In particular, the Spey valley, around Grantown on Spey, situated in north-east Scotland, in the centre of the Highlands, has been a popular area for many years with demand at the top end of the property market remaining strong.    

Grantown is a traditional Highland town on the River Spey in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, offering tranquil living in some of the most unspoilt countryside that Scotland has to offer. The area boasts an abundance of outdoor activities including excellent salmon fishing on the world famous River Spey, hill walking, golfing and skiing with Scotland's top ski areas at Cairngorm Mountain and The Lecht within close proximity.

This part of the Spey valley has a number of attractive, large detached houses offering fantastic accommodation and more often than not with great private grounds, and it's this level of property, combined with the beautiful countryside that we believe is underpinning its attraction to those seeking their rural idyll.

The Register of Scotland quarterly report for April June 2011 states that the volume of detached house sales in the Highlands rose by 34.6% over this period compared to the previous quarter, January March 2011. The average residential property price in the Highlands rose by 3.4% for the same period, with the volume of residential sales increasing by 23.4% and the value of sales rising by 27.6%.

As a firm, we have experienced a lot of activity in the residential sector with a number of notable sales in this area and a number of new properties coming to the market.

Our Inverness agency department is just launching the sale of Garvault Lodge, a superb 1.5m house near Tulchan estate on the Spey. Garvault is an outstanding highland lodge set within magnificent landscaped grounds, in the enviable location on the stunning Tulchan sporting estate amidst some of the best fishing and shooting in the world, whilst boasting panoramic views across the Spey to the hills beyond. The interior of the house has been completed and finished to the highest standard, providing every comfort for modern family living whilst also incorporating the traditional features of a Highland shooting lodge.

Top quality property in this corner continues to attract a healthy level of interest and is selling well with recent sales including Strathtulchan, a beautiful baronial-style country house set in the heart of the famous Tulchan estate. The design of the house was the inspiration of the previous owners who established the House of Bruar, incorporating the traditional features of a Highland shooting lodge including a gun and rod room as well as stables and kennels, to create a highly bespoke and exceptional property. Strathtulchan sold for over the 1.8m asking price emphasising that quality and scarcity are still the main factors that underpin value.

Invereshie, near Kincraig in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, is a lovely residential estate, with mansion house and holiday cottages, set in a quiet and unspoilt rural location, complete with its own nine hole golf course. We have just sold the estate for a substantial sum over the 1.35m asking price. We also sold privately last year, Glenmore Lodge, near the banks of the Spey, which is a superb contemporary house.  

John Bound, partner, said: "This area in Speyside, around Grantown on Spey is arguably one of the most stunning and unsurpassed locations to live in the UK and with the current market, offers a great opportunities to buy. Our advice to those looking to move to the area is to take full advantage of current market conditions and not wait for the market to fall further as we believe in this area the reverse might well happen."

We are also currently offering Easter Laggan House, just to the west of Grantown at a guide price of 850,000. Easter Laggan, a traditional and charming country house set in beautiful grounds with spectacular views over the Spey Valley to Cairngorm. The property offers a wealth of accommodation eight bedrooms and has been extended to offer a west wing providing a magnificent drawing room with a large bay window. The property also comprises a separate cottage, traditional steading and a range of additional outbuildings and represents great value for the price being sought