When asked what they’d like to drink, visitors to Glentromie Lodge in Kingussie must be awfully tempted to request a Martini – shaken, not stirred.
For the traditional mid-Victorian shooting lodge was shortlisted for the part of James Bond’s childhood home in the 2012 movie, Skyfall.
The lodge occupies a sheltered yet commanding position overlooking the River Tromie, around two miles up a single track road running through Glen Tromie.
Built in 1872 by John Rhind as a shooting lodge for Sir George MacPherson-Grant, who lived at Ballindalloch Castle in Banffshire, the private but accessible location makes it an ideal holiday destination, which is one reason the house is used both as a family home and for holiday lets.
Commanding weekly rents from £1,575 in low season to almost £3,000 at New Year, it would be an ideal property for those looking for a house that can provide a source of income.
With six spacious reception rooms and nine bedrooms, it is ideally suited to accommodate big house parties or two or three families.
It also has a good working kitchen and ancillary domestic quarters including a superb laundry room where boots and coats can be hung to dry and fishing tackle stored.
Off the main entrance hall are the morning room, which catches the early sun and is a cosy sitting room in winter, and the drawing room and dining room, which are ideal for entertaining.
In an earlier era, gentlemen would retire to the wood panelled smoking room off the drawing room, opening up its veranda doors in summer to listen to the bird song outside.
The large kitchen has an open fire and is well equipped with appliances including an electric hob and oven which supplements the traditional Aga.
The adjoining snug makes a lovely place to play games or for children to be close by, or they may prefer to visit the dedicated model train room at the rear of the house, beyond the study.
The house, which is on the market at offers over £595,000, sleeps 15 in nine first-floor bedrooms, served by four bathrooms, all with deep roll top baths.
A single garage forms an integral part of the house and opens into the rear corridor of the house.
The lodge enjoys lovely views to the east over native and coniferous woodland and to the south along the valley to the moors beyond and the setting is so private, it’s hard to believe it is only four miles from Kingussie and the busy A9.
In front of the house which is set in more than nine acres of land, there are lawns beyond the gravel parking area, flanked by rhododendrons which provide a riot of colour in early summer after the daffodils. Meanwhile a pond, with a natural stock of small brown trout, is a haven for wildlife.
On a bank to the rear of the house is a dilapidated but attractive terraced row of bothies, which once housed the ghillies on the estate.
These stone buildings are now in disrepair but offer good storage space.
Subject to obtaining planning permission they could be restored and converted to provide independent or ancillary accommodation. There are also various stores and a single dog kennel with run.
The surrounding estates abound with wildlife, particularly red and roe deer, grouse, black grouse, pheasants, red squirrels and many species of birds.
Glenfeshie, famous for the significant area of ancient Caledonian pine forest, lies within its boundaries, while deer and other wildlife are regular visitors to the garden.
There are numerous walks from the front door and Glentromie has a short stretch of river frontage to the Tromie and shares the salmon fishing rights with the owners of the opposite bank, so there’s never a shortage of things to do.
Of course you could always sit back, enjoy the view and have a cocktail or two…
Contact Savills on 0131 247 3700 or www.savills.co.uk