A historic building survey was carried out at Derry Lodge on the Mar Lodge Estate, Crathie and Braemar by CFA on behalf of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS). The aim of the work was to inform the preparation of a Conservation Plan, through which the NTS could manage the assets of the site. The project included a desk-based, topographical and a photographic survey. A building survey was undertaken on both the interior and exterior of the building and an inventory of all the fixtures and fittings was made. A limited programme of archaeological test-pitting was also carried out in order to investigate the structural remains of ancillary buildings associated with Derry Lodge.

The archaeological results confirmed that ancillary structures associated with the Lodge were timber-framed. In one building a well-laid cobble floor was present. Small finds include 19th-century glass, metalwork and bullet cases.

A topographical contour survey revealed the extent of woodland clearance and the presence of various other features including a well, former building stances, woodland boundary ditches and tracks.

A detailed survey of the external elevations recorded the current condition of the building. These results also enabled a picture of the building’s developmental phases to be established.