Welcome!

by | Jul 14, 2021 | Deer Stalking, Deer Stalking, Hunting, Red Hind Stalking, Red Stag Stalking

The Benula Story…

With the launch of our website, we thought we’d kick off our new blog page with a post telling you a bit more about the history of Benula Sporting Estate and some of the changes and renovations we’ve been making since we purchased the estate.

 

Before we get started though, we’d like to introduce ourselves! Benula is owned and managed by Robert and Kate and you can find out a bit more about us on the About page of our website. When we purchased the estate back in 2019, we had big plans to bring what was essentially a very traditional Highland estate into the 21st century. It wasn’t a project to be undertaken lightly, but we were both extremely passionate about updating the estate’s facilities and offering our customers something different from other Highland estates. Fast forward to 2020 and our plans were halted by the arrival of Covid and a global pandemic! Now that really was a curve ball we could never have predicted. Not being easily put off, we’ve gone ahead with our plans for the estate but our timescales for things like building works and renovations have taken slightly longer than anticipated.

Where are we?

Located near the village of Cannich in the Scottish Highlands and within easy reach of Inverness, Benula Sporting Estate has historically been a hidden gem amongst traditional Scottish stalking estates. It’s unique in the fact that not only does it offer some of Scotland’s most challenging deer stalking in a truly unspoilt and spectacular location, access to the deer forest can only be gained via an eight-mile boat ride across Loch Mullardoch. Unlike some other Highland estates, Benula benefits from fantastic local amenities and attractions, being just 35 miles from Inverness and a 25-minute drive from the famous Loch Ness. The village of Cannich is home to a pub and a very well stocked local shop. Nearby Tomich, Struy and Beauly also host an array of restaurants, pubs and shops. Due to the estate’s central location, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in the local area. If you’re looking to explore the Highlands and visit some amazing local attractions, we offer the perfect base for you to do just that. If stalking isn’t your thing, don’t panic, a visit to the estate provides an opportunity to escape from modern life and take in the wild Highland landscapes. The estate provides perfect scenery for bird watching, hill walking, climbing, cycling and fishing for pike or wild brown trout on Loch Mullardoch. Boat trips out on the Loch also provide stunning backdrops for picnics and exploring the estate from the water. The nearby Munros, which are over 3,000 feet, also offer a range of challenging hiking and climbing opportunities if you’re looking for adventure!

Red Deer Stalking

At Benula Sporting Estate, our emphasis is very much on improving our herd through traditional management and selective stalking. Due to the estate’s reputation for such challenging terrain, any deer successfully stalked at Benula is a fine testament to the ability of the hunter. Your stalking party will be accompanied by local professional stalker and boatman Angus Hughes, who has worked on the estate for over 20 years. You can find out more about the kind of stalking packages that we offer and the dates for Scottish Red Deer Stalking Seasons over on our Packages page.

Renovation projects

Well, where do we start? Since we purchased the estate in 2019, we’ve been managing a whole range of building and renovation projects to bring the estate into the 21st century and provide our guests with the latest that modern technology has to offer. The estate’s original cottage, which was most definitely past its prime, is currently being replaced with a beautiful eco-cottage situated on what is arguably the best spot in the Glen! Dorran Cottage overlooks Loch Sealbhanach and falls under the gaze of the Loch Mullardoch hydrodam. The cottage will provide the perfect base for stalkers, walkers and any guests who want to experience the beauty of Glen Cannich and the surrounding areas. Whilst the eco-cottage is under construction, guests can make alternative accommodation arrangements from the selection of B&Bs, holiday lets and glamping options on offer in the nearby village of Cannich. As soon as we are able to accept bookings for Dorran Cottage, we’ll be publicizing this on our website and social media pages. We’ll be sharing sneak peeks of the cottage on our social media too and it’s definitely going to be worth the wait! As part of our upgrades to the estate, we’ve also retired the ‘old green boat’ that was used on Loch Mullardoch and replaced it with ‘Wild Horse 30’, our brand new 24-foot landing craft, which will make the six-mile journey up to the estate’s landing point waterfall bay even more exhilarating. The boat trip itself is a breath-taking start to any stalking experience, as it takes in the Munros and the imposing Highland landscapes.

Give us a follow

If you want to follow our journey restoring a traditional Highland estate, don’t forget to give us a follow on social media. You can find us on Instagram @benula.sporting.estate or on Facebook @BenulaSportingEstate and we’d love to share our journey with you. To find out more about our Scottish sporting holidays with a difference, check out the Packages page of our website or drop us an email at info@benula-sporting.com We’d love to hear from you!