Hope Lodge, an 1867 hunting lodge and cottages located in Sutherland, has opened as an exclusive retreat after a 13-year renovation. The project is a key part of Scottish conservation pioneer WildLand's 200-year vision to restore nature across its more than 225,000 acres in the Cairngorms, Loch Ness, and Sutherland.
The retreat's design, by Cécile & Boyd, focuses on connecting guests with nature, featuring art and decor inspired by local wildlife and landscapes. The lodge's footprint was increased by 30 per cent by architecture firm Gras, which repurposed existing dwellings into cottages and staff quarters.
Activities at Hope are organised around elemental "rhythms" of earth, fire, and water, including sound baths, loch swims, and guided hikes. The retreat also offers e-bikes, land yachts, paddleboards, and opportunities to accompany guests on picnics with Highland ponies.
WildLand's conservation efforts include culling invasive sika deer, a policy aimed at addressing overgrazing that resulted from historical hunting lodge proliferation. The deer population per square metre has been reduced from 22 to one.