A SCOTS entrepreneur has left behind his life and work in Edinburgh to begin a brand new sustainable hospitality enterprise in Speyside.
Former solicitor Paul Cannavan’s new enterprise, The Dell at Glenlivet, has 4 new luxurious woodland cabins on the northern fringe of the Cairngorms Nationwide Park.
The brand new retreat started as a lockdown thought for Paul however quickly turned a actuality with assist from the British Enterprise Financial institution’s Begin Up Loans Programme and DSL Enterprise Finance.
With the assist, Paul acquired a former clay pigeon capturing website close to the Glenlivet Distillery and commenced turning his thought into actuality.
One other £25,000 mortgage helped Paul to cowl the prices of constructing the bespoke hideaway cabins.
In addition to a 15-year profession within the authorized sector, Paul additionally has prior expertise in hospitality companies.
By way of childhood holidays and household connections within the Speyside space, Paul recognized a spot available in the market for prime quality lodging in certainly one of Scotland’s greatest recognized whisky areas.
The cabins are constructed from domestically sourced supplies, similar to Scottish larch timber, and use floor screw foundations as an alternative choice to concrete, leading to minimal disruption to the pure ecosystem beneath every property.
The design additionally incorporates a spread of sustainable options together with a borehole contemporary water provide and environmentally pleasant waste disposal.
The cabins are set inside a darkish skies park, making it a super spot for stargazing with little to no gentle air pollution.
Every property has an out of doors bathtub, and whereas they’re linked to an electrical energy provide for energy, there isn’t a web connection which Paul hopes will encourage visitors to really swap off.
His enterprise was made potential by the British Enterprise Financial institution’s Begin Up Loans programme which has delivered greater than 6,500 loans to new enterprise homeowners in Scotland since 2012.
Talking in the present day, Paul mentioned: “The Dell at Glenlivet is in contrast to the rest that’s obtainable in Speyside for the time being for vacationers and holidaymakers.
“The situation is the perfect spot for having fun with the outside or whisky tourism, in addition to escaping from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and having a digital detox.”
“We welcomed our first visitors simply final month and the preliminary response has been implausible. Having the choice for luxurious lodging so near nature and the Cairngorms Nationwide Park is an enormous draw for folks.
“Regardless that the positioning has 4 properties, they’re well-spaced so it nonetheless feels completely personal and secluded.
“Sustainability was an enormous focus as a part of the design course of and I’m happy that the cabins have turned out so effectively, becoming in with the woodland environment with a low carbon footprint.
“We’re trying ahead to welcoming visitors from all around the UK and past all through the years forward.”
Barry McCulloch, UK Community, Scotland on the British Enterprise Financial institution, mentioned: “Hospitality and tourism companies, notably these linked to Scotland’s whisky-making heritage, are an important a part of our financial system and proceed to drive guests from all around the world to see what Scotland has to supply.
“It’s nice to have been capable of assist Paul along with his escape from the town and a profession change too.
“The Begin Up Loans scheme was designed to assist inventive, formidable entrepreneurs with the funding they should take the leap into new ventures and turn into their very own boss.”
Murray Marshall, mortgage officer at DSL Enterprise Finance, added: “Paul approached me with an in depth marketing strategy and imaginative and prescient for what he was trying to obtain.
“He engaged with me early in his journey and we labored collectively to make sure his funding was obtainable when required.
“It has been nice to see Paul’s imaginative and prescient turn into a actuality with a implausible providing to vacationers within the Moray area.”