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From the Outback to Ord

George and Sonja arrived at the Estate of Ord in August 2021 to begin a new chapter. After years of farming in the Australian Outback, they embraced the challenge of transforming a historic but somewhat run-down Highland guest house into a unique destination.
 
Their journey felt like a homecoming in many ways, considering George’s lineage traced back to the old Scots Border Clan Irving, with an unbroken line leading to the Chiefs of the Clan in the 1500s, and Sonja’s past as a pipe major in her school pipe band. George and Sonja set out to restore the Estate of Ord and create a welcoming space for locals and visitors alike.
 
Today, after years of careful restoration, Ord House once again stands proudly at the heart of the Estate of Ord—a character-filled destination where heritage, hospitality and the beauty of the Highlands come together.
Accommodation

Ord’s Outlander Connections

George and Sonja were also drawn to Ord House due to its connections with the Outlander novels by Diana Gabaldon, which inspired the hit TV series, premiering in 2014. Their new home is situated at the heart of the fictional setting in the Outlander series, near Muir of Ord, where the epic saga unfolds amid political unrest between the Scots and the English, and tensions among the Fraser and Mackenzie clans.

Ord House resembles Lallybroch, the ancestral home of Outlander hero Jamie Fraser as described in the novels. Ord House has become a focal point for Outlander enthusiasts who visit the area on pilgrimages. While George and Sonja can’t guarantee an encounter with main characters like Claire and Jamie Fraser, they strive to be excellent hosts for fans exploring the beloved story’s locations.

Explore the Area

What you’ll find at the Estate of Ord

The Estate of Ord is ever-evolving. This is not just an accommodation establishment, but a visitor hub and wedding/events venue with an ever-growing offering which is like no other hospitality business in the Highlands.

To date the Estate includes:

Ord House Hotel

Matilda’s Garden Café & Restaurant

A Prosecco Bar

Wedding/event facilities

Tranquil walled garden and pond

Matilda’s is a nod to the Irving’s Australian background – and they’ve given the name to our newly adopted puppy too!

George and Sonja sincerely hope you’ll come and enjoy all that the Estate of Ord has to offer and look forward to meeting you.

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