Gairnshiel Lodge History - The Lodge was built in approximately 1750 by the Garden family of Troup, originally called Garden Shiel (shiel meaning "shelter"). It came into ownership of neighbouring Invercauld Estate during the 1800's and was greatly extended during the Victorian Era. Used primarily as a hunting lodge by the Victorians and Edwardians the building has many royal connections and is mentioned in Queen Victoria's Highland Journal as she often passed by on one of her many excursions. The building next door used to be the stables, and the "cottage" renovated next to that was the kennelling. Next door to the kennels stands Rinloan, now a keepers cottage. During Queen Victoria's reign this was an inn where she once stopped after an excursion up to Loch Builg.