In family hands
for over 700 years
ABOUT US
The Lovat Estate has been in the Fraser family for 700 years. This long history and its deep-rooted connection with the community have shaped our values and today provide the foundation upon which we apply a modern and dynamic estate management approach.
Our core business is run from the Lovat Estate office in Beauly, Inverness-shire. The bulk of our business is property lettings and private wealth management, but we also have arable farmland, forestry and fishing. Looking forwards our focus is on renewable energy opportunities and expanding the commercial arm of our property portfolio.
Overall the Estate remains committed to investing for the long-term success and advancement of these ancient clan lands, the surrounding community, and the environment.
LET
HOUSING
RIVER BEAULY LODGE
DEVELOPMENT
LAND
MANAGEMENT
WOODLAND
FISHING
Our History
The Estate has managed the assets of the chiefs of Clan Fraser since the 13th century when the first Frasers settled in the Aird. The current chief, Simon Fraser, 18th Lord Lovat, is the 25th head of the clan.
The family fell on hard times in the early 1990’s and were forced to sell a large portion of the modern Lovat Estates, but in the 25 years since it has thrived thanks to steady management and wise investing.
This has allowed us to buy back numerous old Lovat family assets, rebuilding from the bottom up. Our goal is to continue to do so, taking profits from capital markets and investing back into the land of the Aird.
VISIT
CLANFRASER.ORG
Let Housing
The Lovat Estates consists of a portfolio of lovely old properties full of charm and history. Many of these have been renovated in the last 10 years with the goal of creating picturesque exteriors with warm and cosy interiors, well equipped for highland life.
We currently own approximately sixty houses in the Beauly area which are let on residential tenancies, any vacant properties available are advertised via the Highland Solicitors Property Centre. Most of these houses have been renovated since 2008.
The let houses comply with the Repairing Standard and this, together with a Scottish Private Residential Tenancy (SPRT) lease, form the basis of new tenancy agreements. Dogs and pets are allowed in some of the let properties, at our discretion. Tenants are supplied with a Tenant Information Pack and their deposits are held by Safe Deposits Scotland.
The properties are let under the trading name of Lovat Estates Limited which is approved under the private landlord registration scheme. (Registration no. 45931/270/26190).
Luxury Holiday Rental
River Beauly Lodge is our luxury holiday lodge on the banks of the mighty Beauly River. Ideal for fishing parties, the house sleeps up to 14 people and has spectacular views both up and down the water. Take in the joys of river life from the modern sunroom, letting you enjoy nature from the warmth of the house.
The lodge combines the history of Clan Fraser with the style of Petra Palumbo, homeware designer, and the current Lady Lovat. It is the perfect base for your Highland adventures, secluded in a 600 acre estate, surrounded by nature, but only minutes from the upmarket Beauly.
Development Projects
Battery Projects: We support battery development as a necessity of a renewables based electricity grid. They have very small footprints meaning minimal loss of productive land or amenity, and can be hidden easily if put in sensible locations.
Balblair Quarry BESS [23/03772/SCRE] timeline:
- 14th September – first public consultation
- 2nd October – second public consultation at the Old Bank in Beauly for those who missed the first event.
- Q4 – submission of planning application to Highland Council
Land Management
The estate is more fragmented than typical Scottish estates due to asset sales in the 1990s. This resulted in a business made up of numerous small holdings spread over a large area. In the last 20 years we have bought back land parcels where possible, forming a core block around Beauly.
Farming is not a direct focus for the Estate, we prefer to lease our agricultural land to local farmers who are best placed to manage it. Our energy goes into ensuring the infrastructure around the land is upkept properly, for instance into tree management and general environmental stewardship
Woodland
The Estate has been synonymous with forestry for over a century now. In 1919 the 16th Lord Lovat, great grandfather to the current one, was appointed the first Chairman of the Forestry Commission. Under his leadership, the early achievements of the organisation were considerable, with many thousands of hectares of new planting across the country. His vision and influence had a profound effect on forestry during his period as Chairman and long after his retirement. He died in 1933 and is buried at the beautiful church of St Mary’s Eskadale, 5 miles to the west of Beauly.
In recent years we have followed in his footsteps and have undertaken a raft of new plantings – mostly native woodland on marginal land. Over and above these larger blocks of woodland, we have planted thousands of amenity trees across various areas, including the Cnoc Na Rath walk in Beauly, Groam Of Annat, Fanellan and Kirkton.
Notice on tree ownership (March 2023):
If you own property that was previously Estate land you may be of the understanding that trees growing on that property are still within our ownership.
Having sought legal opinion on the matter, the estate would like to inform all proprietors who are in this position that the terms of the original agreement are no longer applicable.
Unless they have subsequently been sold, you, as proprietor of the land, will also own the trees.
Sporting
FISHING
Lower Beauly Fishing
The best fishing on the river are the three prime beats, Falls, Home and Downie, that make up the lower Beauly – with around 60% of all salmon caught on these beats. These are spread over two miles on both banks and there are fishing huts and a ghillie on each beat.
Lovat Estate lets a number of weeks throughout the season to long standing fishing tenants. Please get in touch if you want to check availability.
Club Water
This stretches from the Lovat Bridge to Wester Lovat and is let to the Beauly Angling Club, founded during the Second World War by the 15th Lord Lovat. There are ten pools over 7 miles of fishing. Day, week or season permits are available to members of the public, please see their website for further details.
The Middle River
From Kilmorack dam to Easter Main, fishing on the Middle River is arranged through Donald Fraser at Morrisons Ironmongers, Beauly. Please contact him if you are interested in taking a day.
SHOOTING
There is a limited amount of roe deer shooting on the estate that accompanies our forest management. We lease these shooting rights on an annual basis and tenants need to be insured and experienced.