The first, originally known as Dalmore House, was built in the 18th century by William Duff, Baron Braco,[2] close to the site of the present Lodge.

[3] Lord Braco had acquired the Dalmore estate some time between 1730 and 1737 from the Mackenzie lairds of Dalmore, and by the end of the 18th century the Duff family also owned the lands of Allanaquoich, Auchindryne and Inverey[4] The Duffs owned huge swaths of land in addition to the estate as the heads of many Scottish Feudal Baronies, including MacDuff, named for James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife.

Princess Louise, in the Elizabethan style of architecture.An old postcard shows the original veranda and drive alignment that allowed horse-drawn carriages arriving from Braemar to pull up at the main door.

A ballroom was constructed for estate staff balls, required by the need for segregation between master and servant which dominated the period.

A large timber building in the estate red, it has distinctive lattice trellising, an original Victorian ventilation system and unusual cast iron bracers on stone plinths supporting the walls.