SW experiences an estate with gorgeous vistas and intricate attention to detail

The Mr. and I love a cottage – to be fair, a lodge, a yurt or a cosy cabin suits us to a tee too. We are always on the lookout for somewhere not too far from home, but that feels remote and ideally with uninterrupted views; especially if there is a hot tub to relax in while enjoying the vista. We experienced Brae Cottage on Monzie Estate recently, and discovered so much more than just a holiday destination.

After spending the first 10 years of her working life as a marketing exec in New York, Alexandra met her future husband, economist David Crichton, while they were both working in London. Neither of them imagined that come 2014, they would be running, developing and working on a country estate in Highland Perthshire. What was booked as a weekend away for my husband and I actually turned out to be a real education and we left in absolute awe – not only of the beautiful estate but of this amazing couple and their dedicated team (that includes their two lovely boys), who are so hardworking and determined to develop and nurture the estate they are jointly responsible for.

Monzie is situated just outside Crieff in the picturesque Perthshire hills, and is home not only to several holiday rentals but also the well-known Monzie Joinery, who make custom-fitted furniture. Alexandra kindly took us on a tour of the estate, and our first stop was the on-site hydro. Built by David’s grandfather after the Second World War, the hydro powers the whole estate and all the properties on it, meaning the estate is self-sufficient. Alexandra taught herself upholstery and made all of the bespoke headboards for the rooms, as well as the lamp shades, curtains and more.

As we drove around the estate, Alexandra pointed out the areas where scenes from the multi-award-winning Outlander were filmed, with many of the show’s enthusiasts arriving from all over the world to stay on the estate and enjoy its beauty. The estate’s restored Georgian castle is also impressive, and sits in the middle of lush lawns as the diamond of Monzie.

The estate’s various properties are all secluded in their own way, and range from the one-bedroom Brae Cottage to the Mill House, which has five bedrooms and a large, sociable kitchen area. The Mill House would be a brilliant base for a bigger family and after looking around it, I could easily see my lot enjoying a special birthday celebration or even Christmas there.

Brae Cottage sits at the top of a hill and looks out onto the estate, with views across yet more rolling hills. The interior is just beautiful. The fitted kitchen, lounge shelving, bedroom hanging space and bathroom units were all made on-site.

The cottage contains a compact kitchen, including a canary yellow Smeg fridge freezer, which I just loved. The modern pop of colour amongst all the original features inside the cottage works so well, and the balance between old and new throughout the property is just perfect. There’s also a cosy lounge with a wood burning fire, comfy sofa and chair, and a TV unit filled with books, DVDs and board games.

The bedroom boasts the original fireplace – which is no longer used due to the central heating – but it’s a design delight. The bed was ultra-comfy and the linen, excellent quality. The bathroom has a large walk-in shower and there were some complimentary toiletries from Scottish Fine Soaps, which are a favourite of mine. The welcome bottle of cava and some homemade brownies were an absolute treat, but for the Mr. and I – both avid gardeners – we especially loved the little vase of wildflowers, picked fresh that morning from the estate. Watching the sunset behind the hills while relaxing in the bubbling hot tub was just the icing on an already wonderful cake.

Head to monzieestate.com for more info