Location

The Shepherd’s Bothy is situated in Glen Lyon; widely celebrated as one of the most picturesque glens in Scotland. The house is approached by a pretty single track road which follows the course of the River Lyon to its source at Loch Lyon. Fertile fields on the valley floor are flanked by impressive hills that rise up steeply on either side of the Glen. The autumn colour in Glen Lyon is legendary and its scenery is breathtaking at all times of year. It is easy to feel miles from anywhere in Glen Lyon but The Shepherd’s Bothy is in fact only 16 miles from Aberfeldy and 88 miles from Edinburgh Airport.

Aberfeldy has most essential services as well as some lovely independent shops, galleries, cafés and restaurants. The town’s Birks Cinema hosts events and screenings and there is primary and secondary schooling at Breadalbane Academy. Pitlochry (30 miles) has a Festival Theatre and a train station with direct services to London, Perth, Edinburgh and Inverness.

Glen Lyon is much loved by outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts. Ben Lawers and Schiehallion are two of the nearest of the local munros and in addition to hill walking there are plenty of opportunities for cycling, golf, fishing and watersports in the area. Killin, Kenmore and lochs Tay, Tummel and Rannoch are all within about 30 miles of The Shepherd’s Bothy.

Description

The Shepherd’s Bothy was constructed in 2010 to a design by the Denholm Partnership: a local firm with a reputation for designing beautiful modern homes with traditional character. Built on the site of an old bothy (the stone walls of which were used to clad parts of the house) its slate roof and dormer windows reflect the style of old farmhouses in the glen.

Inside, the house feels refreshingly modern and has one large, south facing living room spanning the entire length of the house. In the centre of the room is a dining area and a broad bay window looking down towards the river. A stove warms the sitting area which has views to the south, west and north whilst the kitchen has a sociable island and views to the east. A mixture of floor to ceiling glazing, French doors and pretty astragal windows fill this room with light. The house has four generous double bedrooms.

On the ground floor the fourth bedroom would also work well as a study or television room and sits next to a shower room and the boiler room. On the first floor there are three further double bedrooms, all with built in storage and an en-suite bath or shower room.

Outbuildings
Double garage (constructed in 2017)
Wood store

Garden and grounds
The Shepherd’s Bothy sits in 3.7 acres of grounds which have been beautifully looked after. Mown grass (planted with daffodils) is bound by a pretty stone wall on the roadside. The driveway leads to a spacious parking area beside the garage.

To the west of the house a charming burn tumbles down from the hillside and two bridges lead across to the wilder side of the garden which has mown paths and young specimen trees complementing the existing mature trees. There are further copses of young trees in the area to the east of the house and garden. At the top of the garden a pedestrian gate opens onto the hillside.

Directions

From Aberfeldy, drive through Fortingall and just as you leave the village (after passing Glen Lyon House) turn right into Glen Lyon. The Shepherd’s Bothy is 7 miles up the glen on the right hand side.

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