BELLA VILLA -- Macpherson's castle, Scotland -- BALAVIL HOUSE -- 6,856 acres -- made up of 600 acres of foresty, flowing landscaped parkland, eight houses and cottages, a hill farm, with a cow herd and a flock of sheep. James Macpherson bought it in 1790. It was known as "Raitts" when owned by the MacIntoshes (it is the site of the Comyn massacre). "I liked it when I saw it," Macpherson said.

Speranza

The locals refer to it as

Balavil House.

 

It is a 7,000 estate.

It was designed by renowned Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam.

But its origins are thought to date all the way back to Pictish times.

 

The Highland estate is valued at £7million.

Balavil House has 7,000 acres and it's near Kinguissie, Inverness.

The estate allows visitors to stalk red deer, shoot grouse and pheasant and even catch salmon.

 

 

Balavil House, the Highland estate, a house for a Monarch of the Glen as James Macpherson was. It is valued at £7million

 

Balavil House spreads over 7,000 acres near Kinguissie, Inverness.

 

 

Monarch of the Glen follows  Archie MacDonald, restaurateur  called back to his childhood home of Glenbogle where he is told he is the new Laird of Glenbogle.

Balavil has provided great fun for family, friends and clients over the years.

 James Macpherson's house is a jewel in the crown of Scottish sporting estates.

Balavil encompasses the very best the Highlands can offer, from spectacular sport to a house made for entertaining.
 

In addition, the welcome and hospitality offered by the James Macpherson is second to none and known throughout the UK and further afield, especially in Italy, since James Macpherson's book of poems was translated back in the day by Melchior Cesarotti.

 

The kitchen at Balavil House. This is where the author of Ossian had breakfast.

 

This is one of the stairways at the Highland estate, decorated with traditional stag's heads.

Balavil House was designed by renowned Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam.

But its origins are thought to date all the way back to Pictish times
 

James "Ossian" Macpherson made Balavil House a centrepiece of the estate.

Visiting Balavil is a unique experience and, of course, it offers the opportunity to achieve a Macnab, a hallowed challenge sought after by many a sportsman.

The 6,846-acre estate is made up of 600 acres of forestry, flowing landscaped parkland, eight houses and cottages, a hill farm with a cow herd and a flock of sheep.

Balavil House was designed by renowned Scottish neoclassical architect Robert Adam, but its origins are thought to date all the way back to Pictish times.

 

This is the dining room.

The house pre-dates James Macpherson, and he knew it. It was later in life that he purchased it.

During the 16th century, the estate - then known as Raitts - was a stronghold of the MacIntosh clan and it was the site of the Comyn massacre

 

This is drawing room of Balavil. It is featured in the Monarch of the Glen but was also the location for an episode of the Kill it, Cook it, Eat with presenter Julia Bradbury.
 

During the 16th century, the estate - then known simply as "Raitts" (a name that some of the locals still use) - was a stronghold of the MacIntosh clan and it was, alas, the site of the Comyn massacre.

In 1790, it was bought by Allan Macpherson's great, great, great, great uncle, James 'Ossian' Macpherson.

James "Ossian" MacPherson is known for translating ancient Gaelic manuscripts from the third-century blind bard, Ossian -- the son of Fingal and father of Oscar (as in "Oscar Wilde").

The blind poet (and warrior) Ossian was considered the most important literary figure in Europe.

The Italian military chief, Napoleone Bonaparte (Buonaparte, strictly) never travelled without his copy of The Poems of Ossian, in the Italian translation by Melchior Cesarotti. Ingres painted "The dream of Ossian" for him, and Anna Luigi Girodet created a painting entitled, "Ossian receiving the French heroes".

James "Ossian" Macpherson commissions Robert Adam to "build"  Balavil House, incorporating the walls of the original "Raitts" castle of the MacIntoshes. So the location is not strictly the same.

 

This is one of the many bedrooms. James "Ossian" Macpherson would sleep here. The magazines on the piece of furniture are a later addition.

In 1790, the estate was bought by James 'Ossian' Macpherson - who was known for translating ancient Gaelic manuscripts from the third century bard, Ossian.

He commissioned Robert Adam to build "Balavil House" (or "Balavil", as he preferred to call it) incorporating the walls of the original "Raitts" castle that belonged to the MacIntoshes.

 

The 6,846-acre estate is made up of 600 acres of forestry, flowing landscaped parkland, eight houses and cottages, a hill farm with a cow herd and a flock of sheep.

The name "Balavil", as James Macpherson conceived it, derives from the French "belle ville" beautiful town -- Italian "bella villa".  

Macpherson adopted this the official name of the estate in 1790. The Macintoshes knew it as "Raitts", as some of the locals still call it. It was the place, alas, of the Comyn massacre.

In recent years, the house has become a regular appearance on television programmes.

It featured as Kilwillie Castle in the Monarch of the Glen and it was also the location for an episode of the Kill it, Cook it, Eat with presenter Julia Bradbury.

It also playshost to chefs Sophie Grigson and the Two Hairy Bikers.

Monarch of the Glen follows Archie MacDonald, a  restaurateur who is called back to his childhood home of Glenbogle where he is told he is the new Laird of Glenbogle.

The series followed the eccentric family and residents of the sprawling and rundown estate as the new Laird tried to get it back on its feet.