Torridon and Ben Damph Estates were once one, belonging to Duncan Darroch of Torridon House on the north side of Loch Torridon. Soon after acquiring Torridon Estate, Darroch sold the lands on the south side of the loch to Lord Lovelace. Lovelace built the stunning shooting lodge that is now the excellent and multi-awarded Torridon hotel and all of the fine estate properties. Ben Damph Estate boasts probably the finest network of stone paths to be found on any estate in the Highlands. The north side of the loch changed hands several times but, in 1960, Lord Lovelace bought the remaining Torridon Estate to add to the Ben Damph lands and so reuniting the two Estates. Lord Lovelace then moved to the beautiful Torridon House.
The Ben Damph lands on the south side of the loch were again sold and subsequently passed through various hands. The subjects of Badan Mhugaidh and West Lodge and their lands, however, remained in the ownership of Lord Lovelace and were sold only in 2009. The Lovelace crest can be seen on all of the estate buildings. The present Lord Lovelace, the 5th Earl of Lovelace, still lives in Torridon House across the loch.
Badan Mhugaidh sits on the site of an ancient settlement of the same name. It was once home to around 60 people and the “finest milking cows in the Highlands”. But the infamous Highland Clearances saw an end to much of the crofting way of life and these settlements were abandoned. Evidence of the settlement can still be found though.
