Email Spean Lodge Country House - Self Catering enquiries & reservations: bookscotland@madbookings.com
Other places to stay in and around Spean Bridge
River House Holiday Accommodation - Self catering (vacation rental) at
Spean Lodge!
River House offers private, high quality holiday accommodation (4 Star Scottish Tourist Board). It occupies the whole of the spacious north wing of the Lodge and stands above the banks of the River Spean, close to its fine stone bridge.
Built in 1878 the house is very tastefully furnished and possesses many of its original Victorian features including window shutters, fireplaces, panelled doors and ornate ceiling cornices.
Spean Lodge Country House - Self Catering Accommodation
River House sleeps up to a maximum of 4 guests. There is a very large master bedroom on the first floor with antique double bed and en-suite bathroom with roll top bath. A spacious second double bedroom also on the first floor and shower room and separate toilet with hand basin on the ground floor.
There is a large and well furnished lounge/dining room with open fire and a fully equipped kitchen includes double oven and hob, fridge, washer/dryer, microwave oven etc. Household cleaning products are provided.
The house benefits a generous sized storeroom ideal for luggage, rucksacks, skis etc.
Facilities include:
· Colour television and DVD player.
. Wi-fi internet connection.
. Radio alarms in the bedrooms.
· Electricity, oil central heating, bed linen, duvets and towels
are included in the weekly rental.
· All rooms have either garden, river or mountain views.
· Your own private entrance to the House.
· Private parking area.
· Secure mountain bike storage.
· Drying room available for boots, waterproofs etc.
· First basket of logs and coal included in the rental (September
to May).
Spean Cottage Holiday Accommodation
Self Catering (Vacation Rental) at Spean Lodge. Spean Cottage offers immaculately
maintained holiday accommodation (3 Star Scottish Tourist Board). The
property overlooks an attractive sandstone courtyard with views of the
river bridge and hills beyond. It was part of the late 18th century building
that stood on this site before the Lodge was remodelled and extended in
the Victorian era.
The Servants Hall occupied the ground floor of the Cottage until the 1930s. The Cottage now offers modern comforts and a cosy atmosphere whilst retaining panelled doors and sash windows.
The Cottage sleeps up to a maximum of 4 guests in a Double bedroom on the first floor and a Twin bedroom (2 single beds) on the first floor. The Lounge with open plan pine staircase has a wood burning stove. There is a ground floor shower room with wash hand basin and toilet.
The fully equipped kitchen includes double oven and hob, fridge, washer/dryer, microwave oven etc. Household cleaning products provided.
Cottage Facilities Include:
· Colour television and DVD player.
. Wi-Fi internet connection.
. Radio alarms in the bedrooms.
· Electricity, oil central heating, duvets, bed linen and towels
are included in the weekly rental.
· Your own private entrance to the Cottage.
· Private parking area.
· Secure mountain bike and ski storage.
· Drying room available for boots, waterproofs etc.
· First box of logs included in the rental.
The Gardens
Guests are also welcome to enjoy our two acres of lovely landscaped and
wooded grounds. Relax with a drink or prepare a barbeque or alfresco meal
- there’s plenty of garden seating. The lawns are a clean and huge
play area for children, although please be aware that the river forms
part of our boundary.
Groceries and petrol
Provisions, newspapers etc may be purchased at the well stocked village
store and post office. There is also a 24 hour cash dispenser. The Lochaber
Farm Shop has a wide selection of Highland produce and is just 10 min's
drive. Fort William has a Morrisons superstore with petrol station and
a smaller Tesco supermarket. The town also has Esso, Gleaner and BP petrol
stations.
Important Information:
. Short breaks available except during the summer and Public Holidays.
. Sorry, but we do not permit pets.
. There is NO SMOKING throughout River House.
What to see & do in the Spean Bridge area
Eating out in the village – 3 restaurants (2 with AA Rosettes),
2 hotels with public bars/restaurants. Spean Bridge Woollen Mill with
weaving demonstrations, tea room and whisky shop.
Highland Soap Company gift shop. Quality handmade soaps, bath and bodycare products. Well stocked village store, post office and 24 hour automatic cash dispenser. Railway station (on the scenic West Highland Line).
Trains to Fort William (13 min's) and Glasgow (3 hours 30 minutes). Caledonian Sleeper service to and from London Euston stops at Spean Bridge. Bus links for Inverness, Fort William, Isle of Skye and Oban.
Scenic 9 hole golf course (Par 68, 4542 yards). Lochaber Shinty Club – watch this ancient, very physical Highland hockey game. Fishing, kayaking and white water canoeing on the River Spean. Superb mountain, forest and riverside walks and bike trails.
The Great Glen Way
Scenic and mostly low level long distance walk (73 miles). It runs from
Fort William to Inverness. Join the walk at Gairlochy 3 miles from Spean
Bridge. We offer transport to and from the walk.
East Highland Way
New long distance walk of 78 miles traversing the West Highlands from
Fort William to Aviemore. Your first overnight stay is in Spean Bridge.
Again, it's a low level walk passing through outstanding scenery.
Local historical attractions.
The village takes its name from the fine stone bridge over the River Spean.
Designed and built in 1819 by Thomas Telford, the great Scottish engineer.
High Bridge
Built by General Wade in 1736 across the Spean gorge, now an impressive
ruin. It was here that the first shots were fired in the 1745 Jacobite
Uprising. Lovely circular 3 mile walk from the village through woodland
and by the riverside.
The famous Commando Memorial and mountain viewpoint
This commemorates the elite soldiers who trained in this rugged area during
the Second World War. 1 mile from the village.
Achnacarry Castle
The ancestral home of the chiefs of Clan Cameron and the wartime location
of the Commandos Basic Training Centre. Visit the Clan Cameron Museum
in the castle grounds. 6 miles from the village.
The Caledonian Canal
Telford’s massive engineering project dating from the early 19th
century. It provided a vital transport link between the west and east
coasts. 3 miles to Gairlochy locks from the village.
What to see & do in the West Highland area - The Outdoor Capital of the UK
The village of Spean Bridge is surrounded by some of the most breathtaking mountain scenery in Britain. The Lochaber area is a magnet for walkers, climbers and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. It offers something for everyone, no matter what your ability or fitness level.
Ben Nevis
Britain’s highest mountain (4406 ft) is only a 15 minute drive.
The Ben Nevis track rises from Glen Nevis and zig zags to the summit.
On a clear day the views are amazing. Allow 6-7 hours. Treat this imposing
mountain with respect as weather conditions and visibility can change
rapidly. Walking boots, waterproofs and warm clothing essential.
Nevis Range Ski Centre and Mountain Gondola
Located just 6 miles away on the slopes of Aonach Mor. Ascend to 2150
ft by Britain's only mountain gondola. Restaurant, walking trails and
award winning downhill mountain bike track. During winter it offers the
highest ski runs in Scotland and 20 km of pistes.
The Road to the Isles
The road journey from Fort William to Mallaig is unforgettable for its
contrasts of stunning mountain, loch and coastal scenery. The fishing
port of Mallaig provides ferry connections to Skye and the Small Isles.
On your way, visit the Glenfinnan Monument at the head of Loch Shiel.
This commemorates the site of the raising of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s
standard and the rallying of the clans in 1745 at the start of the Jacobite
Uprising.
Arisaig is also worth a visit and is where seasonal boat trips sail to Eigg and Rum. The lovely Silver Sands of Morar and Loch Morar, one of the deepest expanses of freshwater in Europe, are also on this route.
The Jacobite Steam Train
Enjoy the romance of steam? Then take this memorable round trip rail journey
from Fort William to Mallaig following the Road to the Isles. You’ll
cross the great railway viaduct in Glenfinnan which has featured in all
the Harry Potter movies. (A train from Spean Bridge connects with the
steam train at Fort William).
The Isle of Skye
This is a fantastic day trip from Spean Bridge. Skye can be reached by
ferry from Mallaig or by the road bridge at the Kyle of Lochalsh. The
A87 to the bridge will take you through Kintail and yet more majestic
mountain and loch scenery. Don’t miss the famous Eilean Donan Castle
on Loch Duich which featured in the movie ‘Highlander’.
Once on Skye, you’ll be impressed by the jagged peaks of the Cuillin Mountains, the spectacular setting of Dunvegan Castle and the smoothness of Talisker single malt whisky.
Loch Ness and Inverness
The A82 road north from Spean Bridge takes you through the Great Glen
and follows the shore of Loch Ness. Try and catch a glimpse of its most
famous, but elusive, resident.
Urquhart Castle is one of Scotland’s best known historic monuments. It commands a wonderful position with far reaching views up and down Loch Ness. Visit Drumnadrochit for lots of monstrous information.
The city of Inverness sits astride the River Ness and is the capital of the Highlands. You'll find excellent shopping and great places to eat. Nearby is the Culloden Battlefield - the site of the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1746. Cawdor Castle, with its wonderful gardens and 'MacBeth' associations, is also closeby.
Glencoe
Absorb the dramatic mountain beauty of Scotland’s most famous glen.
Learn more about the infamous Massacre of Glencoe in 1692. 30 min's drive
south on the A82.
Ardnamurchan Peninsula
A haven for otter and eagle, this unspoilt area is another easy day trip
from Spean Bridge. The rugged west coast of Ardnamurchan is the most westerly
point on the British mainland. Climb the Ardnamurchan lighthouse or enjoy
the pristine beauty of Sanna Bay. Travel to the small car ferry at Corran,
south of Fort William, for the short trip across Loch Linnhe. Take the
A861 to Salen and then turn left onto the peninsula.
‘Monarch of the Glen’ Country
Discover the location for the popular BBC TV series. Travel 15 miles east
from Spean Bridge on the A86 and you’ll reach Loch Laggan. Across
the loch stands the magnificent Ardverikie House – the Glenbogle
of the TV series and also the setting for the film 'Mrs Brown' starring
Judi Dench and Billy Connolly.
Travel a little further and you‘ll enter the Cairngorms National Park. Visit the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, the beautiful Rothiemurchus estate, the resort of Aviemore or take the funicular railway up Cairngorm mountain.
Whatever the weather, and whether you’re lively or lazy, there’s something for everyone in the West Highlands!
Spean Lodge and the Davy Family
This fine and rambling Highland lodge, with its origins in the late Georgian
era, was the home of the Davy family for over a century.
George Baynton Davy (1838-1907) was from Nottinghamshire, England and moved to Scotland after his marriage to Martha MacKay, the daughter of a local lawyer from Fort William. George had inherited money from his father, who had worked in South America organising the extraction of guano (bird droppings).
Once the guano was collected it was then exported to Europe for use
in the lucrative fertilizer industry.
The couple's six children were raised and received their early education
in Spean Lodge. Lila, the eldest daughter, kept a daily diary which provides
a fascinating insight into the life of the late 19th century household.
In 1887 the Lodge supported fourteen serving staff, including a butler,
cook, governess, coachman, gamekeeper, gardeners and numerous housemaids.
The family had an active social and religious life and the Lodge played host to many guests. Hunting - especially deer stalking - and fishing were popular pursuits in the hills and rivers of Lochaber. There was never a shortage of game and salmon in the house larders. Winter saw the family enjoying ice skating and curling matches on the many frozen ponds and burns.
It was a leisured and privileged life. George, however, had deep moral convictions and was generous with both his time and money. A great local benefactor, he funded the building of St. Andrew’s Church and Choir School in Fort William.
Guests are welcome to read published extracts from Lila’s diary. They also include an account of her distinguished military service in France and Belgium during the First World War.
The House
The Lodge was originally constructed c.1800 and extended around 1840 and
again in 1878. The house retains many Victorian features including working
window shutters, slate and marble fireplaces, decorative plaster work,
panelled doors, a fine iron balustrade on the main staircase and original
sash windows.
The Gardens
A professional gardener from Kew in London was employed to landscape the
grounds in the mid 19th century. Two acres of the original gardens remain,
containing specimen trees like the giant redwoods and a large collection
of rhododendron and azaleas. The Davy family and their house guests played
a range of summer sports on the spacious lawns, including tennis, cricket
and bowls.
There’s a mass of spring colour provided by the rhododendron while in autumn the trees glow with russet and golden brown foliage.
DIRECTIONS
Spean Lodge is located in the centre of the village of Spean Bridge, which
lies on the main A82 Fort William to Inverness road.
Arriving by road:
Travelling north from Fort William, enter the village and the Lodge is
sign posted on the left, opposite the Spean Bridge Hotel. Turn into this
tree lined cul-de-sac and Spean Lodge is the large country house on the
right.
Travelling south from Inverness on the A82 or west on the A86 from Dalwhinnie and the A9. Enter the village and drive over the river bridge. The turning into Spean Lodge is sign posted on the right, opposite the Spean Bridge Hotel.
Arriving by rail:
Spean Bridge railway station is just 5 min's walk from Spean Lodge. Mondays
to Saturdays there are four/five daily arrivals/departures to and from
Glasgow, including the Caledonian Sleeper service from London Euston.
Sundays there are two/three arrivals/departures, including the southbound
Caledonian Sleeper.
Arriving by air:
Inverness Airport is 90 min's road journey along scenic Loch Ness. Glasgow
International and Edinburgh Airports are each a drive of around 3 hours.
You can enjoy the magnificent Highland scenery on the journey to Spean
Lodge.
Email Spean Lodge Country House - Self Catering enquiries & reservations:
bookscotland@madbookings.com
