Welcome to our Writers’ Corner!
Enjoy reading the poetry and prose below.
Please feel free to send us a piece that you have composed and it will be considered for inclusion here.
Happy writing!
Readings, February 2026
At Netherwood in Newtonmore, the Highland air is still,
Five friends arrive with books in hand and time enough to fill.
There’s Jamie, David, Iain, Euan, and Robert too,
A brotherhood of loyalty, with spirits bright and true.
They gather by the fireside as the winter shadows creep,
With stacks of heavy volumes and a promise they will keep:
To journey from the Russian plains where Tolstoy’s prose takes flight,
To Asterix the Gaul and puns that keep the mood so light.
They toast to years of friendship with a glass of chilled Crémant,
Refined in taste and spirit, they have everything they want.
And when the night grows deeper and the heavy chapters end,
Decaffeinated coffee warms the heart of every friend.
The screen begins to flicker with a tale of ice and snow,
Of Doctor Zhivago and a love from long ago.
As "Lara’s Theme" comes drifting through the quiet Highland air,
They sit in shared perfection, glad to be exactly there.
Iain Smith {with a little help from AI :)}
Highland Spree
City tenements and traffic queues are left behind.
In turn, hedgerows and furrowed fields give way to thickets and lofty mountains.
Cattle huddle as the sun goes down.
A wild cat prowls, eyes momentarily gleaming before it disappears.
On a ridge, a monarch stands resolute, eyes alert ‘neath its battle crown.
Cottages, a few shops, a church, all inanimate in the town on the moor.
What concerns the souls it shelters?
National politics and sports results?
Or fund-raising for the local school, or a gap in elderly healthcare or who kissed who at Maggie’s wedding?
A solitary inn serves the local game and brew.
Trim cyclists in striking multi-coloured jerseys quench their thirst, sate their hunger and plan tomorrow’s leg.
Sturdy youths uproariously celebrate victory at shinty, forgetting their wounds for a while.
Others nose the water of life and avidly share hunting yarns each one bidding to out-do the other.
Our road winds upwards past imposing villas refashioned as holiday homes.
Through a gate, up steep steps, our host beckons, a log fire crackles.
Tomorrow may bring an amble in the glen, sheep retreating in our path, spied by a buzzard circling high above in a carefree sky.
Or a wild mushroom hunt in dappled golden sun.
Or an energising splash in an icy peat-hued burn.
But this evening, corks pop, conversation flows and a traditional stew is served of pheasant, hare and apricot.
A Highland welcome is found at Netherwood!
by Gordon Ritchie, August 2021
Rhona King
Perfect large holiday accommodation + Lovely spacious property. We were a group of 3 families consisting of 5 adults and 5 children. Plenty of space for us all to spend time together, and also have some privacy. Perfectly clean. Best equipped holiday accommodation we’ve ever had, literally everything we needed was provided. Weather was a bit chilly, but the accommodation was well heated, which was lovely after being out for the day. Beautiful location, we all enjoyed seeing a deer walk by on two occasions. We visited Landmark, The Highland Wildlife Centre, Aviemore and the Highland Folk Museum. All were very convenient to get to from the house. Brilliant value for money. We would recommend to others and will return again ourselves. -
Nothing recommended to change!
The Bartlett Family
Netherwood provided the perfect setting for our family celebrations in March 2024 (we were a party of three generations and the house provided everything we could all need). Spacious, homely and well equipped we enjoyed aga-cooked meals in the large dining room and cosy cups of tea around the open fire, whilst the kids played games of hide and seek in the house or made dens in the garden. The setting is excellent, and Glen Banchor on the doorstep is stunning and easily accessible by all our party. Plenty of space for parking and the electric charge point was a bonus for us. We'll definitely hope to return in the future!
Moirs & Dunbars
Lovely well equipped house with everything and more that you might need. Everyone enjoyed their stay, especially the grandchildren. They want to come back!
Bruce
Lovely house. We had an amazing holiday and can't fault anything. The house is very comfortable and fully equipped. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. It was perfect for the family and the kids wanted to stay on! 5 star accommodation!
Stewart
Lovely house with everything you need. Ideal home for attractions. Wish we could stay longer. Grandchildren want to move in! Thanks so much for the welcome gift.
Dratwicka – June 2023
Beautiful house and perfect place for a holiday. Nothing to improve. What an amazing house!
The Gaffney and Stewart families
We all had a fantastic week at Netherwood House in Newtonmore… really cosy and beautiful big house in a great location. Beds were very comfy and the kids loved sharing the bunk room with their friends! So much to do in the area and we loved the walks straight from the house and further afield. Easy walk to pub and shop. Great location for Cairngorm mountains, we were first on the slopes for a brilliant day of skiing. Love the Aga in the kitchen and the big, sociable dining table! Garden brilliant for kids too
Charles Clayton + 7 golfers in June
“The house gave everything we wanted. Plenty of space to be together, but at the same time able to get away from the others if a bit of peace is required.Bedrooms comfortably,location great just a short walk to the high street and generally in a very quiet area.”
Group of Girls
“We were a group of girls on a hen weekend. What a beautiful home. A real delight to stay here and enjoy our weekend away. Really comfortable and we hope to come again”
Hare, February
‘We loved the size and space in the house – plenty of bedrooms and living space. The dining room became the centre of operations with the children during the day (unless they were in the play room) and then the grownups could retire to the tranquil living room in the evening. All the rooms were decorated to a high standard and the kitchen was very well equipped with everything we could possibly need. The house was warm – especially the kitchen with the Aga. We enjoyed trips to Aviemore for skiing and to feed the reindeer. We also had a great day out at the Highland Zoo and numerous walks right from the door. Would highly recommend to big family groups.‘