A charity set up in memory of three airmen brothers killed before and during World War II has announced plans to invest £4.5million at the home of its founder and create a luxury country house hotel.
The MacRobert Trust’s Douneside House, near Tarland, will be completely refurbished and reopened as a hotel, leisure club, wedding venue and conference centre next Spring.
The building is the ancestral home of the MacRoberts, whose line was eradicated when brothers Alastair, Roderic and Iain were wiped out by air accidents within three years of each other.
Eldest son Alistair was killed during a civil flying accident in 1938, whilst Iain and Roderic died on active duty with the RAF during World War II in 1941.
After their deaths, their mother Lady Rachel MacRobert, donated £25,000 to the nation to purchase a Stirling bomber named MacRobert’s Reply and set up the MacRobert Trust – which has since donated millions to charitable organisations.
She died in 1954 and her wish was that the Aberdeenshire estate become the base for the trust to carry on her family’s legacy through retaining links with the armed forces and a commitment to education, technology and farming.
All business profits from the new-look Douneside House will be donated to a number of charities.
The restaurant, guest bedrooms, interior and exterior facilities and other areas of the main house will be renovated, whilst on-site holiday cottages and apartments are being upgraded.
New leisure facilities including a gym, swimming pool, aerobics studio, jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms will also be built.
Douneside House – currently closed for business – was previously used as a private country house for serving or retired armed service officers and their families.
A six-week period of the summer and one week of Christmas will be retained exclusively for military guest use.
The MacRobert Trust’s chief executive, rear admiral Chris Hockley, said the revamped estate would maintain its “close and hugely valued relationship with the arm forces” whilst opening its doors “to everyone”.
“This major investment heralds the beginning of a very exciting period of opportunity where we hope, ultimately, to increase the trust’s ability to support charitable activity whilst, together with the local community, building on the profile of Tarland and our local area.
“The work on the house and leisure club is already well underway, and we are looking forward to welcoming back guests in the Spring of 2016 and sharing the special experience that a visit to Douneside can offer.”
Bookings are already being taken for spring 2016 onward.