting up garden beds and borders to try and create more diversity as well as year round interest. A firm favourite with guests are the feeding stations we have created to encourage birds, red squirrels & pine martens and other wildlife into the garden where they can be seen and enjoyed.

 

The variety of wildlife that can be found within these grounds are a testament to the bio-diversity of this small piece of land. Since starting work on these grounds we have seen: pine martens, deer (both red and roe), badgers, red squirrels, bats, buzzards, red kites, sparrow-hawks, ravens, tawny owls, cuckoos, goldcrests, woodpeckers, common lizards, slow worms, dragonflies and many other fauna natural to the area.

 

 

Future
However there is still much we would like to do. For example we are in the process of creating a natural wildlife pond by hand so as not to disturb the nearby trees. We are planning to make even more of the grounds accessible for guests to walk through and explore the length of the burn, which is overgrown and clogged from the years of debris washed down from the hills. We are also trying to create peaceful, secluded pockets within our woodland that are currently hidden beneath bracken and bramble. Always we will do this with our primary consideration being given to the resident flora and fauna.

 

 

Our Ethos
Previous owners have all felt a deep connection with the beauty and tranquillity that imbues this place. We feel privileged to now own and care for this small piece of land and as such feel a responsibility to do our utmost to ensure it remains that special place that all the previous owners down through the years have recognised.  

 

Finally, I hope that if you do decide to stay in one of our Cottages that you too will find this a place of tranquillity and beauty to enjoy your holiday.

 

Mary McDade

(June 2018)