If an award of £30,000 was offered in return for information relating to the capture of someone on the run, people would not only sit up and take notice but may be tempted to spill the beans.
Yet that reward – equivalent to more than £3million today – wasn’t enough to tempt the Seven Men of Glenmoriston who famously swore to protect Bonnie Prince Charlie, and helped him escape to safety after the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Glenmoriston played a key role in Scottish history. Today, at the head of it, sits Ceannacroc Lodge – a lovely family home, with the wilds of Glen Shiel and Kintail to the west, and a sense of history surrounding it.
The large, detached country house sits in colourful gardens which run down to the River Moriston, and takes full advantage of its location, a prime Highland beauty spot on the road to Skye.
Not far from the lodge is Roderick Mackenzie’s cairn, a tribute to a loyal supporter of the Stuart Prince. Roderick pretended to be Charlie and allowed himself to be captured and killed by the soldiers pursuing the young pretender.
With his dying breath, he called out, ‘You have killed your prince’, which ensured the soldiers took his head to Fort Augustus – giving the real man time to escape to the safety of a mountain cave high up above the glen. The cave is noted on all current Ordnance Survey maps.
Joanne Stennett, from selling agent Bell Ingram’s Inverness office, said: “Ceannacroc Lodge is a classic rural Highland property, offering the attraction of its famous place in Scottish history. Its bloody history is hard to imagine now, as it is in such a lovely, peaceful location.”
Formerly an estate farmhouse and part of the original shooting lodge built around 1902, the home is full of charm and character with high ceilings, wood panelling and large sash and case windows.
Given its location, the five-bedroom house, on the market at offers in the region of £365,000, would make an ideal B&B, while a recently added one-bed annexe would be suitable for holiday lets or a granny flat.
The lodge is approached via a tarred driveway leading to a gravel forecourt. Steps lead to the main entrance which opens into a small hallway with wood panelled walls and which gives access to a useful utility room and cloak room.
The utility room has a fitted wine rack and two freestanding full-height freezers included in the sale. The cloakroom has plenty of space for storing outdoor gear which is just as well as this home is ideal for outdoor fans with 21 Munros within a half-hour drive.
The kitchen has plenty of space for a dining table and comes with a good range of units while an oil-fired Rayburn also provides hot water. A Hotpoint freestanding cooker with ceramic hob, Beko washing machine and dishwasher are included in the sale.
Other rooms of note include a dining room with dual aspect windows offering far-reaching mountain views; a spacious drawing room full of character with panoramic views over the garden to the river and mountains beyond. Nice touches here include a working open fire with slate hearth and cast iron surround and marble mantelpiece, shelved presses and a bay window with seating.
A sitting room has triple aspect windows and there’s also a sun room which in turn, leads to the front garden.
Along with a family bathroom, WC and shower room, the house has five good-sized bedrooms while several areas within the property are dual-purpose.
A landing doubles up as an office while the upper hallway is wide enough to accommodate a settee and has windows offering fine views, along its length.
At the side of the lodge is the recently renovated annexe. Accommodation here includes a kitchen/diner with French doors, a double bedroom, shower room and a storeroom which could possibly be turned into a second bedroom or work studio.
The house sits in beautiful turfed garden grounds extending to approximately 0.75 acres with mature trees and bushes. There’s also a large workshop/barn in the garden.
Fort Augustus is the nearest village to the house. Situated on the Caledonian Canal, it has good local amenities including schooling.
Contact: Bell Ingram on 01463 717 799.