Scotland

Any room at The Inn?

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

Following a multi million pound investment John O’Groats Hotel in Scotland is now open for business in its newest form; The Inn at John O’Groats.

The hotel has been restored, extended and hosts top of the range self catering apartments.

Built in 1875 the hotel has been restored over the past two years in a vibrant Norse style. It opened on the 16th August 2013.

Located in Caithness, North Scotland, the residences boast amazing views of the Scottish Highlands. Those staying in West-facing rooms can admire breathtaking views of the sunset, as well as the Orkney Islands and Stroma.

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

The self catering apartments vary in size and guests can choose from one, two or four bedroom residences. All apartments contain modern, fully equipped kitchen and living areas, stylish bedrooms as well as luxurious bathrooms.

The Inn at John O’Groats has been sustainably developed and therefore is comprised of locally sourced material, including Caithness stone and Scottish larch timber.

GLM architects headed the project; Neil McAllister, Project Architect on site, said the general opinion has been extremely positive.

Neil added:

“We stripped the building back to its core as it was rotten, refurbished it and looked at options for extending it. We decided the site needed to be a contrast to the original building because, at times, it can be a bleak landscape.

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

“We wanted to make a statement and show there was something happening in the area. It’s been very exciting to be involved with a project like this.

“We have been able to make an impact on a place that was completely run down. You can already see a real change in the area and hopefully that’s just the beginning.”

The Tower, a two storey apartment situated in the turret of The Inn building, did not initially meet building regulations. Due to the lack of fire escapes in the apartment Natural Retreats needed to install fire sprinklers in The Tower to continue with the development.

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

Aquablaze supplied and fitted this fire sprinkler system. They have worked on many projects in the past, proving their experience in this field. Director William Ferguson said:

“Working with their design team, our fire sprinkler system enabled Natural Retreats to achieve the design layout they wanted. We thoroughly enjoyed being a part of The Inn at John O’Groats project and it was a pleasure to be involved with Natural Retreats.

“We have designed and installed various fire suppression systems including Dandara’s Quay West apartments on The Isle of Man, town houses, bespoke family dwellings and many private and Local Authority care homes.

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

“We are proud to add The Inn at John O’Groats to our portfolio.”

The new John O’Groats renovation is ideal for those completing the famous Lands’ End to John O’Groats ‘End to End’ challenge. Travellers can relax in the luxurious environment after completing the trek.

Natural Retreats own The Inn at John O’Groats; offering family and dog friendly cottages, lodges, apartments and villas which span EnglandScotland, Wales, Ireland, USA and Canary Islands.

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

 The opening of The Inn comes a year after Natural Retreats unveiled their £6 million regeneration project in the area. The investment saw the creation of 23 luxury eco-lodges, designed in the style of the lodges at the Yorkshire Dales site. The lodges are modern, open plan and are largely made up of glass allowing guests to soak up the surrounding natural beauty.

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

 The regeneration project also saw the construction of a co-operative Storehouse cafe which sells produce and goods from local businesses. The Outfitters activity and retail centre is another result of the investment, providing visitors with a place to plan and book a range of activities including sea safari, bike hire, walking trails, trout fishing, sea angling and horse riding.

The regeneration project also saw the construction of a co-operative Storehouse cafe which sells produce and goods from local businesses. The Outfitters activity and retail centre is another result of the investment, providing visitors with a place to plan and book a range of activities including sea safari, bike hire, walking trails, trout fishing, sea angling and horse riding.

The centre also stocks supplies to prepare guests for their adventures. The regeneration effort was born out of Natural Retreats’ partnership with Heritage GB and Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The Inn at John O'Groats, Caithness

Chief Executive of HIE, Alex Paterson said:

“This is a significant tourism investment at John O’Groats which has transformed this internationally renowned location, and will bring many benefits not only to the local area but to the wider Highlands and Islands.”

About the author

Roma Publications