Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond to get 11 new self-catering ‘garden lodges’ amid tourism boom

A holiday firm operating on the banks of Loch Lomond has secured six-figure funding to construct 11 self-catering garden lodges amid strong demand.

Loch Lomond Castle Lodges (Holdings), which operates a range of holiday and leisure facilities in Scotland, will use the £600,000 in funding from Cambridge & Counties Bank to add the lodges to its loch-side site.

The family-owned business currently operates a guest house with five self-catering rooms as well as five self-catering apartments and ten luxury lodges. A central hub - The Cruin - has a bar and restaurant and two large function rooms predominantly used for weddings.

Loch Lomond Castle Lodges operates a guest house with five self-catering rooms as well as five self-catering apartments and luxury lodges.

Bosses noted that the tourism market in the region has grown consistently by around 4 per cent year-on-year, with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park itself attracting some four million visitors. Around half of the leisure market is day visits while the reminder involves overnight stays.

The £600,000 in new funding for Loch Lomond Castle Lodges follows a £2.1 million refinancing package with Cambridge & Counties Bank in April this year to help the business optimise its balance sheet.

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James Carr, director, Loch Lomond Castle Lodges (Holdings), said: “We have benefitted from excellent demand and firmly believe now is the time to invest for growth and expand the site by adding 11 new self-catering garden lodges. Cambridge & Counties Bank has been a strong financial partner for the past six months and it is natural for us to work together again as we realise this exciting next step.”

Barry Rodger, senior relationship manager, Cambridge & Counties Bank, said: “We are proud to be supporting an ambitious local business with a very attractive market position and a strong tailwind for further growth. The tourism industry in Loch Lomond is thriving and it is clear that Loch Lomond Castle Lodges is well placed to capitalise.”

Meanwhile, Pitlochry-based McKays Hotel Bar and Restaurant has completed the £250,000 conversion of an Italian café to create the McKays Townhouse.

Set in an original Victorian building, The new townhouse sees seven en-suite bedrooms developed over the top two floors, with two luxury self-catering apartments on the ground and basement floors.

The latest addition comes three years after McKays invested £1.25m to create 12 new bedrooms and a 100-seat function suite.

Co-owner Richard Drummond said: “With McKays developing into more rooms and a much bigger food and beverage business, we decided to convert the café into rooms because we felt there was demand for more up-market self-catering accommodation in Pitlochry and we wanted The Townhouse to offer something slightly different to the rest of McKays.”

He added: “As a business, we are always looking to invest and improve and that is the same philosophy across the whole Turas Hotels portfolio.

“Pitlochry, as a town, punches above its weight. It is a great hub for tourists to come and that encourages businesses to invest. What is magic about Pitlochry is that you get tourists from Glasgow, Edinburgh and down south but, equally, you’ll be welcoming guests from Brazil.”

The £1.2 million upgrades to Loch Lomond national park including new toilets and motorhome facilities