3 Days at Milton Lodge

Milton Lodge, sleeps 14 in unrivalled comfort and peacefulness nestled on the Ralia Estate, in the stunning Badenoch area of the Highlands. It offers the perfect mix of remote peaceful accommodation and access to some of the best attractions in the Scottish Highlands. Find out what 3 Days at Milton Lodge could look like…

We know when you hear the word remote you may start to wonder how to fill your time, however Milton Lodge is just 20 minutes south of Aviemore and is roughly equal distance from Perth and Inverness, making it a perfect getaway for a short break (but don’t let us stop you staying longer!) so we thought we would share what 3 Days at Milton Lodge, this gorgeous Georgian style lodge could look like;

A sense of arrival:

If you are like us, when you have been in the car for a while, your first thought is for a good stretch of the legs. The Torr Alvie and Duke of Gordon Monument is the perfect choice, starting from Dalraddy, this 2 hour walk is one of the best in the area, the views are stunning! When back at the car park dinner awaits us at the amazing Alvie Forest Foods, using seasonal ingredients foraged, grown and reared on Alvie & Dalraddy Estate, they make delicious contemporary food and perfect for after our walk.

Feeling full in the best way, the curved, tree-lined drive which gradually unveils the grandeur of Milton Lodge is a fitting and welcome approach to home for the next 3 days. The glow from the lights is an invitation only met by the warm cosy feeling of walking into the double height reception area, straight over to the built-in bar to make an evening tiple. Fire roaring, snacks laid out and the perfect relaxing evening has already begun!

Day one:

On the first full day at Milton Lodge, our day starts slowly with a lazy breakfast in the conservatory enjoying the views over the River Spey. Once fortified, a day of adventure awaits. Laggan Wolftrax is the perfect start, with over 20 miles of purpose-built trails winding through Laggan Forest, with superb views of the Monadhliath hills. There are routes from an easy-going green trail to a black run that’s probably the most technical bit of single-track in Scotland. Don’t forget to check our guestbook app if you need to hire bikes for your stay.

Then we head back to Milton Lodge to enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the garden, with the hot tub bubbling and the games room on hand. The day ends with a delicious BBQ, with supplies from D Gilmour Butchers and the Cheese neuk in Kingussie.

Day Two:

Inspired by our Instagram feeds Loch Insh is calling this morning, there really is something for everyone, from Archery to Pedalos, Fishing to their Jungle Float, a floating waterpark, we all split up for our favourite activities. After all that fun, the perfect lunch spot is The Old Post Office Cafe and Gallery, offering a variety of freshly prepared daily specials, always aiming to source locally, seasonally and responsibly, it is a lunch you can enjoy with a real feeling of conscious decadence. 

The afternoon is spent at Dalwhinnie Distillery for something extra special. Having tried a few whisky tours this time we are trying a fully immersive ‘Spirit of the Highlands’ experience, taking 2 hours, we get to journey through Dalwhinnie’s history and stories where one of their experienced Brand Home Guides will lead us on the voyage the spirit takes before it becomes whisky. Followed by a whisky masterclass which immerses our senses and focuses on the importance of the maturation process. This tasting experience promises to be a treat for the senses, tasting 6 extraordinary cask strength whiskies paired with chocolates, including 2 very rare drams straight from the cask. This is not an ordinary whisky tour!

As the night draws in it means one last dip in the hot tub and watching the sun go down over the stunning River Spey with a glass of bubbles in hand.

Before you leave:

If you are like us and have seen the imposing ruins of the Ruthven Barracks many times as you travel up and down the A9, why not stop off before heading home and take a closer look and imagine the 300 strong Jacobite army bearing down on you. Quite an impression to leave Badenoch with!

Milton Lodge is one of our lodges that offers a flexible check-in day, offering Thursdays and Sundays, rather than our normal Monday or Friday. You can find our other lodges offering flexible check-in days and stay lengths here.