Outstanding Independent Practitioner 2017 TRAVEL TRAAVVEL Gamefield luxury Scottish retreat INTERIORS illiam Frame readily admits that he W rarely forms an attachment to the GAMEFIELD houses he lives in, but Gamefield ‘Roaring near Crieff might just have stolen his heart, for log fires and the obligatory a little while anyway. Aga allow for Nicknamed the Boy Scout in his early entertaining Opposite: grand scale, especially in Comfortable property career, William moves pretty much on a leather armchairs and a every couple of years. The properties he buys dramatic landscape by winter are looked at very much as ‘works in progress’, ’ James Morrison in the open-plan living room. to be either developed and added to his rental portfolio, or renovated and sold on. Below: The dining area on the terrace has been So Gamefield, on the Ochtertyre Estate near After all the excursions however, a hearty meal was in owners William and WeWendy Frame whose aatttention to designed to catch the sun. Crieff, is a bit of a departure for him. He bought Right: The family’s dogs the house in 1998 as a holiday home, but he are made to feel at home. orderr,, so it was just up the road ffoor some glorious grub atat detail make you fefeel very well cared fofor whilst staayying in and his family – wife Wendy, daughters Amber and India, and sons Archie and Sam – are still the Red Brolly Inn. Both service and fofood were as generous whaatt tthey describe as their family home. using and enjoying it. ‘I’m not usually ver y attached to where I live,’ as each other and thoroughly enjoyed. Whilst on the subject of fofood, a visit to Delvinos in William explains. ‘It’s always about the project and the learning curve – I enjoy the process Gamefield serves as a wonderful base fofor exploring Crieff is also well worth it. Absolutely stunning meals, using of renovating and building. Even our family the area, particularly on a bikkee. Hire is easy atat the nearby fresh and where possible local produce combined with home at the moment is one we’re looking at renovating, we’re just waiting for the plans to Comrie Croft and is a greaatt waayy to see a bit of the locale. an extensive cocktail list, relaxed approach to dining and come through.’ Gamefield, though, has been a longer-term We opted fofor a ride into the nearest village of Criefff.. Lovely fabulous service made it a gold-plaatted recommendaattion fofor project. ‘It was a 1960s monstrosity when I little pit stop fofor Scottish scones and tea and a ride around any visitors to the region. the MacRosty Park saw off the afternoon and made us ffeeel All too soon it was time for us to bid farewell to our like we had earned another dip in the hot tub. luxury escape. It was a wrench to saayy goodbye, particularly If you haavven’t got the energy to cook whilst staayying to the master bedroom which had an en suite the size of aatt Gamefield, a chef can be organised to meet all your my kitchen and a view to die foforr.. The walkk--in wardrobe culinary needs. Howeverr,, a comprehensive book of all good would also be missed, as would much of this little spot of takeawaayys, restaurants and local amenities is provided by luxury in the heart of a stunning landscape. LET’S GO WILD bought it 18 years ago,’ he recalls. ‘It took a couple of years to get planning permission – I FACTFILE wanted to knock it down and build anew, and SianSian DaviesDaavvies reconnects with the great outdoors on this is a conservation area in the countryside. I worked on the plans with an architect, Jamie Gamefield Ochtertyre Estate Denholm of the Denholm Partnership, and a luxurious mini break in Perthshire together we designed a house for the site, one T: 01764 650303 that would maximise the views, the light and, when it appears, the sunshine.’ E: info@gamefield.co.uk 84 The build started in January 2001 and was t was difficult to imagine a more perffeect waayy to Just a short hop from Southampton flying up activities thaatt showcased the area perffeectly. WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD .CO.UK complete by April 2002, and nothing was enjoy the stunning Perthshire countryside than to either Edinburgh or Glasgow, and an hour One of the less high-octane experiences came Nae Limits – Ballinluig spared when it came to the details. Inspired by his travels to New Zealand, saatt in a hot tub waattching the sun set, a glass of or so in a hire car delivered us to the stunning in the form of a tour around the Famous Grouse T: 01796 482600 E: naelimits.co.uk Canada and Australia, William wanted to create a house that embraced outdoor living. ‘I’d seen INTERIORS fizz in hand. accommodadaattion. distillery which, not haavving a whisky lover between Bike hire – W: comriecroft.com. lots of new-builds in New Zealand, and I was very aware that architects there really take It was one of many moments enjoyed whilst Set in acres of beautiful countryside complete us, was not shaping up to be a highlight of our visit. the site into account when they’re designing a Istaayying atat the luxury Scottish retreaatt of Gamefield with affore-mentioned hot tub, summer lodge and an Howeverr,, the entertaining tour guide made it ‘Pullquote to run in here’ WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD which made me vow to return to this beautiful part expanse of outdoor space, Gamefield truly has the quite a hoot and despite receiving withering looks . CO.UK 85 of the British Isles. ‘wow’ factorr.. from the rest of our group as we wrinkled our With a decor thaatt is modern yet in keeping noses to an age old single malt, we thoroughly with the setting, the accommodaattion is versaattile enjoyed our visit which would certainly be a must GAMEFIELD and spacious enough to suit any type of getawaayyy. visit fofor anyone who enjoyed a ‘wee dram’. ‘The house designed is quite simply Whether business or pleasure Gamefield is WWee could well haavve done with a stiff drink as we for entertaining’ equipped with all the laatest mod-cons yet has a embarked on ‘white waatter tubing’ the following daayy. homely fefeel. The kitchen is a greaatt example of thaatt Based atat Ballinluig – a hamlet three miles south of with a high-spec thaatt would suit any five-star hotel Pitlochry – Nae Limits is big on adventure. but with the addition of an Aga which provided a Offfeering exhilaraattion by the bucketload in a host warmth in every sense of the word. of outdoor pursuits, it is not ffoor the faint hearted. Luckily fofor us, me and a group of girlfriends were Donning our wet suits, helmets and a big inflaatable here very much fofor pleasure. tube we were anything but elegant as we made our We could haavve happily whiled awaayy our mini waayy down to the river rapids. break in and around the country house, complete The idea was to ride the rapids down the river INTERIORS GAMEFIELD with five bedrooms, snug lounge, huge dining room, on the giant donuts, doing your best not to fall offf,, oh and, did I mention the hot tub? which was easier said than done. On the flaattter We tended to spend most of our time in the parts of the river however you had the chance to ‘We maximised the light open plan kitchen and dining area, off which was see the Scottish landscape from a completely new from morning until a lounge area and outside veranda with furs and perspective and combined with the thrill of weaavving night, and all year round blankets to keep off the evening chill. through some fast-flowing rapids and one point over too’ It was a welcome sanctuary after the action- a precipice – all under expert guidance I might add – packed itinerary we enjoyed, comprising a host of the foforaayy into extreme sports was a complete hit. 88Societ y Society 89 house.’ On hilly terrain, he noticed, they would build into the hillside to maximise the view, while they would pay keen attention to where the light and the sun would be. ‘Their climate is quite similar to Scotland’s > Double page spread feature in Southampton Echo and they have very changeable weather but they still create great outdoor spaces that can be used all year round and in any weather, and that’s what I’ve tried to do with Gamefield,’ he Gamefield Travel feature for the November 2016 issue adds. ‘We maximised the light from morning 86 until night, and all year round too.’ WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD .CO.UK Denholm suggested subtle architec features such as the low window sills as well as the dramatic double-height glazing, andtural these help to bring in more light and add to the Clockwise from top left: formal dining table can seat Table 12; Portatennis Romana on the terrace; lamps arethe among the high-end decorative touches; the leafy garden; an antler chandelier from Clock House Furniture. WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD . CO.UK 87 > > Double page feature spreads in Scottish Field Magazine Gamefield interiors and lifestyle feature for the November 2016 issue The great escape Buying and selling houses is what William Frame does best – so why has KHKXQJRQWRKLVIDPLO\pVKROLGD\UHWUHDWLQ&ULHIIIRUVRORQJ"*DPHÛHOG DVDYLVLWWKHUHSURYHVVHHPVMXVWWRRJRRGWROHWJR WORDS NICHOLA HUNTER IMAGES ANGUS BLACKBURN Image: The spacious deck, partly undercover, is big enough for the whole family to enjoy. 82 WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK 83 Outstanding Independent Practitioner 2017 Gamefield luxury Scottish retreat Page 24 / 07.02.16 sundayheraldLife sundayheraldLife 07.02.2016 / Page 25 TRAVEL FEATURE WHERE TIME STANDS STILL A LUXURY SELF-CATERING RETREAT IN PERTHSHIRE LEADS TO A COSMIC AWAKENING OF SORTS FOR WILLIAM BAIN Above: A frosty morning in Crieff, looking out towards the Aberuchill Mountains.