About
Birch Grove Cabin has been designed and constructed by us, Julia and Alan Marsh.
In January 2011, we acquired a one-hectare croft in Wester Alligin, near Torridon, on the north west coast of Scotland.
The land had remained uncultivated for decades, resulting in an overgrowth of rushes and bracken.
However, there were about fifty mature birch trees dotted around the croft which is why we decided on the name 'Birch Grove'.
National Scenic Area
The majority of the land surrounding is owned by the National Trust for Scotland. It includes small crofts, areas of mature oak, mixed woodland, rugged coast and mountain landscape in the designated National Scenic Area of Wester Ross. Near by is Scotland's first National Nature Reserve at Beinn Eighe created in 1951.
Natural Regeneration Woodland
In 2016 we made the decision to exclude sheep from the croft and allow natural regeneration of birch woodland. To date we have around a thousand trees growing on the croft, mainly regenerated birch but also including rowan, oak and Scots pine.
Orchard
Early in 2017 we were looking to make practical use of a sloping site on the croft. Our venture into orchard planting began.
Biodiversity
The managed woodland and grassland areas at the croft provide a number of biodiverse habitats for a variety of wildlife.
The Cabin
We decided to diversify our croft income by constructing a self contained holiday let, called 'Birch Grove Cabin', completed in 2024.
Sustainability
Our aim is to provide guests at Birch Grove Cabin with an exceptional experience and lasting memories of their stay while operating a sustainable holiday home, prioritising responsible and positive practices.
