Building in curves, with untraditional materials up a steep hill side during a recession was a rather more difficult task than we first anticipated. The Stonehouses were in planning for over 3 years and took over 2 years to build. But here we are at the end of the journey and I hope that you feel as we do, that the result is something special.

We returned to our native North of Scotland with our 3 children in 2005 after 14 years living overseas, mostly in East Africa. During our time in Africa we came across unique purpose built holiday retreats in unique locations – National Parks, Beaches, even on mountain sides. Many were inspired by local building techniques and nature and merged with and were in tune with the local environment. These unique lodges were our initial inspiration for the Stonehouses. We are now firmly settled in the North West Highlands, an area which we feel passionately connected with.

We have joined a small band of Highland Scottish tourism innovators who want to develop unique retreats that offer something different and inspiring. The holiday experience is as much about being within these buildings as it is about the local area.

Gavin also runs a specialist trekking company called Nomadic Skies that builds from his 30 years of development experience working in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Nomadic Skies organises small group trekking journeys to remote Tibetan Nepal, Southern Armenia and the Virunga of SW Uganda focusing on off-the-beaten-track locations in stunning corners of the world and involving linking to local hill and mountain communities to explore not only nature but remote and unique cultures. See www.nomadicskies.com