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Am Bratach No. 194
Hotels in Durness and Rhiconich sold We can confirm that Smoo Cave Hotel and Rhiconich Hotel have been sold, writes FIONA BURNETT. Smoo Cave Hotel, Durness, the most north-westerly hotel on the British mainland, formerly owned by Len Cooper, changed hands last month. New proprietors, Hugh and Frances Morrison, who run a nearby bed and breakfast business, Orcadia, had leased the premises for over two years. Prior to the settlement, the 3-bedroom hotel had been closed for three months. Mrs Morriosn said: “We’re relieved now that it is ours and looking forward to the challenge ahead.” Three permanent staff are employed
by the hotel on a part-time basis with working hours extended
during the tourist season. Raymond Fish, owner of Rhiconich Hotel which overlooks Loch Inchard, confirmed to us that his hotel will change hands when Gloucester couple, Simon and Heather Yates, take over on December 19. Asked if the new owners, who have experience in the leisure industry, will be making any changes, Mr Fish replied: “I don’t think they have any initial plans, but obviously when new people come in they eventually will.” Offers of more than £425,000 had been invited for the hotel, described by selling agents as including sporting rights over a 11,200 acre estate, a sportsman’s lodge and planning consent for a new house. Asked why he was selling up, Mr Fish, originally from Sheffield, replied: “I’m sixty-six. There comes a time. It’s a very demanding business. As well, it needs a fresh pair of eyes, a fresh pair of legs and for it to move forward it needs someone a bit younger than me. Otherwise it will stagnate and grow old with me!” Commenting on his time running Rhiconich, Mr Fish, said warmly: “I’ve had a wonderful time.” Mr Fish, a keen mountaineer for thirty years who regularly visited and climbed in the west of Scotland, has owned Rhiconich Hotel for the past nineteen years, until two years ago in partnership with Mr Graham Wild, and will be retiring to Durness where he is looking forward to a more leisurely pace of life, relaxing on the golf course. While Kinlochbervie Hotel, owned by Enez and Margaret Colan, has not been on the market, a chance visit by an interested party, asking if the hotel was for sale, gave the couple food for thought and at present negotiations with a view to a sale are taking place. The couple, who “weren’t looking to sell” have owned the 10-bedroom hotel for just three years and, due to the nature of this “out of the blue” interest, have no immediate plans for their future if the sale goes ahead. Yorkshireman Mr Colan said: “We’ll probably buy a hotel somewhere else.” The couple, who had no previous experience in the hospitality industry, decided to buy Kinlochbervie Hotel after returning from the Middle East where Mr Colan worked as a project manager in the oil and gas industry. “It was a big change coming back,” he said, “but we enjoy living here. We have a wonderful situation here, a wonderful view. Everyone’s quite open and friendly and it’s a very safe place to live. We have made many friends here.” He added: “We may still be here this time next year!” |