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A single-storey lodge with a slated roof sits behind a stone wall and clipped hedge, mature trees shading the curving drive.
Morayshire

Gate Lodge

For two, with one bedroom, a hot tub and a sauna. Two nights at least.

Book on their website
Welcome

The Gate Lodge is a restored Georgian lodge for two in the woods of the Mayen Estate, in the Deveron Valley near Huntly, and the estate dates it to 1788.

Inside, the kitchen and sitting room share one cosy open space, with antique furniture, a range cooker, underfloor heating and a wood-burning stove with all the logs you want. The bedroom is the showpiece: a king-size bed in British-made cotton, and a double-ended slipper roll-top bath beside folding doors that open the room to the outdoors. Out in the woods there's a private sauna with a shower, and beside it a wood-fired Scandinavian bath you can run hot or cold. On the sunny patio there's an Ooni pizza oven and a Kamado barbecue for evenings outside. It's for adults only, and no pets.

It's a place full of calm, beauty, and hidden corners waiting to be discovered.
Ross McIntosh
What is here

The kitchen has a range cooker, a fridge-freezer, a dishwasher and a washer-dryer, and the living room has a wood-burning stove with unlimited logs, a smart TV and underfloor heating.

Hot tub
Sauna
Wood for fires
Bath tub
Private terrace or patio
Outdoor dining area
Alternative brew methods
Baking equipment
Barbecue
Barbecue facilities
Board games
Books
Dishwasher
Dryer
Garden
Heated towel rail
Kitchen
Local maps and guides
Rainfall shower
TV
Underfloor heating
Washing machine
Welcome hamper
Wifi
Wood-burning stove
Good to know
Sleeps
Two adults in a king-size bed.
Meeting you
In person, 4pm to 6pm. The team welcomes every guest; no arrivals on Thursdays or Sundays.
Dogs
No pets.
Children
Adults only.
Hot tub
A sauna and outdoor bath instead. Both are in the woods; the bath is wood-fired, hot or cold.
Logs
Provided, with kindling and firelighters.
Food
Bring the basics. The nearest shop is the Co-op in Aberchirder, 6 miles; supermarkets in Huntly.
The Shoppe
Pizza kits, charcoal and ice cream. The estate's own shop has s'mores kits too, and vegetables to order ahead.
Walled garden
Guests only, 8.30am to 4.30pm. Shut on Sundays and from November to February.
On the estate
Fishing, shooting lessons and picnics. Salmon fishing with a ghillie; book a week ahead.
Shooting days
Mondays and Fridays, October to January. Parts of the estate close for the shoots.
Bring
Wellies and a waterproof. Slippers for the uneven old floors.
Wifi
High-speed fibre wifi.
Visitors
No parties. Visitors only by arrangement.
At Mayen Estate
A grey stone cottage with dormer windows and a black front door, climbing roses either side, set behind a lawn.Bailies CottageSleeps 6
  • By the River Deveron
  • Two big dogs welcome
Free 1–4 NovA stone cottage with a slated roof and a blue front door, climbing roses in pink and white flanking the porch.Butlers CottageSleeps 4
  • Painted box beds
  • A hot tub over the valley
Free 11–14 DecA triangular timber cabin stands behind a wooden gate and post-and-rail fence, bare trees framing the entrance.MidparkSleeps 2
  • A larch A-frame
  • Highland cows next door
Free 31 Oct – 2 NovThe whole placeMayen EstateAll four places to stay, and the valley they share.See Mayen Estate
Where it is

The Gate Lodge stands in private woodland on the Mayen Estate at Rothiemay, in the Deveron Valley near Huntly.

You’ll drive through Huntly on the way, and its large supermarkets are the place to stock up; the nearest shop is a small Co-op in the village of Aberchirder, 6 miles away. The Banffshire coast is a short drive away, and the estate emails directions once you have booked.

Getting hereThe estate emails how to find it, and how check-in works, the day before you arrive. It is near Rothiemay in the Deveron Valley, and from the south you drive through Huntly on the way.

Close byWhere Ross sends the estate's guests.
  1. Ruined stone castle towers rise above autumn trees and a grassy pathHuntly CastleA walk from the middle of Huntly along the Deveron to the ruined castle and back through the town: two miles, fine for children and dogs.10 miles 19 min by road
  2. Leith Hall, pale harled walls and turrets, above its gravel drive.Leith HallA stately home with historic links to Mayen: easy trails past a pond, a bird hide and an ice house, for dogs, wheelchairs and buggies.17 miles 27 min by road
  3. The bank of grey rubble that was the fort's wall on the summit of Tap o' Noth, with heather slopes and patchwork farmland running to distant hills below.Tap o' NothSomething more of a climb: a 4.8km semi-rugged trail, with quiet spots on the way for a picnic over the countryside.20 miles 30 min by road
  4. The curving sands of Sandend Bay, yellow gorse in the foreground.Sandend BeachRoss's favourite place for quiet time by the sea: a shallow harbour and gentle shore to paddle, swim or let a dog splash about.20 miles 29 min by road
  5. Ruined stone building perched on a rocky headland above turquoise seaFindlater CastleRuins on the cliffs above Sunnyside Beach, for seabirds and the views; Ross walks there from Cullen, about 2.5 miles.19 miles 31 min by road
  6. Slate rooftops and chimney pots overlook a misty coastline at dawnCullenPark under the viaduct, pass the Three Kings rocks and find a spot on the golden sands; seals and dolphins are often out on the firth.17 miles 26 min by road
  7. The Rockpool café on a street corner beneath a stone railway viaductRockpool CaféOne of the places in Cullen, home of Cullen skink, that Ross names for a meal of freshly sourced local produce.17 miles 26 min by road
  8. Curved sign reading "Portsoy Ice Cream" on a stone corner buildingPortsoy Ice CreamStop in Portsoy for an ice cream on the way home from the coast.14 miles 25 min by road
  9. Symmetrical stone mansion with twin staircases and tall corner chimneys, set on open lawnDuff HouseWhere the tree-covered path along the Deveron to the Bridge of Alvah begins: look for the ice house, the mausoleum and red squirrels.15 miles 25 min by road
  10. Visitors walking towards a glass-fronted blue building beneath a rocky overhangMacduff Marine AquariumA family favourite: Moray Firth sea life, touch pools and a glass kelp reef tank with live feeding shows.16 miles 28 min by road
  11. Grassy headlands enclose a small sandy beach with gentle wavesCullykhan BayRoss's favourite place to watch the sun rise: caves and rock pools, shallow water for a dip, and the Northern Lights from the clifftops.road
  12. Linn FallsFrom Aberlour's distillery stream, through sunlit woods to the falls; the splash pool is for a summer swim.road
  13. The cone of the Mither Tap rising above forest and fields.BennachieWalks from the visitor centre: the Mither Tap climb, about 2.5 hours there and back, to an Iron Age hill fort.road
  14. Concrete trig point overlooking layered hills at sunsetBen RinnesSpeyside's big hill: a steady 5-mile climb from the Glack Harnes car park, with the Cairngorms and the coast from the top.road
Walks from here
  1. Knock HillKnock Hill1¼ miles, about two and a half hours8 miles away
  2. HuntlyHuntly2¼ miles, about an hour9 miles away
Directions
The great recumbent stone at Rothiemay, packing stones at its foot and three standing stones of the circle in the field behind.AttractionsRothiemay Stone Circle2.2 miles
Tall copper pot stills in the stillhouse at the GlenDronach Distillery.AttractionsThe GlenDronach Distillery3.7 miles as the crow flies
The dining room at The Bank in Huntly, a wall of lit shelves of whisky above tables laid with linen.RestaurantsThe Bank Café & Restaurant9.3 miles
Looking straight down on the Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre: the lodge, the white dry slope and the loop of the roller-ski track among autumn trees, the tubing lanes at the top.ActivityHuntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre9.7 miles
The red front of the Dean's building on Depot Road in Huntly under its name.CafeDean's of Huntly10 miles
Strathisla's twin pagoda-roofed kilns and tall chimney behind a sunlit lawn, with purple heather in front and trees in leaf.AttractionsStrathisla Distillery11 miles
The Auld Brig's single stone arch over the slow, clear River Isla in Keith, between grassy banks and trees in leaf.AttractionsThe Auld Brig, Keith11 miles
Close-up of a bald eagle's white head and hooked yellow beakAttractionsHuntly Falconry Centre12 miles
The roofless old kirk of St Congan in Turriff, its bellcote on the east gable.AttractionsSt Congan's Old Church, Turriff13 miles

Recommend to a friend

Days out from Gate LodgeAll days out from here
  1. The GlenDronach distillery and Delgatie CastleThe GlenDronach distillery and Delgatie Castle4 miles away A few hours
  2. Knock Hill and an ice cream in PortsoyKnock Hill and an ice cream in Portsoy5 miles away A few hours
  3. Huntly Castle and tubing at the Nordic CentreHuntly Castle and tubing at the Nordic Centre5 miles away A few hours
  4. Huntly Castle and River Deveron walkHuntly Castle and River Deveron walk6 miles away A few hours
  5. The Bin of CullenThe Bin of Cullen11 miles away A few hours
  6. Leith Hall and lunch at the Kildrummy InnLeith Hall and lunch at the Kildrummy Inn11 miles away A few hours
  7. The Banff coast: two harbour towns and three cliff villagesThe Banff coast: two harbour towns and three cliff villages12 miles away A day out
  8. A walk through Duff House woods to the Bridge of AlvahA walk through Duff House woods to the Bridge of Alvah12 miles away A few hours
  9. Findlater Castle, Sunnyside Beach and lunch in CullenFindlater Castle, Sunnyside Beach and lunch in Cullen12 miles away A few hours
  10. Findlater Castle, Sandend and lunch in PortsoyFindlater Castle, Sandend and lunch in Portsoy12 miles away A few hours
  11. A round at Duff House RoyalA round at Duff House Royal12 miles away A day out
  12. A walk up the Hill of Dunnideer at InschA walk up the Hill of Dunnideer at Insch12 miles away A few hours
  13. Fyvie Castle and Haddo HouseFyvie Castle and Haddo House13 miles away A day out
  14. Cullen to Portknockie and the Bow Fiddle Rock walkCullen to Portknockie and the Bow Fiddle Rock walk13 miles away A few hours
  15. A surf lesson at Cullen BeachA surf lesson at Cullen Beach13 miles away A few hours
  16. A walk up Tap o' Noth and the Rhynie stonesA walk up Tap o' Noth and the Rhynie stones13 miles away A few hours
  17. Bow Fiddle Rock at sunset and fish and chips in PortknockieBow Fiddle Rock at sunset and fish and chips in Portknockie14 miles away A few hours
  18. A walk up Oxen Craig, Bennachie's highest topA walk up Oxen Craig, Bennachie's highest top15 miles away A day out
  19. A walk in the Winding Walks at FochabersA walk in the Winding Walks at Fochabers15 miles away A few hours
  20. The stone circles of Aberdeenshire: four recumbent circles and CullerlieThe stone circles of Aberdeenshire: four recumbent circles and Cullerlie16 miles away A day out
  21. Tullynessle Deer Farm and lunch at the Forbes ArmsTullynessle Deer Farm and lunch at the Forbes Arms16 miles away A few hours
  22. Gordon Castle Walled Garden at FochabersGordon Castle Walled Garden at Fochabers16 miles away A few hours
  23. The Keith and Dufftown Railway and lunch at the SidingsThe Keith and Dufftown Railway and lunch at the Sidings16 miles away A few hours
  24. The Giant's Chair walk from Dufftown's Clock TowerThe Giant's Chair walk from Dufftown's Clock Tower17 miles away A few hours
What guests remember

I would particularly recommend a walk along the grass pathway at the side of the river Deveron.

Ralph, summer 2026
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