A hotel on the now world-famous North Coast 500 (NC500) route is under new family ownership after being sold above the asking price of £450,000.
It is just a few months since the nine-bedroom Kinlochewe Hotel in Wester Ross went on the market.
Commercial property agent Drysdale & Company was trying to find a buyer after the previous owners, David and Karen Twist decided to retire.
Drysdale, which specialises in the hospitality sector, has now announced a successful sale to Donald and Julia MacLennan.
Kinlochewe Hotel in ‘good hands’
Mr Twist said: “We would like to send our warm congratulations and very best wishes to Don, Julia and their lovely family as they begin their new chapter as owners of the Kinlochewe Hotel.
“Having got to know them very well over the last few weeks, we know they will inject the same care and enthusiasm into the hotel. We retire safe in the knowledge that the place is in good hands.”
As well as the nine en suite letting bedrooms, the property includes two rooms for staff and a separate owners’ flat, with two bedrooms a bathroom, lounge and dining room.
There is also a bunkhouse which can sleep 12 people, aimed at hillwalkers and large groups.
In addition, the award-winning hotel boasts the Stag Highland Restaurant and Bar.
For the past five years the business has been run by David and Karen Twist.
Mr and Mrs Twist ran the hotel for five years, achieving their “lifelong dream” to live in the Highlands and operate a successful hospitality business.
The couple had initially planned to take on a B&B but were pleasantly surprised at prices in the Highlands.
Kinlochewe Hotel turned out to be “much more affordable to us than originally thought,” Mr Twist told The Press and Journal in June.
NC500 a big attraction
One of its biggest selling points – apart from the spectacular scenery surrounding it at the southern end of Loch Maree, in Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve in Wester Ross – is the NC500, which is consistently named one of the best road trips in the world.
Stirling-based Drysdale is led by chartered surveyor Stuart Drysdale, who said Kinlochewe Hotel had attracted “multiple notes of interest” from around the world.
Mr Drysdale added: “We wish Donald and his family all the best with their new venture, and also wish David and Karen Twist, the former owners, a very happy retirement.
“The interest in this property demonstrates just how popular this part of the Highlands is.”
The new owners could not be contacted.
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