Bunchrew House (C)

Bunchrew is a magnificent example of a 17th century Baronial Mansion complete with colourful history and resident ghost! Only yards from the sea it is set amidst 20 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens and woodlands near Loch Ness. Marry either in the gardens; on the shores of the Beauly Firth or inside one of the beautiful function rooms.

Bunchrew is known as ‘the hotel on the shore’ standing as it does yards from the sea, yet this fabulous House is only 3 miles from the Highland capital Inverness city and right in the heart of some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

There are sixteen guest bedrooms (four of which are premium suites). Each guest bedroom has its own unique character and sense of style, and the rooms are named after local places and Scottish clans associated with the House.  The wood-panelled restaurant has fabulous views over the Beauly Firth to the mountains beyond and while dining you will often see magnificent sunsets. Superb food is on offer from Chef Walter Walker who currently holds 2 AA Rosettes and there is a fine selection of over 70 different wines.

As soon as you are ready to explore choose from historical sites site as the Clava Cairns – a well-preserved Bronze Age cemetery complex of passage graves, ring cairns and standing stones in a beautiful setting. Or, Culloden Battlefield where a cairn recalls this last battle fought on mainland Britain in 1746, when the Duke of Cumberland’s forces routed ‘Bonnie’ Prince Charles Edward Stuart’s army.  Or spend some time at Moniack Castle Highland Wineries where a friendly visitor centre offers tastings of country wines, liqueurs and preserves and head into town for a wander through the shops along the banks of the River Ness.

If you’d like a garden ceremony you can take your vows beneath the ancient Cedar of Lebanon tree (known locally as the ‘Loving Tree’ which was planted before the Battle of Culloden in 1745 and it is said to bring good luck to couples who wed beneath its’ branches.