Expect unexpected delights at The Larches. Starting in the cottage-style garden – a clear labour of love – you’ll find a lush lawn (game of croquet, anyone?), unbroken views across farmland and mixed woodland, as well as a charming garden shed topped with a slate roof and decorative finial. A modern sauna with a porthole window offers a unique way to soak up these scenes. And whether you’re in the mood for solitude or connection, a variety of seating awaits. Take the quirky Alice-in-Wonderland-style bench held up by a pair of stone squirrels, the sauna-side deck, the swinging egg seat overlooking the lawn, or the conservatory patio – an idyllic dinner setting next to winding paths through lavender and rose bushes. Serenades from birds and grasshoppers are provided at no additional cost.
The delights continue inside, too. Open the front door, and you’ll find a thoroughly modern space, resplendent with bold design choices that somehow remain completely in keeping with the building’s character. Nowhere is this exemplified better than in the lounge, where designer ornaments sit atop antique furniture while jewel-toned sofas and a geometric rug complement the floral wallpaper. It’s all in very good taste. The four bedrooms – two up a staircase at one end of the house, and two up a second staircase at the other – beckon for a peaceful night’s sleep. We particularly like the bunkbed room: its hot air balloon and giraffe light fittings are sure to please younger guests. The two upstairs bathrooms are bright and sleek, while the downstairs loo veritably glows in the afternoon light.
In the open-plan kitchen and dining room, there’s plenty of space to cook, eat and relax. If you’re someone who likes to kick off the day with a strong coffee, you’ll enjoy the Sage bean-to-cup espresso machine.
With its abundance of large, south-east facing windows and clever reworking of the original layout, this is a warm and bright home to spend time in. The woodburning stove in the lounge means you’ll always be cosy, no matter the time of year.
The Larches is just off a singletrack road that runs through the hamlet of Skye of Curr. While it feels private and rural, it’s within walking and cycling distance of the popular Speyside Centre, and a 10 minute drive from Grantown-on-Spey, Nethy Bridge, Boat of Garten and Aviemore.