Watch roe deer and osprey among the abundant wildlife on tranquil croft with beautiful outlook over trout loch amid birch woods. Guests welcome to collect eggs, feed pet lambs (if any) see sheep, cows and vegetables.

Our lodges, Treetops and Kestrel's Nest, were both carefully built to the same design and high specifications. They are large (85sq m, equivalent to a three bedroom bungalow), well insulated, double glazed, and designed for wheelchair use. They provide a warm comfortable holiday home throughout the year, combining a lovely interior with a beautiful view. They have a Four Star Scottish Tourist Board grading.

Entry is through a utility room with both washing machine and tumble drier. This opens into the spacious south facing living room enhanced by pine panelling and a raised ceiling. It is furnished with soft chairs, dining table, colour TV and a selection of books and children's toys. A door opens on to the south facing balcony. The kitchen is set off the living room and has a gas cooker, microwave, fridge and all the utensils you will need.

 A central hall leads to the other rooms. The double room with king-size bed has an ensuite shower, toilet and wash basin. All the beds have duvets. The twin room and bunkroom (with full size bunks) are served by the bathroom which is suitable for wheelchair use. In Kestrel's Nest there is a mobile hoist. Car parking is adjacent to each lodge and there is a children's play area nearby. All our accommodation is non-smoking inside.

THE AREA

The Moray Firth has many varied geographical areas all within easy reach. From long sandy beaches, through mature woods with cascading rivers, up to the ski slopes high in the Cairngorms. The climate is usually kind with only 23in of rain and plenty of sun. There are dolphins in the sea, monsters in the loch (or so we believe), deer on the ground and eagles in the air. If you take a little time to look for these and the other birds and animals you have a good chance of success.

THE ATTRACTIONS

SCENIC TOURS

The west coast and Inverewe Gardens - 2 hours away, Loch Ness - 45 minutes away

Findhorn River valley, The fishing villages of the North East

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Fort George, Cawdor Castle, Brodie Castle

VISITOR ATTRACTIONS

Landmark Adventure Park, Speyside Steam Railway, Speyside distilleries, Baxters of Speyside

GOLF

There are over 14 excellent courses within an hours drive

The Walker Cup was played at Nairn on 11/12th September 1999

TOWNS AND CITIES TO VISIT - Inverness, Forres, Elgin, Aberdeen, Avimore

WILDLIFE - Loch Garten ospreys, Moray Firth dolphin cruises, Kingussie Wildlife Park

CULTURE - Eden Court Theatre

ACTIVITIES - Swimming at Nairn pool or beach, or Inverness Aquadome, mountain biking, pony trekking

There is a large selection of good pubs and restaurants to suit all budgets.

RELAXATION

Stay around Laikenbuie, read a good book, paddle the dinghy on the loch and relax in our peaceful surroundings. There is a children's play area and you are welcome to help collect the eggs and see the other animals.

CROFTING ACTIVITIES

History

The Croft of Laikenbuie was abandoned prior to 1895 and amalgamated with the neighboring farm Park. Both were on the Estate of Kinsteary based around the historic village of Auldearn (Battle of Auldearn 1645 between the Covenanters and the Royalists, and connections with the witches in Shakespeare's MacBeth). There are few owner-occupied farms in Nairnshire, squeezed between the large estates of Cawdor, Lethen and Moray. Luckily for us there was poor tax planning and Kinsteary Estate was sold in 196? to pay death duties and save the main family seat of Cluny in Aberdeenshire. Anyway enough modern history. A few years before that, probably during the Iron Age, there was a settlement here. The 50+ hut circles and stone clearance heaps can be clearly seen.

Location, climate and geology

We are situated 5km south of the Moray Firth coast at 60m above sea level in a small glen. This takes us off the narrow coastal plain which tends to have light sandy soil and over the brow of a low ridge to give us a southerly aspect. With prevailing westerly winds the Moray Firth creates a very favorable climatic pocket. Average rainfall is 575mm (23in), only a third of that falling on the West Coast 80km (50miles) away. Inversely hours of sunshine are increased.

The crops and livestock

The total of 57ha (140ac) comprises approximately a quarter each of improved grass, wetland, rough grazing, and birch woodland. We are now fully organic and certified by the Soil Association. We have 13 cows and 34 ewes. Hopefully these will utilize half the ground each allowing us to work a clean grazing system by alternating them year about. We hope to develop a market for all the lambs selling direct to the consumer, freezer ready, to eliminate the stress of livestock markets and long journeys to slaughter. The calves will probably be sold as stores at 10 months old.  We also want to maximize the number of different wildlife habitats, for our own interest, and to provide a special holiday destination for our guests. As amateurs we have identified 90 species of bird and have a long list of mammals, some of which we would rather be without - rabbits!

The garden

Therese has been dedicated to her garden ever since we moved here and it keeps expanding every year. The main area is in a four course rotation of potatoes, peas and beans, brassicas, carrots and onions. The other areas include asparagus, cougettes, leeks, salad crops and of course flowers everywhere to encourage beneficial insects.

There is also a greenhouse, an orchard of apples, pears and plums, a polytunnel to extend the season for basic vegetables and to grow tomatoes and cucumbers. There are Shitaki mushrooms growing on birch logs.

The woodland

We inherited typical farm woodland, damaged by livestock and neglected by man. Mainly birch, with some pockets of ash, and a scattering of holly, willows, rowan, gean and hawthorn. There is an area of older trees but I suspect that the bulk of the trees started growing after the Shetland ponies left in the early sixties. We want to develop a woodland more diverse in age structure and species, with an improvement in timber quality, but retaining the wildlife and landscape features.

In 1992 we cleared 0.92ha (2.5ac) of scrub on our western boundary and planted it with a similar mixture, again with the help of a WGS. This wood is also covered by planning permission as a burial ground so our children won’t need anything more expensive than a wheelbarrow and spade.

The latest venture started in 1998 is the regeneration of 7ha (17.5ac) of mainly birch trees. This is to be a demonstration site and we are getting management expertise and help from Highland Birchwoods. In fact without their help the wood would have probably remained damaged by livestock and neglected by man. The grants will enable us to protect the new trees, manage them for better timber quality and compensate us for the loss of grazing.