Badenoch estate opens up on plans
A Badenoch estate is opening its doors to the community this weekend to explain its restoration plans.
Balavil Estate, Kingussie, will welcome residents of neighbouring communities on Sunday (September 11) to provide the opportunity for local people to "find out more about the owners’ plans to restore it as one of Scotland’s best examples of a Highland estate."
Balavil House, built in 1790, is best known nationally in recent times for its role as Kilwillie Castle in the BBC’s long-running drama series, “Monarch of the Glen”. The estate was acquired in 2015 by Hannah and Eric Heerema who plan to restore it to its position as "a jewel in the crown of Highland estates."
"Hannah and Eric are making a significant investment in the estate and its properties," said restoration manager George Pirie, " and have lodged plans with Highland Council and the Cairngorm National Park Authority to redevelop the derelict Mains of Balavil farm buildings.
"In order to provide more information to the local community on this, and the overall vision for Balavil estate, local residents are being invited to an open day on Sunday between noon and 4pm."
The Mains of Balavil plans will be on display within Balavil House and members of the estate team will be on hand to talk about their roles and to introduce visitors to some of the estate’s livestock. Light refreshments will also be provided.
“It’s important to the whole team at Balavil that everyone in the surrounding area understands the vision that we have to make the estate one of the best examples of a sustainable, modern Highland estate," added Mr Pirie.
“We believe we can make a considerable contribution to the tourism appeal of the area and we want local communities to benefit from the restoration and future of the estate”.
