Hotel trade boosted by north route ‘buzz’

A top Highland hotel has been among the many businesses to report a surge in trade since the launch of the North Coast 500 driving route.

The Inver Lodge Hotel, at Lochinver, said the rise in visitors had created a “buzz” in the area and led to increasing demand for guest accommodation.

Nicholas Gorton, the hotel’s general manager, said: “NC500 has had, and is having, a tremendous effect on business.

“We are seasonal opening April to the end of October and not only has it boosted the offseason months, it has continued to follow into May and June, and advanced bookings looking good for the rest of the season.

“Assynt, as a whole, has benefited and noticeably an increase in traffic and people looking to eat and buy gifts and provisions making the village have quite a buzz.”

However, Mr Gorton also noted the issues reported by some businesses and local residents relating to the impact on rural roads.

“The downside is the lack of understanding on how to drive on single-track roads,” he said.

“It has also been reported locally that an ambulance stopped as it met a car near a passing place which just did not move.

“The driver of the ambulance got out and asked the car driver if he could reverse into the near passing place. He was told that this was a single-track road and didn’t he know that it was one way.

“The ambulance driver politely informed him that it wasn’t – and the car reversed.”

The Inver Lodge Hotel, at Lochinver