From wild swims in the coastal village of Tongue to rugged mountain ranges and lovingly restored buildings bringing a cosy Scot-Scandi aesthetic to life, this purpose-led organisation is reconnecting us with our wild side
Photography by Fran Mart featuring Wildland’s minimalist Kyle House
Words by Jessica-Christin Hametner
Few places offer spectacular coastal views, rugged mountain ranges and untouched natural beauty like the Scottish Highlands. And few do a wholesome travel experience to Scotland’s untamed landscapes as well as Wildland, a leading conservation-focused organisation dedicated to a 200-year vision of ecological rehabilitation.
Founded by Anne and Anders Holch Povlsen in 2012, Wildland’s mission and values underpin the company’s ambitious goals: to protect and restore 200,000 acres across Scottish estates, while offering visitors to the Highlands authentic ways to connect with the land.
Drawing inspiration from nature, Wildland is reversing the negative impacts of climate change in Scotland with several regeneration projects, which recover precious natural habitats and push for a more caring relationship between people and the environment.
Photography by Fran Mart featuring Kyle House
For centuries, deforestation, species loss and the erosion of natural habitats has decimated some of Europe’s most diverse landscapes. About 2,000 years ago, 80 percent of Western Europe was forested; today the figure is 34 percent.
Instead of being a vibrant place for diversity, many forests are empty. In Scotland, the peat land–traditionally used as an energy source, which has been burned for hundreds of years in the hearths of Scottish homes–punctuates the landscape, but the vast majority is in a degraded condition.
Wildland aims to change this. On a mission to contribute meaningfully to the rebirth of Scotland’s living landscapes through a thoughtful approach that protects nature, boosts biodiversity and supports local communities, Wildland offers an authentic localised experience.
Photography by Fran Mart featuring Kyle House’s landscape gardening courtesy of Tom Stuart-Smith
Guests to Wildland can choose from a selection of properties, including self-catered cottages and design-led guesthouse hotels, scattered across the landscape, and lovingly restored with the help of Edinburgh-based architecture practice Gras and London studio Ptolemy Dean Architects. The wild yet modern landscape gardening is in keeping with the firm’s restorative mission and comes courtesy of Tom Stuart-Smith, known for his naturalistic planting.
Each property has a distinctive character and sense of style. From the rugged beauty of the Cairngorms National Park, the tranquil but enchanting shores of Loch Ness, to Sutherland in the far north offering an incredible sense of solitude, Wildland caters to well-travelled, style-savvy nomads who are keen to reconnect with nature and themselves.
At the immaculately designed, off-grid Kyle House, a former drovers’ cottage nestled in the scenery of the Scottish Highlands, visitors can discover a haven for quiet reflection. Traditional on the outside and refreshingly contemporary inside, the design’s modern-minimalist sensibilities open itself up to combinations that borrow from a Scottish inheritance.
Photography courtesy of Wildland featuring a guest bedroom in Killiehuntly Farm
A getaway for two, or a retreat in the wild for one, Kyle House is the ideal setting for a view-filled escape. On one side of the cottage, there’s a reading nook overlooking the Kyle of Tongue, following the water right out to the sea. On the other, visitors can sip on their morning coffees with a view over to Ben Loyal, a dramatic twin-peaked mountain dubbed ‘The Queen of the Highlands’.
This ethos of reconnecting people and their natural environment continues at Wildland’s home-from-home, Killiehuntly Farmhouse and Cottages. Dating back to 1850, the farmhouse reopened in 2015 as a Scottish guesthouse offering a unique blend of comfort, elegance and Nordic charm. Comprising cosy and characterful rooms stocked with essential home comforts and furnished with Danish design classics like the Arne Jacobsen-designed Series 7 chair by Fritz Hansen, Killiehuntly sets an example for the next generation of hospitality.
Here the kitchen is full of good things too. From free-range eggs laid by the house’s hens to fresh vegetables and herbs picked from the garden, Killiehuntly is a place designed for gentle relaxation and wholesome food. Whether in front of a roaring log-burning stove, or a quiet evening in a communal dining room, Killiehuntly is the perfect place to unwind after a day exploring the hills.
Photography courtesy of Wildland featuring Killiehuntly Farm
While many hotels are often lacking in character and depth, Wildland nurtures feelings of connection. This philosophy manifests beautifully at Lundies House, Wildland’s art hotel set on the edge of the wild on Scotland’s North Coast 500 route.
Made for slow days, the B-listed 19th century stone house has been restored to its original glory with the help of architecture practice Gras. Preserving the house’s original details was paramount; as such, Gras restored the stone floors and large shuttered-windows overlooking the scenic Kyle of Tongue and mountains beyond.
The L-shaped steading buildings have been restored and extended to house three studio bedrooms, a self-catered apartment, and a shared working and meeting space. Inside, all the rooms hold a truly boutique-inspired feel with free-standing baths, high-quality linen fabrics by Baltic Flax and homely touches, such as freshly baked bread, homemade fruit preserves and a carefully curated assortment of books and magazines.
Photography by Fran Mart featuring a bedroom in Lundies House and Keith Coghill’s bedside tables
There’s a copy of fragrance publication rakes SENSE, as well as art and design tomes, ranging from Swedish ceramics and glass designer Ingegerd Råman to German sculptor and visual artist Christian Lemmerz. A herb garden opens out from the kitchen, and takes in sea views across the Kyle and historic Castle Varrich, while a tranquil stream flows through the outer reaches of the garden and features a Nymph Pool, perfect for a cool dip after hiking.
The emphasis on minimalism is not just an aesthetic choice, but a holistic approach that celebrates simplicity, intentionality and the beauty of less in a world of more. At Lundies House, every piece fulfils a purpose and helps protect the fragile systems and businesses within the local community. Working with colours, textures and patterns, Wildland brought in the works of eminent Danish artists such as Trine Søndergaard and Peter Blonde, which sit alongside bespoke furniture and cabinetry made by Scottish makers.
Among these, Cara Guthrie’s handmade ceramics add tactile appeal throughout the hotel, while Keith Coghill has crafted a range of bespoke, wooden bedside tables exclusively for Lundies House. Dry robes are cut for adventure and come courtesy of Cape Cove and bathrooms are stocked with Wildland’s bespoke collection of toiletries made ethically by local Laura Thomas using natural ingredients.
Photography by Fran Mart featuring a converted bedroom studio in Lundies House
To complement its existing offerings, Wildland offers adventure-fuelled add-ons–think 4×4 Tours, restorative walks and pony picnics. At the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, visitors can explore the wilderness off the beaten track on an epic e-bike adventure and spot the endangered Golden Eagle in Wildland’s regenerated Caledonian Pine Woods, or for those looking to get their heart rates pumping, guests can try a spot of wild swimming on the shores of Talmine Bay.
From foraging to drinks by the fire pit, Wildland provides limitless wellness experiences that connect visitors with nature. Amidst these moody but picturesque landscapes lies a collection of extraordinary stays that cater to the design-minded visitor. Whether you’ll stop for afternoon tea on the shores of Loch Ness or continue north to the small village of Tongue to discover Wildland’s expertly designed art hotel Lundies House, the rooms are so good that you’ll want to move in.
Surrounded by wilderness and wildlife, Wildland’s properties embrace their geography, exposing the vista to allow the landscape to be the prominent feature. Inviting guests to explore the extraordinary landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and to bridge the gap between visitors and the local community by contributing to a more connected society, Wildland defies all expectations.
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