The cabins website is now live, and online bookings will open very shortly, once the final technical checks are completed. We will initially be taking bookings for August through to October. We are still to decide whether to open the cabins during the winter months. This will be dependent on demand, costs, weather and staffing.

During July, we will host our very first paying guests. Over the past couple of months, we've been building a mailing list of people interested in an early bird visit, with the understanding that they are willing to test our hosting skills! We will invite those who have signed up, to visit the cabins at a reduced rate on selected dates.

These guests will give us feedback and allow us to test our set-up with visitors before we welcome the general public. It's an invaluable way to refine operations with understanding guests.

Once the early bird guests have been and gone, we plan to hold an informal 'Doors Open Day' for the local community. This will allow everyone to see the site first hand. This is planned for the 30th of July from 3pm - 6pm, we will confirm the final details and let everyone know.

We had considered a formal launch during September, but on reflection we feel this may be better suited to early next Spring. We are keen to prioritise getting the business up and running and book in paying customers for the remainder of this season. Delaying the launch event allows us more time to settle in to running the business and to organise a fitting event. Also, any publicity we could generate with a launch day would be a great way to kick off a full season next year.

Finding staff in a rural area is difficult, as you know. The Accommodation Manager role, in particular, has proved challenging for us to fill. We offered the role to a local candidate, but unfortunately it wasn't the right fit for that person's circumstances. We appreciated their candour, vacating the position resulted in another hurdle to overcome, but we have done so successfully. 

Additionally, a key staff member has experienced a significant family bereavement. This has meant unscheduled time off and has impacted the time frame we were aiming for. All in all, we have had a few bumps on the road to an opening day.

Eventually we found a solution to the Accommodation Manager role in the shape of Rory Brown. You already know Rory as part of the team here and as a previous board member. His skill with stone is evident around the site, especially in the unique shower flooring. What you may not know is that Rory also has a background in tourism and hospitality. He's worked as a tour guide and with Cruise Loch Ness. 

When the Accommodation Manager issue came up, and we faced the challenge of what to do next, Rory decided to help us through this season at least. We are delighted that Rory has taken on the role. His practical skills and his people skills mean our guests are in good hands. 

Similarly you will be familiar with Andy Witney. Also a previous board member of GCDT, Andy has been involved with the project for some time and, like Rory, has been part of the team who have built the amenity building. He has a hands-on knowledge of the project, and has grown his skills throughout the build along with Rory.

We are pleased to confirm that Andy has now been appointed to two roles here at Glengarry Community Development Trust, which are: Builder and Facilities Manager, and Finance Manager.

Andy has spent 39 years in banking, working across branch and head office roles, with large corporate, retail, wealth, and private banking clients, and most recently as a Senior Data Analyst at Barclays. That depth of experience, combined with everything he has contributed on site, made him the right person for both roles.

We would also like to thank Anna Cooper and Alison Witney, who have both stepped in to help organise and prepare the cabins and amenity building for guests. Furnishings, crockery, utensils, not to mention numerous sets of bed linen, have all had to be checked and arranged as we get the cabins ready. 

Anna and Rory have been working on the protocols and logistics of cleaning, battery recharging, and everything which must be thought through, to give the team and the guests the best experience. Everyone is looking forward to the early bird visitors coming and testing it all out!

The cabins now have their own social media accounts and, of course, a website. The goal is to share what is special and unique about staying here and target guests who are looking for what we offer, and have them book direct. 

This falls to me, Helen Liddle. I am also tasked with writing newsletters - like this one - and communications for both the GCDT and the cabins. I will provide support to Rory by being another set of eyes on the online bookings and email enquiries.

My background is in art and animation, and I enjoy creative marketing. I live locally with my partner and two children; our youngest is a pupil at Invergarry Primary School. I am really pleased to be part of the team, especially at this exciting time. 

Please take a look at and follow the Glengarry Forest Cabins social accounts, if you don’t already. The main focus has been on Instagram to start, but we are also using Facebook and Pinterest.

We have now acquired a Polaris 6-wheeled All Terrain Vehicle. The cabins are a ten-minute walk uphill, so the Polaris will allow the team to access and service the cabins efficiently. With a little persuasion, Rory and Andy provided a demonstration. 

The cabins have each been given names of trees that grow on the site: Larch, Oak, Birch, Pine, Rowan and Hazel. While the 'amenity building' has been called just that throughout the build. However, we are sure you would agree, this isn’t a very exciting name for our guests.

When it came to choosing a new name, we took inspiration from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, whose aim; 

We drafted a shortlist which reflected the building's use; from these the GCDT board voted to call the building Am Fasgadh/The Shelter, (pronounced am FASK-uh)

Am Fasgadh is equipped with a wood-fired burner and solar panels have just been fitted. Together, these will power the hot water system, providing underfloor heating and hot showers. The fuel is off-cuts from our sawmill.

 

The cabins themselves are completely off-grid. They are highly insulated modern buildings constructed by North Woods Design, each with its own wood-burning stove (again, fueled by timber from the site) to keep guests warm and toasty any time of year. They each have a high-capacity battery to power the cabin lights and a small kettle. 

Simon Dakin and the team at BlueGreen Conservation are specialists in low-impact forestry. When Storm Amy brought down a number of trees across the site last year, paths were blocked and the fallen timber needed clearing. Simon's team spent three weeks on site removing the fallen trees and bringing them to our on-site sawmill, where they will be processed into usable timber. Because the site is regenerating, their expertise ensures we manage the forest in a way that benefits the ecology and the project.

Sandy MacRae Contracting of Fort Augustus, has been working on site since the very beginning. Sandy recently completed the final phase of landscaping work. We have a lot of big boulders and rocks, so why not put them to use? Sandy has helped us place large rocks for edging around the paths at the cabins and around Am Fasgadh – where they make an impressive feature.

Sandy's team also completed the final drainage work for the paths, using diggers and a roller to shape and finish the terrain. It's really made a huge difference, with each cabin and Am Fasgadh looking very smart.

Andy has built some very impressive picnic benches, which are beautiful and solid. Each cabin has its own bench, as well as Am Fasgadh.

We have moved the newsletter to this new email format so you no longer need to download a PDF. This new layout is designed to be easier to read, with text that automatically adjusts to your screen, whether you are reading on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.