Buried treasures to tell story of Viking home which became Skye luxury hotel
Another chapter in the remarkable history of Skeabost House on Skye was written when a time capsule was buried in its grounds.
The recent event at Skeabost, now a 20-bedroom, four-star hotel set in 23 acres of woodland seven miles from Portree, commemorated the end of its 150th anniversary.
The current building began life as a hunting lodge in 1871 but there has been a dwelling on the site since Viking times when the name meant ‘The Sheltered House’. Nearby are the ruins of two small chapels associated with St Columba, the first Christian missionary to Scotland, who died in 597.
It was transformed into a luxury hotel after its acquisition in 2015 by Anne Gracie Gunn and is now run by family members Jennifer Gracie and Matthew Jackson, and group general manager Andreas Maszczyk.
Skeabost is part of The Sonas Hotel Collection which also comprises Duisdale and Toravaig House Hotels on the southern peninsula of Sleat.
Kenny Mackenzie, who has worked at Skeabost as groundsman for the past 25 years, helped the family bury the capsule which includes artefacts and mementoes relating to Skeabost’s past and present.
Since buying Skeabost, Anne and her family have lovingly refurbished the building. It is the only hotel on Skye with its own golf course. The hotel’s ghillie looks after a long stretch of the Snizort, the island’s best salmon and trout fishing river.
In the latest stages of investment in the property, new suites and family rooms were added in 2021 and a luxury two-bedroom Gate Lodge will be opened at the end of May.
Skeabost has won a series of awards including Scottish Islands Hotel of the Year and is now one of Scotland’s leading exclusive use venues for weddings.
‘My family and staff are proud to have re-developed Skeabost and turned it into such a magnificent hotel which encapsulates the best of Highland hospitality,’ Anne said.
‘We are committed to continuing to build on its fascinating past and look forward to playing our part in its evolution as we launch the next 150 years.’