As well as holiday cottages, the estate consists of other enterprises:
Dunalastair and Crossmount farms are run by farm manager, Finlay McIntyre (of BBC 'The Mart' fame). We have a high quality, grass fed, suckler herd of Luing cows which thrive in the rougher hill pastures that abound on the property. We also run 1500 blackface ewes which are hardy sheep that can live as happily on the moorland as on the low ground fields, and we also have a number of cheviots.
There is forestry with a variety of trees both hardwood, such as oak, birch, cherry and ash, and commercial softwood such as pine and sitka being planted and harvested. Some land has been fenced off from stock to enable it to regenerate into native woodland. Within the last ten years, the Estate have planted approximately 160ha (395 acres) of new woodland (260,000 new trees) which will sequester approx. 35,700 t/O2.
There is trout fishing on Dunalastair Water/Loch from our boats and on the River Tummel from the bank. This is free to holiday cottage visitors but we also let out rowing boats on the loch to non residents for a charge.
Deer stalking, walked up grouse and pheasant shooting is sometimes available. This is run by Niall, the wildlife manager, who also keeps deer numbers in check in collaboration with local deer management groups who work closely with NatureScot to protect habitats. For enquiries please click here
Field sports provide employment in fragile rural communities and this is turn helps the viability of hotels, shops, schools and local groups, and deer culling and moorland management is an important part of responsible environmental management. For more information click here
Dunalastair Estate has been used as a location in film and TV including most recently:
Dunalastair Estate hosts one of the iconic locations for Outlander; where Claire steps into the ring of standing stones. See if you can find it. (Please note the 'stones' are only on site during filming). The site chosen is in fact a bronze age 'homestead' site so you may well find there are ghosts there!
Finlay Mcintyre, Dunalastair Farm Manager stars in the BBC's programme about Thainstone Mart where he used to work and where he starred in earlier episodes. In this episode, he returns to the Mart to sell our lambs. Showing 5th January 2020 at 20:30 and after.