[sean freeman]

I just book an airbnb or cottage when I head north and it works out far cheaper, It’s costing around £400 a head all in when we go for eight days this September. Great fishing and it isn’t really any hardship doing a bit of grub and having a few bottles instead of heading for the pub.

 

[len1]

I stayed at the Cluanie Inn in April
Back then diesel was 207p when it was generally around 180p in most other places
The pumps weren't exactly busy but there was a steady stream of customers throughout the day
If you find yourself in that part of the world and need fuel you would gladly pay whatever they need to charge
The place is now owned and run by Indians. They were excellent as was the food. A genuine welcome and desire to please
I was there back in the 90s to do the South Cluanie ridge, a big day out on the hills
Unfortunately by the time we got back to the hotel we had just missed last orders for supper
On asking if they could put something together for us, even a sandwich we were told no
They did add that a lot of people got caught out as we had
So after 11 hours mountaineering it was crisps for supper
Sadly I've come across that sort of attitude far too many times but I think it's maybe changing
Martin

Had the same experience at the Tomdoun Hotel. I had done Ladhar Beinn in one round trip. Kinlochhourn to hill and back non stop. Arrived at hotel a few minutes after nine PM. People were still being served but they refused to serve me any food other than some crisps. Scottish hospitality at it's best!

 

[colliedog]

I have also noticed a sharp rise in he cost of Highland Hotels and B&Bs. Even some humble B&Bs are looking for £120+. A combination of NC500 and staycations. On the positive side there are numerous options, including SC, on Airbnb and Booking com which can be booked by the night rather than a week which works out well for short or multi location trips.

 

[JoeOh]

"So after 11 hours mountaineering it was crisps for supper"

Oh for the days of the heated pie rack on the end or under the pub counter. ....
A packet of Golden Wonder, a steak pie on a paper plate and a pint of 'eggy smelling' Bass ...
Bliss.

 

[morangiedave]

Made online inquiry for three nights's B & B in September. Well over £500 per night. I doubt I shall ever grace their doors again.

JUST CHECKED THEIR WEBSITE NOWHERE NEAR £500 A NIGHT?
Why not give them a phone and see if you can get a deal out of them.

 

[morangiedave]

Blame the North Coast 500 !!

If your doing the NC 500 and arrive at Altnahara your lost. However if anyones up for some nonsense put a NC500 sign at the top of the loch hope road pointing down, would love to hear the excuses of the fannys renting these super cars explain why the arse has been ripped out of it 😉

 

[geebee]

I stayed at the Cluanie Inn in April

I was there back in the 90s to do the South Cluanie ridge, a big day out on the hills
Unfortunately by the time we got back to the hotel we had just missed last orders for supper
On asking if they could put something together for us, even a sandwich we were told no
They did add that a lot of people got caught out as we had
So after 11 hours mountaineering it was crisps for supper
Sadly I've come across that sort of attitude far too many times but I think it's maybe changing
Martin

am i right in thinking that it was the lack of even a sandwich after a long cold hard day and a couple of pints that got our Jeremy fired from Top Gear a few years back ? 🤔

And I do find it odd that anywhere not on the grid doesn't have its own power these days, wind and solar is so easy to rig up, and it doesn't even need for it to be that sunny to produce 50%.

 

[baca157]

am i right in thinking that it was the lack of even a sandwich after a long cold hard day and a couple of pints that got our Jeremy fired from Top Gear a few years back ? 🤔

And I do find it odd that anywhere not on the grid doesn't have its own power these days, wind and solar is so easy to rig up, and it doesn't even need for it to be that sunny to produce 50%.

If I remember correctly it was the cold sandwiches which caused the beating. They were expecting hot meal and got sandwiches. I may be wrong though.

Maybe new owners invested in some solar, but solar alone will not be enough for hotel like that and wind cannot be relied on. The nearest grid connection for the Cluanie Inn was at the other end of Loch Cluanie, at the dam. That's about 7 miles and I recall that the cost of connecting to the grid back in early 2000s was about £300k.

I suppose that wind and solar combined with battery storage could be a solution for a place like that, but I have no idea of costs involved and energy requirements. This hotel had 15 bedrooms and Clubhouse with another 3, serving up to 120 covers on lunch and dinner in the summer plus staff accommodation so I gather that energy consumption is pretty high. I believe that there was an extension added by the new owners as well.

Cheers,
Sebastian

 

[Lord of Rivendell]

As long as the accommodation is clean and comfortable a few £100 / night is fine and it does help keep the riff raff away. It's just market forces. But if it's value for money and fishing that is beyond mediocre you are after Scotland is not a good choice.

 

[morangiedave]

As long as the accommodation is clean and comfortable a few £100 / night is fine and it does help keep the riff raff away. It's just market forces. But if it's value for money and fishing that is beyond mediocre you are after Scotland is not a good choice.

Didn't I see you at the Travel Lodge in Falkirk ?

 

[sean freeman]

As long as the accommodation is clean and comfortable a few £100 / night is fine and it does help keep the riff raff away. It's just market forces. But if it's value for money and fishing that is beyond mediocre you are after Scotland is not a good choice.

Depends where you go and what you know.

 

[87969]

As long as the accommodation is clean and comfortable a few £100 / night is fine and it does help keep the riff raff away. It's just market forces. But if it's value for money and fishing that is beyond mediocre you are after Scotland is not a good choice.

Indeed. You'd best fish elsewhere.

 

[Fuffa]

Just checking and found that Scourie, for a single room with ensuite, is £125 per night B&B! Inchnadamph is, I believe closed.

Tents begin to look very appealing.

Tents are not appealing in midge land.

 

[loxie]

If your doing the NC 500 and arrive at Altnahara your lost. However if anyones up for some nonsense put a NC500 sign at the top of the loch hope road pointing down, would love to hear the excuses of the fannys renting these super cars explain why the arse has been ripped out of it 😉

I drove down that road today. Luckily I have an elderly 4WD not a super car!!

 

[aenoon]

If your doing the NC 500 and arrive at Altnahara your lost. However if anyones up for some nonsense put a NC500 sign at the top of the loch hope road pointing down, would love to hear the excuses of the fannys renting these super cars explain why the arse has been ripped out of it 😉

Dont know about that bit.
Once followed the Mclaren owners club over the Bealach na Ba, on the way to Applecross. They were all driving GT's or better.
None of them bottomed.
In fairness one got stuck trying to go off road to miss hitting the ubiquitous camper van, but was easily pulled back onto road by my Merc gla 4wd.
The sight, and sound of those 25 or so cars was something else!

 

[ohanzee]

I think if I had a supercar I'd maybe head to the south of France, at no point would rain, single track roads and midges figure in that vision.

 

[sean freeman]

It’s the likes of Evo and other car mags creating this whimsical vision of driving Nirvana on the NC500 when reality is far from it these days as they’ve promoted it so much it gets hammered. I’m into my cars and couldn’t be less interested in doing the NC500 for driving enjoyment, some good roads up there but most are ruined by motorhomes and people doing 30mph under the speed limit taking pictures etc.

Plus you’ve got the 🔔 ends that treat it like a racetrack, seen some really dangerous driving the last few years. Most places like that end up with average speed cameras in no time and ruin the road for everyone.

 

[aenoon]

I think if I had a supercar I'd maybe head to the south of France, at no point would rain, single track roads and midges figure in that vision.

Ahh, but the Mclaren owners club go for days out in UK.
Thet were heading back to Inverness after the day trip, to regroup and do the Lecht to Braemar next day!

 

[ohanzee]

Ahh, but the Mclaren owners club go for days out in UK.
Thet were heading back to Inverness after the day trip, to regroup and do the Lecht to Braemar next day!

They missed their vocation, I used to do that route in a four and a half litre Mercedes, and get paid

 

[aenoon]

They missed their vocation, I used to do that route in a four and a half litre Mercedes, and get paid

Ahh, but these guys dont need to be paid for touring around in their 4 litre sports cars!