A picnic cottage enjoyed by Queen Victoria during her visits to Balmoral has been restored to its former glory by the National Trust for Scotland.
The cottage was built by Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Louise, but later had to be saved from disrepair after it was placed on the Buildings at Risk Register.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said the property, in woodland near Linn of Quoich, was found in a “poor state” when the trust acquired Mar Lodge Estate – the nation’s largest nature reserve – in 1975.
Work was undertaken in the past to stabilise its condition, including fixing walls and installing a new roof and shingles.
The cottage has now undergone extensive restoration works, which began in June and are now complete.
NTS said the workers initially focused on clearing rubble inside the dwelling before repointing mortar and harling on the cottage walls, dismantling dormer windows, and installing doors, windows, and floors to make it watertight and accessible.
David Frew, head of Mar Lodge Estate for NTS, said: “The building is a fascinating look back at how the royals used to spend their free time, and we’re incredibly proud to see it restored to how it was in its heyday when Queen Victoria and the royal family would holiday in Balmoral.
“We’re excited to welcome visitors to experience the new cottage, where they can engage with its history.”
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In addition to repairing the fabric of the building, a covered wooden porch was added to the exterior to help reinstate the cottage’s original features discovered during the project’s research.
Mr Frew added: “Our archival research and subsequent archaeological survey showed that there used to be a porch on the property, with our archaeologists discovering post holes for the structure during research on site.
“We have tried to reinstate this sympathetically with the help of our architects, Moxon Architects, and archival architectural drawings so that it’s in keeping with the rest of the property and the 19th-century period when it was originally constructed.”
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Mr Frew said new information boards will be added and specially commissioned furniture will be created so visitors “can relax and immerse themselves in the surrounding woodland and nature”.
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Moxon Architects helped to develop the restoration plans, with Brudon Joinery contracted to carry out the work after listed building consent was granted by Aberdeenshire Council last year.
Andrew Macpherson, director of Moxon Architects, said the firm adopted an approach that required “minimal interventions while being durable and resilient – something key to the building’s remote location, challenging climate, and role as a visitor attraction”.
Mr Macpherson added: “We worked closely with the local planning authority and conservation specialists to successfully balance preservation and modernisation to safeguard the building’s history and ensure its ‘fairytale’ charm remains intact for years to come.”
