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Queen Victoria's Scottish picnic cottage restored

National Trust for Scotland The cottage sits in the middle of the trees and woodland area. National Trust for Scotland
The picnic cottage will reopen to visitors in 2025

A cottage where Queen Victoria enjoyed picnics will open to the public next year after being restored by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).

The cottage, located on Mar Lodge Estate near Braemar, was visited by Queen Victoria on her trips to Balmoral in the 19th Century.

Built in 1850, the cottage was on the Buildings at Risk register after years of decay when the trust took over the nature reserve in 1975.

It stabilised the cottage's poor condition and a restoration plan began in 2023.

National Trust for Scotland A 19th century cottage in the woodlands. The door is red with a red porch over the door. There are two windows on either side of the red door in the middle. Two chimneys are on either side of the roof. National Trust for Scotland
The cottage was originally built by Queen Victoria's granddaughter
National Trust for Scotland A close up of a covered porch over the door of the cottage.National Trust for Scotland
A porch has been added to the cottage
National Trust for Scotland A long wooden table inside the cottage. There is stone brick work along all four walls, with the red door open allowing in the daylight. Two long wooden benches are on either side of the table. National Trust for Scotland
Specially commissioned furniture has been made for the cottage

Head of Mar Lodge Estate for NTS, David Frew, said that archaeological surveys discovered that there used to be a porch on the property.

Structures to support this were found by archaeologists when researching the cottage.

The porch has now been added to the site.

Mr Frew said: "We have tried to reinstate this sympathetically with the help of our architects Moxon and archival architectural drawings, so that it's in keeping with the rest of the property."

He said the cottage is a historical look back into how the royal family would have spent their free time while in Balmoral.

National Trust for Scotland A porch roof with clay slates and a red border. National Trust for Scotland
The structures of the porch were discovered during research

The trust said specially made furniture has been added to create a fully immersive experience within the 19th century cottage.

Director of Moxon Architects, Andrew Macpherson, said extensive surveys allowed the original structures to be reinstated with minimal intervention to the building.

He said that working alongside the trust and conservation specialists ensured its 'fairytale charm' will remain for years to come.