A short flight to Inverness airport, or a romantic overnight trip by sleeper train from London, followed by a spectacular 41-mile drive to the village of Achnasheen in Wester Ross is one of several easy routes to the majestic, 11,105-acre, West Highland sporting estate of Ledgowan, now on the market through Strutt & Parker at a guide price of ‘offers over £4.5m’ for the whole or in two lots. Described by the agents as ‘a 21st-century estate’, Ledgowan offers a combination of traditional sport, first-class accommodation in a spectacular setting and significant income from sporting lettings and a new hydro-electricity-generation scheme operated by a specialist renewable-energy company.
During its seven years in the hands of its present owner, the main estate house, Ledgowan Lodge, has been remodelled, structurally improved and thoroughly renovated and redecorated, with the cre-ation of six bedroom suites, a modern kitchen and breakfast room and a large oak-panelled games room on the ground floor. The owner has also built a four-bedroom lodge as overflow accommodation for smaller parties.
Accessibility within the estate has been transformed by the creation of a 10-mile network of new hill roads, which has significantly improved the scope of the stalking, opening it up to sportsmen of all levels of physical fitness, thereby enabling the estate to attract a premium rental income, especially from European clients. The stalking record shows a five-year average of 38 stags. Other sport includes grouse shooting, rough shooting for mixed game and fishing for trout and pike on four lochs or for trout and salmon on a short, single-bank stretch of the River Bran.
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Brideshead Revisited (again): The 10 scene-stealing British country homes from film and televisionWhat do an enigmatic Caped Crusader, a sopping-wet Mr Darcy and Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell have in common? Believe it or not, British country houses.
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Sophia Money-Coutts: Is it ever okay to throw your dog a birthday party?Sir Lewis Hamilton did it, so why not throw a birthday party for your canine companion, Sophia Money-Coutts asks.
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A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its historyIn the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
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'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston MartinA new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
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The Mediterranean Magic of MaltaWith historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
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Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country LifeIf Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
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The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for saleGreat estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
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A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in yearsThe ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
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The new property hotspots where you can have it all: Beautiful houses, great schools and idyllic lifestyleAcross the country people are selling up and heading to the towns where there's no compromise on dream homes, outstanding schooling and the good life, according to analysis from two of Britain's top estate agents. Anna White explains.
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Where Venice once ruled: The roving Venetians left handsome imprints across the Greek world, from its religion to its rambling villasMatthew Dennison explores the lingering traces of Venice's vanished empire — and the best places to buy where it once stood.
