Mar Lodge Annual Review 2024

Throughout 2024, the focus at Mar Lodge Estate, the largest National Nature Reserve in the UK, was on maintaining the estate’s buildings and grounds, restoring ecological processes, ensuring open access and sustaining Highland sporting activities. Our vision for the estate is:

’Mar Lodge acts as a central point that links habitats, wildlife, and people, bridging the past and the future. It seamlessly integrates conservation education, recreation, field sports, and culture within a diverse and expansive landscape at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.’

The year 2024 was another active time for our team, which includes members from hospitality, functions, estate management, stalking, ranger services, and ecology. Together, we achieved significant progress on several key initiatives.

Key projects that have seen significant advancements and accomplishments include the reopening of the Derry Dam Bridge to the public after flood damage repairs. The restoration preserved much of the original structure, which dates back to 1959. Additionally, the Allt Christie bridge to the south has been successfully restored. The East Quoich footpath has been revitalised, creating a beautiful 5km loop through the woods surrounding lower Glen Quoich, which also suffered from substantial flood damage. 

Queen Victoria’s Picnic Lodge, a Category C listed building built around 1850, has been carefully restored and will welcome visitors for the first time in mid-2025.

Those visiting the estate offices will notice the upgraded Stable Block, which not only enhances the appearance but also provides additional space for staff accommodation, addressing the pressing issue of affordable housing in the Braemar area.

Restoration of the estate’s Caledonian pinewoods has been a fundamental aspect of our environmental efforts at Mar Lodge Estate. Monitoring this year revealed a remarkable 1428.3% increase in seedlings above vegetation height from 1999 to 2024, with the average density of regeneration rising from 303.8 stems/ha in 2011 to 682.2 stems/ha in 2024, marking a 124.6% increase. Our deer management initiatives, led by the Stalking team, combine ecological restoration on a landscape scale with Highland sport, promoting the return of montane woodland to the estate and enhancing the condition of the estate’s open moorland habitats.

Be sure to check out the recently published Annual Review for more details on these achievements and ongoing projects at the estate.