Framing the finest views in the land

THE more remote northerly parts of Scotland are becoming populated with increasing numbers of cutting edge contemporary homes and 17 miles from Lairg in central Sutherland on the shores of Loch Shin is a stunning example of the trend.

Harris Highland Dream, a one-off larch-clad property has been designed by award-winning architects Rural Design on the Isle of Skye. It may blend into the landscape and look unassuming – but in reality it is a sophisticated, high-tech off-grid home.

Accessed by a private track and orientated to take full advantage of the panoramic loch and mountain views, Harris Highland Dream comes with 168 acres of land with fishing and sporting rights and loch frontage – a mini Highland estate, in other words.

Internally, the standard of finish and attention to detail is evident throughout the two-storey property. There are oak and tiled floors, oak doors, oak staircase, underfloor heating via an air source heat pump, designer kitchen and luxurious bathrooms. An advanced black-painted sinusoidal roofing system with solar panels feeds a generator, while the water supply comes from a borehole.

The L-shaped layout comprises entrance hall leading to an impressive 34ft long open-plan living/dining/kitchen space with full-height windows/sliding doors on three sides to maximize the views and a wood-burning stove. The kitchen includes an independent hot water system for instant boiling water, integrated appliances and island unit, while there’s a similarly high-spec utility.

Completing the ground floor is a snug (or fourth bedroom) again with floor-to-ceiling window, main bathroom – and at the end of the hall, a dual aspect master bedroom overlooking the loch, which has two built-in fitted wardrobes and a stylish en-suite shower room with walk-in mains powered drench-style shower and vanity basin.

Upstairs, are two further double bedrooms, both with Velux windows framing views of the loch and mountains beyond (one also has a full wall of in-built storage), plus another luxuriously appointed shower room.

Outside the entrance is a large undercover area, which aside from providing shelter could usefully serve as a log store or kit store. This space also has a door into the adjoining garage. Tracks extend down to the water’s edge and also to the main road and the perimeter of the site benefits from deer fencing as the land provides sheltered wintering ground for red, roe and sika deer, which are regularly spotted on both the open hill and woodland throughout the year.

The property has riparian rights to fish for brown trout on Loch Shin, either from the shore or by boat, and while much of the shoreline falls steeply to the loch providing elevated views to both west and east, the lower ground provides a number of attractive and sheltered bays around the outflow of the Garbh Allt burn, which lend themselves to boat mooring over the summer. The birch woodlands also provide the property with a high degree of privacy whilst also maintaining access to the public road –planning consent has previously been granted for a second property on the estate. Harris Highland Dream is for sale with Bell Ingram in Inverness at offers over £650,000.

With 168 acres, its own water and electricity supply, and views at every turn, Harris Highland Dream offers the ultimate escape