This Book

[Bavarianbrit]

Found this, source - Google Search
Affric lodge
Affric Lodge was built at a cost of £8,000 by Lord Tweedmouth between 1860 and 1872.
It replaced an older building which became the stalkers house.
Tweedmouth, owner of neighbouring Guisachan had taken a long lease on the Affric estates. On completion of the new Lodge the Chisholm estate reduced his rent by £1,000 per annum until the lodge was paid for and it became the estates property.*
* taken from My Yester Years in Glen Affaric by Duncan MacLennan. Head Stalker – Glen Affaric 1942 – 1989.
NB. Duncan notes papers he held dating back to 1850. It would be interesting to find out where these papers are now held. Duncan died on Monday 6th October 2014 at Runivraid, Cannich, in his 101st year.
From The First Munroist, The Reverend A E Robertson. His Life, Munros and Photographs. Chapter relating to Rights of Way, Old Tracks, Coffin Roads etc. Kintail to Glen Cannich and Glen Affric.
Affric Lodge is one of the most beautifully situated lodges in the Highlands, It was built by the first Lord Tweedmouth in 1870, and shortly thereafter a sort of gentleman’s agreement was come to providing that, if the old right of way via Knockfin and Beinn nan Sparra and the south side of Loch Affric was left unfrequented in order to give privacy to that side of the forest, Lord Tweedmouth would construct a good path along the north side and give the public way-leave over it. This was done, and both the proprietor and the public got the benefit. The Lodge has been featured in many newspapers lately as it is available for lease at around £35,000 for a week! The current owner who purchased it in 2018 is David Matthews. Born in Rotherham son of a coal miner Mr Matthews has amassed a fortune of £40million from selling motor cars. Press interest is most likely because Mr Matthew’s son is married to Pippa Middleton the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge.

 

[Oldstalker]

Yes, cracking book, record of a simpler era

I stalked Glen Affric on occasions through the 90s. Apart from the walkers and midges... a fine spot

@Oldstalker I used to stay in the lodge (I was at your old Alma Mater with John Watson's son, Andrew) and could stare at the blue sepia Landseer murals on the drawing room wall for hours. It was just a shame you couldn't open a window in the summer without the screens down as the place would fill with midges! I hope you are well

Yes, thanks Nick.
One of our guests at the Lodge spent the entire night (in early June) in the drawing room looking up the loch watching the changing light around the hills. Ronnie Buchan, with whom you stalked??, was an extremely good stalker and of the educated variety. I used to assist him for the final week of the stag season in the "noughties" by carrying kit and dragging whilst assisting also the guests.
The Matthews have further developed the estate making much more accommodation, ancillary facilities, and installing a hydro-electric scheme from Loch Lapaich, as well as widening and improving the road into the Lodge complex. It is now very swish by any standards.

 

[NickJ]

Yes, thanks Nick.
One of our guests at the Lodge spent the entire night (in early June) in the drawing room looking up the loch watching the changing light around the hills. Ronnie Buchan, with whom you stalked??, was an extremely good stalker and of the educated variety. I used to assist him for the final week of the stag season in the "noughties" by carrying kit and dragging whilst assisting also the guests.
The Matthews have further developed the estate making much more accommodation, ancillary facilities, and installing a hydro-electric scheme from Loch Lapaich, as well as widening and improving the road into the Lodge complex. It is now very swish by any standards.

Indeed Ronnie was the stalker then, as I understand it he retired/left when Andrew sold it to the Matthews family

 

[Ronin]

Thanks to @Oldstalker I have spent many visits over the years in Glen Affric though never stayed unfortunately

A truly wonderful and serene place

 

[opticron1]

Of course, all of this chat about tales from old estates makes you hope that there are still some Keepers and Stalkers who still have to ability and yearning to write down some of their tales - I feel there may be a few stories where the names would have to be changed to protect the innocent/stupid/dangerous (delete where applicable), but I'm sure there are a few members on here who could be encouraged to put pen to paper....

 

[JockStalk]

Thanks to @Oldstalker I have spent many visits over the years in Glen Affric though never stayed unfortunately

A truly wonderful and serene place

I stayed there as a 16year old - in the ‘less well appointed than the big house’ red-lead stalkers bothy. Very fondly remembered.

And I found where the stalkers stash of navy rum was hidden

Less fondly remembered was when that was discovered by said stalker……..

 

[Oldstalker]

Of course, all of this chat about tales from old estates makes you hope that there are still some Keepers and Stalkers who still have to ability and yearning to write down some of their tales - I feel there may be a few stories where the names would have to be changed to protect the innocent/stupid/dangerous (delete where applicable), but I'm sure there are a few members on here who could be encouraged to put pen to paper....

I hope and trust that is NOT an invitation. I had thought to quote @JockStalk 's strapline about not making the same mistake twice BECAUSE, as he says, I make it five or six times and any book I wrote would have far less on clients; the good, the bad and the b****y awful, and far more on my errors (many of which gave folk a good belly laugh) than any more solid material, or pearls of wisdom. It was fortuitous that he was the next to post and so I could make the attribution quickly.

 

[opticron1]

@Oldstalker You know, you really want to!
Just think of the hours of entertainment as people wondered whether they were the subject of the "stories"....... I always thought @bogtrotter could have produced something similar, as he always had a few good tales to tell!