It was by pure coincidence that one woman found herself housesitting for almost a month on a lavish estate in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Even better, she barely had to lift a finger.

Nicole Miller, 56, who hails from Newbury, Berkshire, found herself surrounded by the stunning landscapesof the Scottish Highlands with rolling hills and serene lochs in February this year, during a totally free holiday. All she had to do was keep a watchful eye on a grand manor estate for almost four weeks.

"I was speechless. I just felt like I was the luckiest person on the planet," Nicole, originally from Scotland, exclusively told the Mirror."It was like somebody had just given me a £3,000 holiday."

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On the sprawling grounds of an estate in the heart of the Scottish Highlands was the manor house, which Nicole described as "stunning and massive", along with two cottages. Nicole stayed in a luxurious one-floor abode with spacious rooms and a "great big hall".

With the wealthy owners of the manor house away, Nicole was simply there to ensure "that their house was safe." She explained: "I mean, I didn't have to do anything. I didn't even have to go up there to check it out.

"That's what I thought I would be originally doing, but they just wanted somebody's presence there, a car at the front, lights on, if anybody did wander off the beaten track, they know someone was there."

While keeping an eye on the house, Nicole spent the days working from the grand dining room overlooking the majestic Glen, which she converted into an office, before cosying up in the evening with a good book at the secluded location in Kinlochmoidart. "I didn't set my alarm; I was taking everything in my stride," she said.

"I'd get up in the morning, I'd go, and I see the wild animals, there were squirrels, lovely birds, and I saw a massive herd of deer one day. I would have a little afternoon siesta, where I'd just lie down to read my book, and I'd potter about. It's just the peace and the natural tranquillity and being so detached from the fast pace of life."

Nicole quickly made herself at home and even unpacked her juice maker, a blender, a toastie maker, and a slow cooker to make soup, really helping her settle in. But a trip to the supermarket from this serene spot was no mean feat, as it was an hour's drive away. Luckily, there was a small shop just 20 minutes down the road.

On weekends, Nicole would explore the local area, taking advantage of the breathtaking, rugged landscapes and mountainous terrain of the Scottish Highlands. She also visited historic castles nearby and took a trip to Sanna Beach, with its pristine white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

Despite being in an incredibly remote location, with a sweeping 2.5-mile drive and no sign of life, Nicole felt completely at ease. "I loved it, I didn't want to go home. I felt like I was the only person on the planet," she said.

"Don't get me wrong. I did see the people who look after some of the estate and things; they come and go, but in general, there was just nobody there. The house didn't even creak; there's just no sound, just absolutely nothing. It's really quite strange, but I loved it.

"I settled in really quickly, and I feel like I couldn't have been safer staying there - it's completely off the beaten track."

But housesitting for the rich wasn't exactly on Nicole's radar. In fact, it was by sheer chance that Nicole saw the advertisement pop up on LinkedIn. "The post said 'house sit Scottish estate', and I just knew that's for me. I'm a great believer in visualising and the laws of the universe," Nicole, owner of Fast Response PFA Ltd, said.

She added: "I'm always driving around with my job, and I love it when I'm out in the country, and I'm always visualising these cottages, how lovely they are. So when that came up, it was just perfect, I had to take it."

While Nicole was delighted at the prospect of heading to the hills of Scotland to housesit, she never thought it was an option. Arranged through HouseSit Match, she confessed: "I thought it was for people with pets, I never realised that people might just want you to sit in their house, just to protect their house."

But it was certainly well worth the trip through House Sit Match. Nicole shared: "We live in such a fast world. I think it's nice to slow down and enjoy the beauty of the planet. This house sit was in a part of the world that most people just don't get to see. I was literally in the middle of nowhere, and the scenery is tremendous.

"I want to go back to Scotland and have a cottage in the middle of nowhere."

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