Moving here has been my dream for over 20 years

After holidaying in Scotland for two decades and falling in love with the Cairngorms, a move to Newtonmore was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for Lesley. Originally from Northumberland, she received an MBE in 2024 for her work rescuing dogs from the meat trade in China and South Korea. Lesley and her three rescue dachshunds spent countless weekends and holidays exploring the Highlands. When she discovered Tulloch Homes was building in the area, everything seemed to fall into place.

Moving here has been my dream for over 20 years. I’ve been travelling to the Highlands for decades, touring Scotland with a caravan before finally leaving it in Aviemore because I couldn’t stay away. This area captured my heart completely – the village culture, the welcoming people, and the breathtaking landscapes. Now, I wake up each morning in Newtonmore, the neighbouring village, with the Cairngorms outside one window and the Ben Nevis range from another. It feels like I’m living in a postcard.

I am a project manager so I travel up and down from Newcastle regularly. The train line nearby makes it easy, and it also means my elderly parents, who are in their 80s, can travel up in just four hours.

One of the reasons I chose to move to Newtonmore was the local amenities, it has everything I need. As well as a train station, there’s a petrol station nearby and a shop within walking distance. There is always something going on in the local community to get involved in, with regular craft events at the village hall and community walks. The village is also well located for access to the rest of the Cairngorms and Aviemore which I’m looking forward to exploring more.

My home, The Heather, has completely surpassed my expectations. This is my first new build property and the standard of finishing has blown me away. One of my favourite features of the house is the natural light that it gets. The Velux window above the landing and the full-length stairwell window flood the space with sunshine.

I moved from a four-bedroom house and didn’t want to downsize too much, so the three spacious double bedrooms are perfect for me, and the built-in wardrobes are an added bonus.

My three dachshunds, Grace, Florence, and Heather, who coincidently shares her name with my new home, are also thriving here. They love the walks, hikes and swims in the lochs, and I am so happy knowing they now live in the Cairngorms National Park.

The sense of community here is wonderful and there is already a nice neighbourly feel, when I’m away for work, they water my plants and put out my bins. We go on walks together, and even my dad has joined in by making squirrel feeders for everyone.

I cannot praise Tulloch Homes enough. From the helpful team to the high-quality build, they’ve made this whole experience better than I could have imagined. Newtonmore is where I want to spend my retirement years, surrounded by nature, community and my dogs. Moving here has been nothing short of a dream come true, and I would recommend Tulloch Homes to anyone looking for a home in the Highlands.