Highly Attractive Self Catering Lodge Park Situated in the Highlands

• 4 large and spacious, timber clad self-catering units, comprising modern fitted kitchen/lounge/dining room, 2/3 bedrooms and family bathroom/shower room.
• Short-Term Let Licenced and charming holiday lodge business, close to Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness, some 15 miles from picturesque Glen Affric.
• Full planning permission held for erection of a Managers/Owners House within the site.
• Established business trading on a year-round basis providing a lifestyle business opportunity offering a sound level of profitability.
• Set within approximately 2.75 acres of lawns and wooded grounds, including ancillary building with laundry and storage.

DESCRIPTION

This business is one of only a few which has received its short-term letting licence.  Only by viewing can one appreciate the attraction of this spacious lodge park, and the size and quality of the Lodges on offer.  This is an established holiday letting business lying in the middle of Glen Urquhart, which stretches from Loch Ness to Glen Affric. The site is 4 miles from Drumnadrochit, a popular tourist village, with shops and restaurants. Also nearby are Urquhart Castle and the Loch Ness visitor centre, with Inverness being only 30 mins away by car.

The chalets, built in 1992, enjoy an idyllic setting in a site of approx. 2.75 acres, each chalet offers a degree of privacy and seclusion.  The chalets are larger than the average holiday chalet, and attention has been paid to both the external and internal aspects. Each Chalet offers a patio area, drying area and garden.  The Lodges are available for letting 12 months of the year, and the present owner operates all year round.

An added attraction of this sale is the planning permission recently granted to erect an owner / manager’s house in the grounds with new access road and located in a lovely woodland spot affording privacy. 

The business offers a true lifestyle operation, providing a home and income earning opportunity or alternatively a business which can be run at arm’s length, with the main burden of work restricted to changeover days and checking in periods. The accommodation units are supplemented by a small laundry, comprising washer/dryer, visitor’s information and a large storage cupboard. The grounds extend to about 2.75 acres and are surrounded by hills, woodland and fields. There is a loch (Loch Meiklie) within a 5 minute walk and the site is dog friendly. The current owner has invested significantly in the site including improved insulation, double glazing, and the ongoing installation of new bathrooms. Internally the chalets are finished to an extremely high standard, meaning that the business is a truly walk in opportunity with no significant capital expenditure required from a new owner.  

TRADE

The property trades year-round to a commendable level of profitability. There is a high level of repeat trade which is evidenced by the trip advisor ratings. Occupancy rates are high through the Summer Season with a healthy demand off season as well.  Bookings come via the site’s own website, as well as some business from Tripadvisor and Visit Scotland. The lodges are let without the benefit of any of the other booking agency websites such as booking.com, which is an option new owners may wish to explore. Run by the resident owner the business operates without the need for any staff. The business has its own website and has a strong presence over social media channels.

LOCATION

The park is situated in the middle of Glen Urquhart, which stretches from Loch Ness to Glen Affric. The tourist village of Drumnadrochit and its shops and restaurants are a short drive away, also nearby are Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness visitor centre. Boat trips can be made over Loch Ness which is a major tourist attraction in this area of the Highlands, popular with Loch Ness monster hunters hoping for a glimpse of “Nessie” and is also one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK.  With its stunning views and untouched landscapes, this impressive stretch of water is 23 miles long and over 700 ft at its deepest, making it Scotland’s largest loch in terms of volume.  Loch Ness is ideal for walking and hiking and is also the site for the annual Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon.  Inverness and Fort Augustus are within a 30 min. drive. Day trips to Cairngorms, Fort William, Isle of Skye are approx. an hour and a half drive, the lodges are well located to provide a base from which to explore the wider area. Balnain the closest village offers a primary school with secondary schooling at Drumnadrochit, where medical and other services are located.  The city of Inverness is only 14 miles away and offers many attractions ranging from the Bronze Age Clava Cairns to Culloden Battlefield, site of the final, fateful clash of the Jacobite Risings.  Inverness itself is a vibrant and growing City and with such expansion comes many opportunities in both commerce and social activities. Such growth benefits established hospitality businesses and ensures a year-round trade.

REASON FOR SALE

The vendors purchased the business in August 2009 and it is a change in personal circumstances and a desire to relocate, that now brings this attractive opportunity to the market.

THE CHALETS

The chalets were built in 1992 and it is clear that they have been maintained to a high standard.  The lodges are timber faced with concrete tiles and are fully insulated.  The site is spacious and well laid out with a mix of lawn and woodland.  The access is via a private road which crosses the river Enrick.  A gravel track leads into the site, where the lodges are located and named.  There are easily two/three parking spaces with each lodge.

DIVACH

This three-bedroom lodge offers one double bedroom and one twin bedroom and a bunk room with adult sized bunk beds.  The bathroom is newly upgraded with a shower over bath. There is a fully fitted kitchen, with electric cooker, microwave, fridge and washing machine.  The Dining area, is spacious and leads into the bright and airy lounge with patio doors leading out to an external seating area.

GUISACHAN

This three-bedroom lodge offers one double bedroom and one twin bedroom and a bunk room with adult sized bunk beds.  The bathroom is newly upgraded with a shower over bath. There is a fully fitted kitchen, with electric cooker, microwave, fridge and washing machine. The Dining area is spacious and leads into the bright and airy lounge with patio doors leading out to an external seating area.

PLODDA

This three-bedroom lodge offers one double bedroom and one twin bedroom and a bunk room with adult sized bunk beds.  There is a fully fitted kitchen/diner and lounge with patio doors and access to external seating. The shower room has a walk in wet room style shower, wash hand basin and toilet. 

GLOMACH

This two-bedroom lodge has the largest footprint of the lodges although offering fewer bedrooms.  Suitable for less able guests, the bathroom has a wet room fitted out with handles and accessories.  Doors and living areas are large enough to accommodate wheelchair access.  The kitchen is large and fully fitted and has an attractive dining area. There is a generous double and twin bedroom.  The lounge area is spacious and offers patio doors and views to the woodland area.

All the lodges, have a smart LCD TV and DVD and have Wi-Fi, mobile phone signal is good with 4G available.  There is access to an onsite tumble drier.

SERVICE BUILDINGS

There is a small timber clad building which is designated as a laundry and store and benefits from electricity connection. There guests can access a washing machine and tumble dryer. This building could be used as a reception area for checking guests in for non-resident owners.

PLANNING PERMISSION

Full planning exists for a house to be built on the site.  This is a two storey house comprising, storage on the ground floor and two bedrooms, one ensuite, shower room, store and an open plan kitchen / lounge / dining area. Full details of the planning can be obtained from the Highland Council planning portal using Ref No. 22/04070/FUL.

GROUNDS

The subjects extend to circa 2.75 acres offering ample parking, recreational ground and well-maintained access paths etc. The grounds have wooded areas and the site has no through traffic.

SERVICES

With mains electricity, water and drainage, the chalets have electric storage heating and are double glazed throughout. The site has Wi-Fi and excellent mobile signal.  The lodges benefit from mains water with private drainage via two septic tanks.

SHORT-TERM LET LICENCE

The short-term let licence was received on the 19th May 2023, reference HI-50159-F and is valid until 10th May 2026. New owners will need to make their own application; however, this should amount to the personal checks as the business has passed.  All the premises information required for the application will be made available on request at the appropriate time.