Historic Strathpeffer hotel up for sale
AN historic hotel in Strathpeffer, built in the spa village’s Victorian heyday, is up for sale at offers around £565,000.
The category B-listed Dunraven Lodge, dating from 1901, was originally built by sisters Catherine and Aline Corbett.
They decided to build a hotel for the influx of wealthy Victorian visitors descending on the fashionable village for the spa waters and the clean, fresh air of the Highlands.
Strathpeffer and its sulphur wells were originally exploited in the late 1700s for their health benefits, believed to cure a wealth of ailments.
Strathpeffer’s original pump room was built around 1860 – still in evidence in the town – and which allowed for spas to be served by the spring water.
When the railway lines through the Highlands were built from the 1860s it opened up previously more isolated destinations like Strathpeffer and brought visitors from London on the sleeper trains.
During this time, many of the larger properties were built with a view to letting them out to visitors during the busy season and more hotels like Dunraven Lodge sprung up.
The village’s distinctive Victorian architecture and many of its historic features and spas have been preserved.
After the First World War, many of the Strathpeffer large hotels including Dunraven Lodge were commandeered for convalescent accommodation for wounded servicemen.
After the Second World War, Dunraven Lodge served as a Church of Scotland care home for the elderly, and this continued into the 1970s when the building was converted back into a hotel.
Orlaith Brogan, spokeswoman for SPC Scotland, said: "Dunraven Lodge is located on Golf Course Road and its extensive 1.5-acre grounds offers fantastic views across the surrounding countryside.
"While it has a rich history, the property has been lovingly upgraded by its current owners. "This property would make an ideal bed and breakfast or a boutique-style hotel, particularly as Strathpeffer is one of the most popular towns for visitors in the Highlands."
