A Highland haven: Gardeners Cottage
Tucked away on the peaceful Kinrara Estate just outside Aviemore, Gardeners Cottage is a beautifully restored cottage sleeping up to six guests across three bedrooms. With a wood-burning stove and fully enclosed garden, it’s perfect for cosy evenings and dog-friendly stays. Step outside to ancient woodland trails and estate paths leading to stunning Highland views. There is a mix of gentle forest walks to challenging Munro climbs, all while feeling peacefully secluded in Gardeners Cottage.
What makes this location truly special is how it perfectly balances convenience with tranquillity. You’re just moments from the A9 making it incredibly easy to explore the wider Highlands, but once you arrive, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. The cottage is surrounded by ancient woodland and rich Highland scenery, offering a real sense of escape from the everyday.
Our guests love how accessible everything is from Gardeners Cottage. Aviemore is easily reached on foot (just a pleasant 20-minute walk), by bike for those wanting a scenic ride, or a quick 5-minute drive when you’re carrying shopping or heading out for dinner. This perfect positioning means you can enjoy village amenities, while staying in the peaceful woodland setting.
The Kinrara dog park
For families travelling with four-legged friends, the nearby Kinrara dog park is a real highlight – a secure, spacious area where your dogs can run free and socialise while you take in the stunning Highland views. Many of our guests tell us it’s become their daily ritual during their stay.
Explore the hills: Geal-chàrn Mòr from Lynwilg
Just a short distance from the cottage lies the trailhead at Lynwilg, which leads to the summit of Geal-chàrn Mòr. A rewarding walk that takes you to the southeastern edge of the Monadh Liath plateau.
The route is around 12.5km in total, taking most walkers between 3 and 4.5 hours. The path begins gently before climbing steadily through open moorland, with some rough and occasionally boggy patches underfoot. At the summit, you’re treated to sweeping views across the Cairngorms. A beautiful payoff for the effort.
It’s a walk that offers the best of Highland terrain, peaceful, remote, and deeply scenic, without straying too far from your front door.
Find out more information about this walk on the WalkHighlands website.
Unwind at Kinrara Distillery
After a morning on the hill, there’s no better way to unwind than with a visit to Kinrara Distillery – and it couldn’t be more convenient, sitting just a stone’s throw from Gardeners Cottage. This small-batch distillery is set within a converted farm steading and produces handcrafted gins using foraged botanicals from the surrounding estate.
The distillery has earned multiple national awards and a loyal following thanks to its rich, juniper-led Highland dry gins. You can pop into the distillery shop, enjoy a tasting in the welcoming bar, or simply relax with a G&T while soaking in the beautiful setting. The team are passionate about their craft and always happy to share the stories behind each bottle.
Your Highland experience awaits
A stay at Gardeners Cottage brings together everything that makes this part of Scotland so special: quiet woodland mornings, challenging hill walks with unforgettable views, dog-friendly adventures at the local park, and the warmth of local hospitality, whether by the fire or at the bottom of a gin glass.
With nature on your doorstep, Aviemore’s amenities within walking distance, and adventure around every corner, this is Highland living at its finest – perfectly positioned for exploration yet peacefully secluded when you want to simply relax and reconnect.
Find out more or book here: Gardeners Cottage.