Our favourite places to spend time at Mayen
Spanning over 700 acres, Mayen is a beautiful country estate that we feel incredibly lucky to call home. With peaceful woodlands, colourful gardens, quiet arboretums, open countryside, and the River Deveron winding gently through it all, it’s a place full of calm, beauty, and hidden corners waiting to be discovered.
Our guests often comment on how they simply spend their holiday exploring our secret retreat—whether it's reading a book under the trees, enjoying a picnic by the river, casting a line to fish, or simply going for a peaceful stroll through the woods, there’s something truly magical about being surrounded by nature.
Come and explore Mayen and discover some of our favourite spots!
The Bridge Lodge and Footbridge
A true Mayen icon, the footbridge is one of the most peaceful and picturesque spots on the estate and one of our favourite places to escape for a peaceful walk or take a memorable selfie. Whether you're wandering through the woodlands or enjoying a romantic stroll along the river, you’ll eventually come across the charming footbridge and our cosy Bridge Lodge fishing hut, a favourite with our angling holidaymakers.
Overlooking the River Deveron, Bridge Lodge is the ideal place to while away an afternoon. Bring along a delicious picnic, a good book, or a board game or two, and settle in as you watch otters play, salmon leap, birds and ducks drift by. Nature puts on a magical show here—and there's no better way to clear your mind and truly unwind amongst the trees.
The Walled Garden
At the heart of our estate lies the famous Mayen Walled Garden, a hidden gem spanning over two acres. Within its historic red brick walls, you’ll find seven unique garden spaces, tranquil water features, fruit cages, thriving vegetable patches, and of course our beautiful glasshouses where our talented team of gardeners are based.
Exclusively open to our holiday guests, the Walled Garden is the perfect place to lose yourself for an afternoon. Breathe in the scent of fragrant roses, feel the gentle breeze on a sunny day, and find a quiet corner with a book or an easel. Inside the glasshouses, you’ll discover a collection of exotic plants and fruits, while the vegetable patch produce prize-winning artichokes and root vegetables that you’ll find in your welcome hamper!
The Coachhouses and Mayen Rock Gardens
Our historic rock gardens adjacent to the majestic Coachhouses are the gateway to the Deveron Valley and one of the first things that our guests see when they arrive (talk about a proper welcome!).
The Coachhouses are the heartbeat of Mayen. This is where our offices are based and where our small enterprise began. It’s where our team meet at fly time and lunch time, where we plan, coordinate and celebrate, and where we personally welcome our guests to begin a very special holiday.
Dating back to the 1700’s, the Rock Gardens feature an ice house, several rock bridges, benches to soak in the valley view, cherry trees and fragrant meadows. Streams, waterfalls and pathways gently meander down to the River Deveron, and all day long, dozens of bird species’ sing peacefully from the trees as a gentle breeze carries floral scents throughout the valley.
It’s one of our favourite places to simply just be, with inspirational views and majestic oaks providing the perfect place to journal or read. As dusk falls and orange skies illuminate through the trees, it’s not uncommon to see our resident Osprey’s surveying the land below, and for an extra special treat, bring a blanket and make cosmic discoveries beneath the endless canopy of stars.
The Summerhouse
One of the most picturesque spots at Mayen has to be our Summerhouse, tucked privately beneath the front lawn and hidden from view. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a delicious picnic, dive into a good book, or simply bask in the serenity that surrounds you.
Overlooking the sweeping countryside and the breathtaking Deveron Valley, the views are special and even played scene to some very special moments for our guests!
We offer it as a private little retreat for our holiday cottage guests, and the Summerhouse can be rented out for a small fee in exchange for a moment of calm and connection with nature.
Sit back, enjoy the views and watch the clouds drift by and the skies slowly change, hour by hour.
Coos, Corniehaugh and Calm Country Vistas
Mayen is home to countless nature trails with uninterrupted views, but this route starting from The Coachhouses holds a special place in our hearts.
Begin your journey by heading out from The Coachhouses and follow the path that passes by Butlers Cottage until you reach the first field (or Park in Doric) of our Highland Coos - you will meet Harry the Bull here! From there, make a right and turn at the next left to uncover magiclal woodlands and a gentle descent into nature. The trail then gently lowers to Corniehaugh and follows the peaceful Millpool fishing beat alongside the River Deveron, before circling back to where you began.
Enjoy inspiring mountain views, the soft rustling of trees, and the soothing soundtrack of the river. Along the way, look out for the Mayen Mill ruins hidden in the woods by the river, spot our resident family of Osprey nesting and soaring overhead, and catch a glimpse of salmon leaping from the water.
What makes this route so special is the feeling of being truly off the grid; no phone signal and no distractions. It’s a chance to reconnect with the world and with yourself. At Corniehaugh, you might even exchange a friendly wave and a few words with the fishermen we often see across the water.
End your walk with a tranquil stretch along the river and finish through our peaceful Rock Gardens, before returning to The Coachhouses where your magical afternoon first began. Treat yourself to a delicious ice cream or a S’mores-making kit to take back to your cottage from our Shoppe. Back at the Cottage, sink into the warmth of your private hot tub, raise a glass of your favourite tipple, and watch the sun set on yet another magical day at Mayen.
