Lochdhu Lodge

Lochdhu Lodge is a two-storey shooting lodge dating from 1895, likely designed by Donald Leed of Thurso. It was built for Sir Tollemache Sinclair of Ulbster. The lodge is asymmetrical with gabled elevations and displays Baronial detailing. It is constructed of coursed rubble with contrasting polished ashlar dressings. The main elevations face south and west, the south elevation featuring a pronounced battered plinth. The south elevation has an off-centre entrance within a gabled, projecting bay. A projecting window is located at the southeast angle, incorporating a heavy cable-moulded centre mullion supporting a corbelled first-floor angle bartizan with a blind cruciform slit, a corbelled upper course, and a conical roof with a cast-iron weather-vane. An octagonal tower rises four storeys at the southwest angle, containing the staircase on the first and second floors. It has large windows on five sides across the three lower storeys, with a corbelled upper storey featuring gabletted windows and a facetted conical roof outlined with cast-iron thistle cresting. Windows in the main elevations include cable-moulded carved detailing to the architraves, and some break the wallhead within bargeboarded gablets, with two-pane glazing. Corniced ridge and end stacks are present, along with a fish-scale slate roof in contrasting zig-zag bands and a tiled ridge. Modern additions are visible on the lower rear service range. The cable-moulded detailing is similar to that found on Thurso Castle, built by Sinclair of Ulbster between 1872 and 1878. A railway, established in 1873, passes within a mile and would have facilitated transport of building materials. Donald Leed, who served as Architect and Clerk of Works to Ulbster Estates, "superintended various lodges and houses" and is referenced in a 1903 newspaper obituary.