The sale of any large Scottish Highland estate is bound to attract interest from around the world, not only for its all-round sporting amenities, but also, in an increasingly carbon-conscious world, for its afforestation, carbon-capture and conservation potential.
Such a rare entity is the dramatically scenic, 9,309-acre Kinrara estate, which lies on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park in Upper Speyside, 39 miles from Inverness airport, and 122 miles from Edinburgh. It comes to the market this week through Scottish agents Galbraith, who seek ‘offers over £7.5m’ for the estate as a whole.
Last seen on the open market in 2005, when the estate included the historic, Georgian Kinrara House — built by the Duchess of Gordon in the 1700s and now in separate ownership — Kinrara has seen substantial investment from its Scottish owners and is now ‘a wonderful mixed, all-round estate, offering great amenity and scope, underpinned by good housing, including the comfortable, six-bedroom Lynwilg House and seven further houses and cottages, in addition to well-run farming and forestry operations and a wide range of sporting activities,’ says selling agent John Bound.
The Kinrara estate, some nine miles long and three miles wide at its widest point, boasts an excellent network of well-maintained farm and hill roads, allowing quick and easy access to all parts. The low ground is gently undulating, extending from pasture to the south and east of Loch Alvie, to farmland around Ballinluig to the north of the main A9.
The moorland at Kinrara rises from the lower slopes of the Monadhliath hills to the 2,700ft summit of the ridge between the valleys of the Spey and its tributary, the River Dulnain. Much of the grouse shooting and red deer-stalking takes place on either side of this picturesque spate river.
With its gullies, ridges and undulating terrain, the Kinrara moor provides some of the most challenging and exciting grouse shooting to be found anywhere in the High-lands, showing a 10-year average of 559 brace, despite two recent poor seasons due to bad weather. The estate also offers some enjoyable stalking, which, historically, has taken place in the latter part of the season, when the grouse shooting has finished.
The low-ground pheasant shoot is exceptional, with conifer woodlands and extensive areas of natural woodland, together with strategic areas of game crop, holding the birds well and the terrain ensures some very challenging shots. Typically, the vendors shoot 10 days per season, with bags of about 200 a day. The estate also provides some good rough shooting and wildfowling.
The River Dulnain is an important spawning tributary of the legendary River Spey and there are a number of holding pools that can provide good sport for salmon and sea trout in the right conditions. Loch Alvie and the hill loch, Lochan Dubh, also offer enjoyable trout fishing.
Buyers from the UK or overseas looking to enjoy the space, tranquillity and freedom of a traditional country estate can still find a reasonably-priced historic house in an estate setting north of the Scottish border.
The Kinrara Estate is for sale via Galbraith at £7.5 million — see more details and pictures.
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
Embrace off-grid living on this Scottish island for sale, but you'll have to share it with the local seal populationA dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come up for sale.
-
Are you a 'frag head'? Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 30, 2025Well, ARE you? And how well do you know Leonardo DiCaprio's 2002 work? It's time to find out.
-
Embrace off-grid living on this Scottish island for sale, but you'll have to share it with the local seal population
A dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come up for sale.
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country LifeOur look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spotsThe Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
-
826 years of history, painstaking restoration and 'a garden like no other' at this former National Trust house which has come to the market in KentA blooming property in Kent showcases the original garden of England. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
A wisteria-clad delight with lawns running down to the Thames at the prettiest riverside home for sale in London todayDeodar Road, near Putney High Street, offers unrivalled views of the Thames and is characterful in excess.
-
Five of the most majestic properties for sale in Britain today, from a 1,700-acre estate to a private island, as seen in Country LifeOur look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes some genuinely breathtaking places.
-
Save me: A castle on the Isle of Wight designed by James Wyatt is up for saleNorris Castle Estate also comes with 225 acres of gardens and grounds, and needs a little TLC
-
The 1,800-acre estate of the man who bought Stonehenge has come up for sale at £25 millionThe Bapton Manor Estate, in the beautiful Cranborne Chase National Landscape, seeks a new owner. Penny Churchill takes a look.
