A Royal Deeside Earned Luxury Experience
Luxury for us is rooted in place, people, and purposeful experiences. It is defined by the richness of one’s encounter with the land and its culture, with the locals whose stories shape the fabric of a destination, and by the sense of accomplishment that comes from stepping outside one’s comfort zone and returning, changed.
After a hearty Scottish breakfast, you set out to immerse yourself in the wild and rugged wilderness that is the Cairngorms National Park. Alongside a private driver and one of our Land Rover 4×4’s, you are transported to the trail head to meet a local ranger. This is not just a guide, this is a local expert who knows every bend in the trail, the best places for wildlife sightings, and the best spots for discovering wild berries.
The hike takes you through some of the Cairngorms most stunning viewpoints. Glimpses of the King’s Balmoral Castle are spotted through Caledonian pines, pauses are taken alongside riverbanks where hot tea is poured from thermos, and each step is viewed as an opportunity to understand the landscape that you traverse and to reflect on the beauty you have found.
As you make your way through this wilderness, you will be introduced to traditional foraging techniques and ingredients. Fill your hand-woven basket with seasonal herbs, fresh berries, wild greens, and perhaps even a dirt-covered mushroom or two. This bounty, collected along the way, will later be transformed into a spectacular meal.
Continue your hike, or if mobility is limited rejoin your private driver, to the endearing and remote Auchtavan Bothy. High on the mountainside above the River Dee, Auchtavan represents of centuries of a rural Scottish way of life: farming families who spent their summers high on the mountain side, a favourite stop for HM the Queen Mother on her hikes through the Balmoral Estate, and a community that came together to save and restore the derelict structures.
Upon arrival to the bothy, you will be warmly welcomed by a private chef and mixologist, ready to transform your foraged bounty into a fire-cooked feast. Warm your hands over a roaring fire and sit back on cosy cashmere throws and sheep skins while your lunch is prepared. A gorgeous three-course meal will be served amongst bouquets of wildflowers: start with a salad featuring your wild greens and herbs, delight in venison from neighbouring estates served alongside a blackberry reduction made from your foraged blackberries and end your meal with a cheese plate featuring exclusively highland cheeses. This is not just eating local, this is the reward of stepping out into the wilderness and connecting with the local landscape in a new way.
After lunch, the mixologist will bring out a collection of fine spirits, all made in Scotland. From Royal Lochnagar Whisky, made in the landscape which you are overlooking, to the finest of Scottish gins, you will learn how the different ingredients you found blend with each spirit to make unique twists on traditional cocktails.
As the sun sets, a local story-teller musician will join the party. They will not only bring stories of the village that once stood where you stand, but they will bring legends and lore that have become intertwined with Scottish culture. As you cosy by the fire for warmth, you will learn that the cashmere throws are not just for wrapping around yourself this evening, they are for you to take home as an enduring reminder of your day in the Scottish landscape.
Cap off your evening by candlelight, enjoying a whisky tasting showcasing the best of Scottish Whisky served in a personally engraved Glencairn, a fitting reward for the day’s efforts. From the sherry-casked punch of Strathisla’s malts to the complex flavour of Glenturret and the prestigious, smooth taste of a Macallan 15 year old, you will be talked through the making of Scotland’s Golden Spirit.
End your evening being transported back to the Fife Arms, back to a setting which may feel more familiar. You will return with more than a cashmere wrap and a whisky glass, you will have a deep appreciation for the Scottish landscape and the memories of digging mushrooms from the dirt which were then transformed into an exquisite dish.
