Business of the Month: Bettyhill Hotel
Our business of the month is Bettyhill Hotel. Bettyhill Hotel is located directly on the North Coast 500 route. The hotel is superbly positioned to take advantage of the many things the North Coast of Scotland has to offer. People from all walks of life come to visit the area for many different reasons. They regularly welcome sightseers, bird watchers, hikers, cyclists, motor car / bike enthusiasts, surfers and fishing enthusiasts. A warm welcome awaits you at the Bettyhill Hotel.
We spoke to Chris to find out about what they offer NC500 visitors and how they have benefited from the NC500.
1. Hello Chris! First of all can you tell us a little about yourself and Bettyhill Hotel?
The hotel is family-owned, which we have owned since 2011. Every member in my immediate family work at the hotel, and we do our best to put across a warm family feeling to both our customer and employees. The hotel will be 200 years old next year and started out life as a former coaching inn. When we bought the hotel in 2011, the building was fairly run down. Renovations included new windows throughout the whole building, new heating and electrical system throughout. There was over 1 mile of copper pipes which had to be laid! We have since staged renovations over the years to continually modernise all areas of the hotel, while trying to maintain some of the original features which give the hotel some of its character. I did not have any hotelier experience prior to running the Bettyhill Hotel, so the learning curve was quite steep and there were some testing times in the early days. A perseverance, enthusiasm and vision of what the hotel could be kept me motivated during the early days. These days, providing customers with the best service we can give and providing an atmosphere where our employees enjoy working is what keeps me motivated.
2. What makes Bettyhill Hotel the perfect stopping point for those travelling on the North Coast 500?
If you arrive at the hotel after a long day of driving or riding a bike, then the view that you will see from the hotel towards Torrisdale Bay and the sea will almost certainly reward the effort – I consider myself very fortunate to be blessed with witnessing the view from our hotel on a daily basis. The hotel offers a good range of amenities, which includes free Wi-Fi, a lunch menu, bar menu, A-la-Carte menu and well-furnished bedrooms. We have recently partnered with Simba Sleep who provide our mattresses, which has proven very successful so far. The feedback we receive on the quality of sleep is overwhelmingly positive.
If you don’t manage to get a room with a sea view, then you will still have the opportunity to experience the view in the restaurant guest lounge or the outside seating area. Breakfast is also served in the restaurant, which is included in all the room price for all of our residents. The Bettyhill Hotel is located almost centrally on the north coast of the route. This makes the hotel ideally positioned to explore the immediate area, and areas nearby.
3. What sort of sights and activities does the surrounding area offer?
From surfing in the magnificent Torrisdale Bay to bird watching, I believe there is something for everyone in the surrounding area. Fishing on the river Naver is excellent and will certainly put the stresses of day to day life to one side. Permits to fish the estuary is just £6/day which are available at Bettyhill General Merchants. There is also a leisure centre, which offers a heated swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and top of the range gym equipment. Located on the east side of the village is the Strathnaver Museum, home to a wonderful collection of Mackay memorabilia belonging to the Clan Mackay Society, making it a must see for anyone of Mackay descent or interested in Clan Mackay. It also tells the brutal story of the highland clearances, which make it a good starting point in exploring clearance sites.
4. Now, how much of the NC500 have you travelled… ? What comes to your mind when you think of the North Coast 500?
I have travelled the full route and the natural beauty of the unspoiled landscape comes to mind – a lot of the views are simply awe inspiring, especially the incredible beaches! When you see a herd of deer next to the road, or Highland cows walking beside you, it adds to the experience.
5. And…How do you think the NC500 has impacted the North Highland area?
The NC500 has impacted the area in a very positive way, which benefits a wide range of businesses. In the case of hotels for example, we get to give local food producers more business, which helps sustain them. The local produce in the Highlands is of fantastic quality, as an example, Ritchies of Aultbea black pudding which we source locally is extremely popular with our guests.
6. What is the biggest change YOU have witnessed since the launch of the NC500?
Though the Highlands have always been a popular destination for holiday makers, I have noticed that hotels are starting to book up a lot earlier than prior to the NC500’s commencement. I would recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
7. And…What do you hope for the future of the North Coast 500?
Though this is already happening, I would like to see even more fast charging points for electric / hybrid vehicles. I think that this will future-proof its popularity and will further promote the route in a sustainable way.