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.
Altnaharra Hotel
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Dramcatcher
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I thought the south end boats were:
Altnaharra Hotel
Strathmore Estate
Eriboll Estate
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I know folk who fish North End and Middle Bay.
Col
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Does the Altnaharra no longer fish Naver as that used to be a nice loch for the salmon too (well over 20 years since I’ve been up there, but I rarely if ever see it mentioned.
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The fishing is split between the two estate with them each fishing three alternate days a week.
One of the estates will let day tickets without the need for accommodation although they don't shout about it. These tickets are cheap enough in April and May because everybody knows that no fish go over the Mallart falls until the second week of June. This latter point is rather odd as every time there is a spate in April and May I see big fish in the 8lb - 15lb class going over the falls, I guess they must just be trout or something
The biggest part of the Mallart upstream is now not fished at all because the owner has zero interest in fishing or letting any of the sporting activities. This is incredibly sad as it is the water written about in the book "Salmon on a Dry Fly" by Dereck Knowles and which gets a mention in Falkus's salmon book.
Andy
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It still has two boats but they are not heavily used. It doesn't help that these boats are only available to hotel residents, you can't get one on a day ticket without staying there. I have met quite a few people who would like to take a hotel boat for a day on L. Naver but it's never going to happen. The reasons for this are lost in the mists of time but for some reason the lease of the boats between the hotel and the estate (Altnaharra) rules out casual day tickets.
Andy
I think Wildland policy is to just let boats with accommodation
Apparently they lost it due to bad behaviour by some rods.
I think Wildland are not especially interested in the fishing as a commercial proposition. Non fishing tenants outnumber fishing tenants by a large margin. To them it's just a free add on to the lodge experience, like cycling or outdoor hot tubs etc.
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Yes, that is my understanding of the 2 estate boats, as well as the hotel.
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Thanks Andy, that would certainly explain it!
No one on your own Forum able to tell you that?
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297 Posts
Try booking a hotel in Stornoway, mental prices. Lucky I've got a tent.
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Make the most of it, as you may not have it for very long if you pitch it in Stornoway as it can get a tad breezy up there!
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I had a similar experience last year and ended up shifting plans entirely. If you’re up for something different, I found the landscape and slower pace around resort khao yai in Thailand pretty relaxing too, with enough room for walks and downtime. No fishing there like the lochs, of course, but still a great escape if you're after quiet surroundings and a change from the usual spots.
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New ownership???
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yeah, I was up there last year,hotel was quiet but really comfy, and we had great fishing on Loch Hope and some hill lochs. Pack for changeable weather; it shifts fast.
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The hotel was not under new ownership or management last year. Has this changed since last year?
I was talking to a guy who was staying there last March. He was the only guest but the manager said he could have anything off the menu. Not wanting cause hassle as he was the only one there the guest said he would have whatever was easiest. The manager replied it was all the same because it was only a matter of putting it in the microwave!
Andy
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297 Posts
Had Altnahara Hotel boat out a few weeks back. staff were very helpful. No change in owner.
For obvious reasons and understandably they prioritise guests, I had four clean fresh Seatrout three just over the pound mark with one nudging 1 1/2lb. A real shame North end is no longer available to visiting folks. The day I was out none of the other three boats were in use, had the place to ma self.
For obvious reasons and understandably they prioritise guests, I had four clean fresh Seatrout three just over the pound mark with one nudging 1 1/2lb. A real shame North end is no longer available to visiting folks. The day I was out none of the other three boats were in use, had the place to ma self.
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You know the lie of the land up there, Andy. Where do you go when you live in Altnaharra and simply need a pint of milk and a loaf of bread? It's feckin' miles from anywhere! It amazes me that they are able to put on the fare that they do. Jimmy and I were there last week and the food was excellent.
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The wonders of Brake brothers.
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If you’ve any sense you have a freezer full of milk and bread. Popping to Lairg or Bettyhill for a pint of milk (that cost as much as 4 pints in Alness or Thurso) isn’t really an option!
In winter it can easily be cut off for a week and even when the road is cleared the weather and short daylight hours effectively means you might not want to risk it for a month. I think most folk up there have a bit of a siege mentality when it comes to groceries.
Re the food in the hotel I’m sure it is fine when it is up and running properly. As I say he was the only guest in that week and I don’t think there were any staff in other than the manager.
Andy
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