About the estate

The Achentoul Estate extends to some 20,000 acres of the Flow Country of Sutherland. The landscape offers expansive uninterrupted vistas and a real feeling of solitude, two things which are increasingly rare in today’s world.

The estate was originally rented from the Duke of Sutherland by Frederick Nutting in about 1890 before finally being purchased by him in 1905 when there was a great sale of Sutherland sporting estates. The boundary of the estate was redefined at this stage and remains the same to this day. The estate passed to Frederick’s nephew Sir Harold Nutting after the first world war, to Sir Anthony Nutting in 1972, and then to Sir John Nutting in 1999.

The lodge was built prior to the Nutting Families involvement with the estate. At one stage they also owned a house further down the Strath Of Kildonan at Kilphedir (now part of the Torrish Estate) which was used when fishing the lower beats of the river (particularly in the Spring). It is now much easier to drive around in a motor car than it was in those days, and all angling tenants stay at Achentoul Lodge.

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The Achentoul team

Peatland and carbon conservation

The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is a globally important resource storing well in excess of four million tons of carbon.

The predominant habitat in this area consists of blanket bog. Depths of peat on the estate range from just a few centimetres to many metres.

In the 1960s and 1970s a great many drains or "grips" were cut across much of the flow country. The idea was that it would dry out the land and improve grazing for sheep, deer, and grouse. It is questionable whether that outcome was ever delivered but what is now apparent is that this drainage has caused affected areas to become net carbon emitters. Additionally these drains have accelerated the flow of water into rivers changing flow regimes and impacting on water quality.

We are currently going through the process of mapping all the hill drains and areas of bare peat on the estate in order that we can commence a peatland restoration programme in 2020. We hope this will have a large benefit for carbon sequestration and water quality.

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Supporting local business

The Estate and Farm could not operate without the support of other local businesses, a few of which are named below. Income streams such as angling lets, sheep sales, timber sales, and farming subsidies are ALL kept in the local and Highland community economy.

We support many jobs both on and off the estate.

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