Stylish dower house that’s big on space

IT was built as a grand home for ageing ladies of leisure. But now househunters have the chance to snap up this former dower house located in the heart of the Highlands and to enjoy it as a family home.

A sprawling seven-bedroom property, B-listed Highfield sits in five acres of mature gardens in what was once the estate of the Mackenzie family of Highfield, near Muir of Ord. Dripping in history, grandeur and distinctive looks, Highfield has been put on the market for less than the price of a twobedroom apartment in London.

Built in the 19th century on the site of a farm dating back to the 1600s, the property served the Highfield Estate as a dower house – a home provided for the widow of the previous owner of an estate.

And it is quite easy to imagine Dame Maggie Smith’s iconic Downton Abbey dowager countess character chastising ladiesin-waiting from one of the house’s several grand living rooms.

The house retains its original round chimneys, iron crest to the roof, and many other unique features including casement and sash and case windows, vaulted ceilings, the entry gates, pillars and railings.

Highfield House, itself, was built in the mid-1800s as a home for the Mackenzie family.

However, all that remains of the estate are the gate lodges and dower house, the main house having burned down in 1947.

Following this the dower house became the main family residence and in more recent years functioned as a hotel.

Boasting a reception room, a huge lounge, a family room and a sitting area and dining room off the kitchen, the home offers a dizzying selection of rooms in which to relax. Three of the seven bedrooms are fitted with en-suite bathrooms, while upstairs the house somehow also finds room for a separate study.

Estate agents Yopa said: ‘The property is well placed for access to the major tourist attractions of the area including Loch Ness and Drumnadrochit, the Cairngorms, Skye and the Outer Hebrides and the far north to John O’ Groats and the Northern Isles.’

Outside, the property has five acres of gardens bursting with mature woodlands, rhododendron bushes, specimen trees, wildflower meadows and a partially walled kitchen garden.

Offers over £675,000. Contact Mark Gollan at Yopa on 0161 468 1430 or Mark.Gollan@yopa.co.uk