Award-winning Scottish hotel on NC500 up for sale for £1.2m
It also has 30 en-suite bedrooms and a separate self-contained block of six apartments, each offering a double bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom, as well as two townhouses and a vacant church building, all of which are also available by way of separate negotiation.
After 42 years, the current owners feel it is time to step down and make way for a fresh investment.
READ MORE: Police to breathalyse passengers arriving at Scottish airport in pilot scheme
Gary Witham, hotels director at Christie & Co, who is managing the sale, said: 'It is unusual to be able to offer a sizeable, award-winning hotel so well located along the NC500. Mackays offers the chance to develop the business further through the hotel itself, but also through developing the adjacent apartments and townhouses, which provide a more self-contained option.'
Mackays Hotel is on the market with a freehold asking price of £1,200,000.
To find out more, visit: https://www.christie.com/5245057/
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
The 'perfect' Scottish cabin in the woods with hot tub you can book this summer
It is situated in a secluded woodland location. A cabin situated in a secluded location in a Scottish forest is currently available to book for a summer getaway. The unique accommodation has been described by one previous guest as "perfect". The cabin is located in Ardross in the Scottish Highlands. It is approximately a 10-minute drive away from the town of Alness in Ross and Cromarty and 25 miles north of Inverness. At the moment, holidaymakers can book a stay at the cabin through Airbnb. The accommodation is priced at £150 per night, with a minimum stay of two nights, plus additional cleaning and booking fees. The cabin, which has been recently refurbished, is "full of character" according to the Airbnb listing. It sleeps up to two people, featuring one king-size bed. Elsewhere, the property includes a living area with a "warm and cosy" wood burning stove. There is also a kitchen that features a range of appliances, as well as a bathroom with a walk-in shower. Outside, the cabin is surrounded by idyllic woodlands. The property shares grounds with another wooden house, though has its own fully enclosed garden to give privacy. One of the most notable features of the outdoor space is the hot tub. The jacuzzi offers green views out across the forest to enjoy. There is also a large number of walks and beauty spots to check out in the surrounding area. Highlights include the picturesque Fyrish Monument, which offers incredible views over the Cromarty Firth, and the 18th century Ardross Castle. While the Airbnb cabin will appeal to some holidaymakers, others may prefer to stay in a hotel with easier access to amenities. Fortunately, there are multiple accommodation options in Alness. One of the most popular hotels in the town is The Station Hotel, which features 23 guest rooms and offers live music and steak nights. Elsewhere, the Tullochard Guest House is a four-star retreat with a garden and in-room Wi-Fi. On Airbnb, the cabin is classed as a "guest favourite" property—meaning it is among the website's top properties based on ratings from visitors. The accommodation has an overall score of 4.96 out of five based on 185 reviews. One happy guest shared: "We spontaneously booked this cabin as the weather was due to get bad and thank god it had availability. "What a beautiful cabin with the perfect extras, especially the jacuzzi and wood burner. [They] just made it the most relaxing, cosy break for us and our dogs. "The perfect place to unwind and regroup surrounded by woodland and peace and quiet. We will definitely be back!" A previous review that was more mixed reads: "Overall we enjoyed our stay—however there are some improvements that could be made to make our stay five star, mainly in the comfort of the settee and chair provided." Another positive write-up reads: "Lovely cottage in the middle of the forest! Well-equipped and very comfortable bed. We really enjoyed relaxing in the hot tub in the evenings." For further details about the wood cabin, visit the Airbnb website.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
The beautiful Scottish town where a 'food revolution' is underway
North Berwick in East Lothian, which has been praised for its great number of quality eateries, was named alongside places like Folkestone in Kent and Stockbridge in Edinburgh. Located a half-hour train ride from Scotland's capital, it has long been a popular spot for travelling foodies. Now the town, which was recently named a culinary hotspot by National Geographic, has featured in a new list of the best small towns every foodie needs to visit. See why North Berwick is one of the best small towns in the UK for food lovers Discussing the well-known seaside town in Scotland, Olive said there is a "food revolution" taking place in North Berwick. Highlighting what makes the Scottish location so great, the publication praised Steampunk Coffee Roasters and the Bostock Bakery for their wonderful pastries and flat whites. The croissants at the latter are apparently so good that NOMA's René Redzepi sent his pastry chef from Copenhagen to learn from The Bostock's Ross Baxter. Because of its coastal location, the town has plenty of seafood options to enjoy as well, including the famous Lobster Shack. The "seasonal operation" on the harbour gets its catch from the Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery between Easter and October. Recommended Reading: The lobster and crab bisque here has been described as "exceptional", while many have commended the spot for its views out to sea. For those looking to enjoy an amazing cuppa after a "blustery and beautiful" walk, they can make their way to a shipping container turned coffee shop called DRIFT. Perched on an outcrop above Canty Bay, the dining spot is popular for its bacon and egg sandwich with herby aioli.
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Edinburgh shops still selling single use vapes over a month after they were banned
Shops across the Capital are still selling single use vapes – over a month after they were banned across the country. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Local Democracy Reporting Service was able to buy seven at sites around Edinburgh, with many shops still carrying them in public view. Many shop workers acknowledged they were illegal to sell when asked by an undercover reporter, with one saying customers sought them out because they 'liked the taste'. Others said they were working on clearing out stock, while a handful pled ignorance, saying they did not know the vapes were illegal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ban was brought in on June 1 of this year by the Scottish Government over public health and environmental well-being grounds. Similar bans came into effect in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on the same day, with the Scottish ban delayed by two months to line up the start date nationwide. Local democracy reporter Joe Sullivan with the illegal vapes he was able to purchase from several Edinburgh shops. | LDR It had been announced in Scotland in early 2024, giving manufacturers and retailers time to adapt to the change. To be legal, vapes need to be rechargeable, and have the ability for the vape liquid and heating elements inside to be replaced. Vape manufacturers have responded by creating new lines of products that visibly resemble their old disposable ones, but which feature charging ports and disposable pods that contain liquid and new heating elements. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Local authorities have been tasked with enforcing the ban – though a council report in May said the city's trading standards team would need more resources to investigate disposable vapes without reducing their other services. Having seen several stores appearing to stock disposable vapes weeks after the ban came into effect we carried out test purchasing at sites across the city. At one popular city centre retailer, we asked if the store had any disposable vapes on hand. A cashier obliged, and took out ten disposable vapes, laying them out on the counter for us to take our pick. He acknowledged that they were illegal, but said that customers seemed to prefer the taste of the old disposable units over the refillable equivalents many companies have released. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'The only difference is the battery. But people still want these, they like the taste I think.' The vape we bought there, a Higo Crystal bar, lacks a charging port or a way to replace the liquid inside, making it illegal under the new law. Returning a couple days later, the same shopkeeper denied he sold us the vape, and said the shop did not stock or carry ones not compliant with the ban. At a Southside convenience store, we were able to ask for a cola-flavoured Elf Bar right off the shelf without issue. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When asked if the vape was illegal, the cashier there confirmed it was. He said the store was working on clearing out its stock, and that refills for the newer vapes were hard to obtain. He continued on to say: 'People don't care [whether the vape is disposable], they're the same. The law is pointless without having the refills.' The story was the same at another two city centre newsagents, where we were able to buy a disposable peach ice SKE bar and a disposable cherry cola Elf Bar. One shopkeeper there told us: 'The [refill] pods are hard to get. Our supplier doesn't stock them, we can't buy them.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The issue of what is legal and illegal was one which seemed to be causing some shopkeepers trouble. At another city centre newsagent we were able to purchase a pineapple peach mango Elf Bar – and when asked if it was compliant with the ban, the shopkeeper seemed to believe it was, telling us, 'you can change the pods'. He was confused when we removed the vape from its packaging, and pointed out that it had no charger or removable refill pods. When we went back to the shop, a different shop worker also thought the vape was legal, saying they had received the non-compliant Elf Bars as part of a shipment two weeks ago. We were also able to buy non-compliant vapes at two more shops in the city, with both stocking them quite openly. All seven stores were asked for comment, however none had responded by time of publication. At each store we asked for a receipt, however most declined to provide them, with some saying they were out of receipt paper and others providing no explanation as to why one could not be given. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Local Democracy Reporting Service has now passed its dossier of evidence on to Edinburgh Council's trading standards team, who are investigating. We also checked some chain supermarkets for vapes – and managed to find one, the Sainsbury's on Shandwick Place – stocking disposable ones. However, when a cashier tried to ring up the vape, his terminal would not allow him to scan the product. He then cleared the remaining disposable vapes from the shelf behind him. A spokesperson for Sainsbury's said the firm took its 'role as a responsible retailer very seriously', and that it ensures all its stores are compliant with the ban. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: 'Local authorities are responsible for enforcement of the single use vape ban. Day to day enforcement activities are carried out by Trading standards officers employed by each Local Authority. 'The Scottish Government remains in contact with regulators and the other UK nations regarding any compliance and enforcement issues.' The illegal vapes which were purchased at Edinburgh shops despite being banned since June 1. | LDR Alexandra Connell, chair of the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland, said that trading standards teams need more support in order to tackle the ban. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'We are a small profession. We [already] have an awful lot of other work that's equally important that we have to get out and do. 'The Scottish Government have identified some monies to help us with enforcement of it. But the mechanisms for how that money gets to us isn't particularly clear [yet]. 'And it's a small pot. Divided between 32 local authorities, it means everybody gets a very small pot of money. 'What we really need is to be properly resourced. We need to recognise that we actually have a huge remit. And our remit seems to be getting bigger, we have new burdens, but as I say, we are a small profession.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Connell said that trading standards officers often had to prioritise investigating products with the most harm, such as counterfeit or defective children's toys, over enforcement of other products. She also said stopping disposable vapes at the border might be a more cost-effective solution than having council trading standards officers remove them from individual stores. According to her, investigating vapes that aren't compliant with the ban is an expensive and time consuming process. She says trading standards officers need extensive training to identify illegal vapes. And, they sometimes need to take vapes apart, as some will appear to feature charging ports but lack a rechargeable battery. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The process of getting rid of disposable vapes is also challenging – due to their lithium batteries, they need to be appropriately recycled, which does not always come cheap. A spokesperson for Edinburgh Council said: 'Single use disposable vaping devices became illegal on June 1, and any business still offering these for sale is committing a criminal offence. 'Trading Standards Officers may seize the items, issue Fixed Penalty notices or submit reports to the Procurator Fiscal. 'The Trading Standards team will respond to any complaints or reports of non-compliance, which can be sent to or reported via Advice Direct Scotland.'
