How Roger Dean Grew Up at The Lazy Duck and Took It On

For anyone discovering it for the first time, what is The Lazy Duck?

The Lazy Duck is a stylish and elemental off-grid basecamp tucked away in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. For over 30 years, it has served as a sanctuary for adventurers, artists, and bird-watchers. We offer a curated collection of dwellings: three off-grid huts, a cozy bunkhouse, and a traditional cottage, complemented by a wellness hut, a pond-side sauna, and a unique co-working space. Situated where the ancient Abernethy Forest meets the moorland, parts of the site offer a front-row seat to the spectacular summits of Cairn Gorm and Bynack More, while other corners provide a profound sense of peace surrounded by towering pines.

How has it felt taking over and continuing your parents’ vision?

There is a deep sense of purpose in nurturing the place where I grew up. My parents created The Lazy Duck to foster a sense of community and a profound connection to the wild, and carrying that forward feels like a natural evolution. My own earliest memories are woven into these woods; I was that child running through the heather, building dens, and discovering the secrets of the forest floor. Today, we see that same child-like adventurer awaken in visiting families and couples alike. When they change up the rhythm of their everyday world to collect sticks, light a fire, or explore the moor, you notice a tangible shift in their pace; shoulders drop, and they start to breathe a little deeper. My parents always used to say, 'This place is too good not to share,'and that sentiment stands true. We want to facilitate a more natural rhythm that encourages a meaningful connection with each other and with our local Nethy Bridge community. Whether it’s through shared stories in our co-working space, a massage from a local practitioner, or a quiet moment in the woods, we’re simply continuing the invitation my parents first extended decades ago.

How do guests experience the idea of slowing down when they stay here?

Guests often tell us that disrupting their normal home routines is what truly allows them to find a different pace. Instead of a standard power shower, our visitors use outdoor bucket showers designed by my parents. You collect the water, boil the kettle on a gas stove, find the perfect temperature, and hoist it above your head. It turns a mundane task into a mindful experience. Even the short walk through the trees to our compost toilet huts, which offer a rather spectacular view of the pine forest, encourages a gentle change of habit. Whether it’s the patience required to tend a wood-burning stove or the simple act of watching the kettle boil, these small, intentional moments help our guests reconnect with themselves and the environment in a deeply calming way.

What led to the creation of Head | Space Nethy?

Head | Space was created from a desire to connect the gap between our guests and the vibrant local community of Nethy Bridge. We wanted to create a meeting point for good people doing interesting things. It’s a place where guests can balance productivity with peace, and enrich their stay. We’ve seen everything from new friendships and professionalcollaborations to the occasional business pitch, all sparked by the simple, grounding act of sharing a desk and a view of the trees.

What’s next for The Lazy Duck?

We’ve introduced a few wee changes in our first six months, some forced by aging wood and others designed to take the experience forward. The plan for this summer is to slow down ourselves and really polish the details. We want to make the most of our Breathing Space hut by bringing in more of the local community through relaxed music, storytelling, and poetry-sharing alongside the wellbeing sessions. As the nights start to draw in this autumn, we’re looking at the sky. We have this crazy idea of putting a big brass bed out in the middle of the field; a proper, comfortable spot to just lie back and watch the stars without any light pollution.

Favourite spot to visit nearby?

There’s a spot we call 'The Poet’s Seat' just a two-minute walk from the huts. It’s one of the best viewpoints in Nethy Bridge but remains surprisingly quiet. It sits under a massive Scots pine at the forest edge, looking out across the moor toward the high Cairngorm plateau. It’s the kind of place that gently encourages you to pause, whether you’re there with a book in the summer, admiring the view, or stargazing on a freezing winter night. It perfectly captures what we're about: finding a place to process, slow down, and breathe.