Have a fling on a house in the Highlands

There's a welcome in the hillside and the glens of a Scottish resort where you can buy lodges from €358,000. Fiona Tyrrell reports

Buyers seeking a taste of Highland hospitality and country pursuits could be seduced by Scottish resort Duchally Country Estate in Gleneagles, where CLC Private Homes is offering an attractive investment package.

Set in 27 acres of spectacular Perthshire countryside and close to the world famous Gleneagles golf course, Duchally County Estate will eventually comprise 55 country lodges dotted around the grounds of a hotel converted from a 19th century manor.

In the heart of Perthshire, Duchally is an hour's drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports. Prices start from €358,083 (£250,000) for pretty and very comfortable two-bedroom/two-bathroom lodges and go up to €429,728 (£300,000) for three-bedroom/three-bathroom homes.

Duchally is a leafy low-density resort. Lodges are laid out in small clusters in mature landscaping. A pond and woodland trail add to the country feel and many of the cottages offer spectacular views over rolling Scottish hills and glens.

Well-fed ducks, peacocks, pheasants and doves who have made the grounds their home put the finishing rustic touches to the estate.

Finished to a very high standard, the lodges are stylish and modern without compromising on cosiness. An L-shaped open-plan kitchen/dining/lounge area is well-served by dual aspect windows.

Upstairs, spacious bedrooms with lots of wardrobe space are tastefully decked out in warm browns and muted oranges. Bathrooms are smart and elegantly decorated. The lodges, each with a private decking area, currently carry a five-star tourist rating.

The estate has a newly-built leisure centre and there is an award-winning restaurant in Duchally House Hotel. There are also outdoor play areas for children and walking routes in the woodlands of the estate.

With over 40 golf courses close to Duchally, the attraction of the area to golfers goes without saying. However, there are a host of other activities for non-golfers available in the area including hiking, clay-pigeon shooting, pony trekking, parachute jumping, off-road driving and good shopping in nearby Auchterarder and Perth.

Duchally is also in striking range of Scotland's tourist hotspots in Scotland.

CLC is offering buyers the option of a sale and leaseback scheme for up to 10 years, promising investors a minimum rental return of seven per cent per year.

Club La Costa, one of the largest developers and resort managers in Europe, owns and manages Duchally.

During this leaseback period owners can take a two-week holiday at either Duchally or selected Club La Costa resorts for €720 (£500).