Grand Designs . . .

Although the bothy was sold with planning permission to convert to a 2 bed house, it was clear to Stephen that there was so much more potential; with a bit more imagination and he set to work on a new design!  The initial sketches were approved by the 'client' - yes, that's me!! 

And this is where I confess the encouragement (nagging?!) began to get the drawings submitted for planning . . .

Proud Owners!

Late April Stephen drives up to collect the keys (I am on a course . . . boohoo!) - keys fit for a castle!! He meets Sarah Jane and the Blairmore/Gordonstoun connection is soon established; such a small world!  Suddenly it's so much more than just a place in Grantown on Spey - it becomes an opportunity to meet old friends and acquaintances, to remiminisce about the past and to reconnect with the area.
And look what's inside:

The old wash boiler, hence the washhouse!

Gable end window

Timber lined

A snow covered viewing

We made the journey up on the Saturday PM, stayed over with Mum and Dad and then headed south again the following morning to view the bothy.  It was a bad (or good, depending on how you view it!?) winter; there was some snow on the ground and it was damp and cold . . . 

We were unable to get access inside and the site seemed smaller than than we had expected, however the potential was clear to us both and our minds were made up.  Next step, finances, offer and fingers crossed all would go our way.

How it all began . . .

1st February 2010 - I confess I was browsing one lunchtime on my PC at work, the usual dreaming about a 'wee place' in Scotland that until that point had seemed out of reach and something that would probably always remain so until we made the move up north on a permanent basis.  We had largely remained content with holidays under canvas (although 2009's damp 10 days in the busy Lake District had perhaps left us a little less content!) and often reminded ourselves of the joy and ease of Mum and Dad's Plockton hideaway that we tried to frequent a couple of times a year.  However, the lure of the Cairngorms was always there, both for holidays and one day perhaps a permanent home.  Previous browsing had never revealed anything of real interest, usually on the basis of price and/or location and I have no idea why 'the bothy' jumped out at me from the screen this time but it did . . .I rang for the details there and then!
That evening I arrived home, opened up my Inbox and there they were. 'Stephen, have a look at this? What do you reckon, worth a look?'  We both agreed it was and made arrangements to go up and view it on the morning of Sunday 14th February.  Mum and Dad had some house guests!