Managers & Staff The hotel managers are a very special lot of people. They are hand picked for their hard work, cheerfulness and their ability as natural leaders. Everyone has been fully trained in all the hotel departments and each is a chef in their own right. It takes several years of hard graft but eventually they become trainees, then assistant managers, then relief managers and finally they get the top job. They are great people and great humanitarians, every one. Only 'smiley' people need apply. Nowadays our staff come from across the world and we have never had it so good. They are quite superb people. Honest, hard working and good to the core. All live at or near the hotels and their quarters are as good as the guests, everyone having ensuite facilities and most having single rooms. They work really hard for us, and give us very high standards of service and housekeeping. I salute every one of them. Similarly our team of chefs, some with excellent international experience, grace our kitchens with great expertise and imaginative cooking. Always measure a chef by his soup and how he deals with staff meals - I have our staff meals.

Entertainers Each evening I provide entertainment in the hotel lounge. This is as varied as possible and starts at 8.30pm and normally goes on until 10.30pm. Drinks are available at the well stocked bar. Our regular entertainers provide a very wide spectrum of music for all tastes and of course endless funny stories and anecdotes. Some of the entertainers play for dancing and others will show you how to do Highland Dancing! Our regular Highland Nights feature our piper and Highland Dancers and is a great favourite. Highland Night also features the Address to the Haggis and a traditional Scottish dinner. A highlight for everyone! Here are some of the performers.

History There is a rich historical background to the story of Scotland. The land was contested by the Norsemen and the Celts from Ireland until the 12th Century and from then the country slowly came together through the Middle Ages as national identity took hold. Most of the tours take in or pass through the great battlefields around Stirling, the key to the control of Scotland. More modern history revolves round the Highland Clans, ever ready for a fight and the plundering of fat Lowland cattle. The Duke of Argyll was accused of 'sheltering' the brigand Rob Roy McGregor in the Scottish Parliament by Graham of Claverhouse. Rob Roy was most partial to Grahams' cattle. Argyll rose and answered the charge splendidly, "I may shelter him Sir, but you feed him".

Gardens When I first started gardening at the hotels I found that plants took a long time to develop due to the colder nights at 800 feet. I got round this by maturing the plants in my greenhouses, so now we are extremely well known for probably the most floriferous hotel gardens in the Highlands. I have a show going from late March to Christmas starting with violas and pansies, then the summer plants and finally the hybrid cabbages which survive the worst frosts until Christmas time. As you will see from the pictures the displays are amazing but I must tell you they are terrific inside the hotels as well. The public areas and numerous conservatories have literally thousands of plants in them. I've even grown a pineapple and a Bird of Paradise flower this year, just to name a couple. The lawns and beds are well tended by a couple of rugby players who lift the half barrels for 'exercise'.

Bedrooms All Highland Heritage bedrooms have great furnishings and carpeting with recent modern divans and plenty of hanging and storage space. TVs, tea makers, hair dryers, heated towel rails and controlled heating are standard in every room. All windows are high performance and double glazed, ensuite bathrooms are also standard with the finest panelling and fittings. Comfortable chairs in every room. A joy to stay in and every one fully redecorated last year. SUPERIOR ROOMS We have a few superior twin rooms available. These are always in the quietest area of the hotel with open outlook. The housekeeping is under the personal supervision of the hotel manager and offer the following embellishments - fruit bowl, green foliage plant, easy chairs, 250 square foot minimum, shower over bath, additional toiletries, additional towels, bathrobes, larger TV sets, upgraded tea and coffee facilities and trouser press. (Not Alexandra Hotel.)

Food and Chefs We select and train our Chefs to produce good traditional British food. We use the best ingredients that we can and source as much as possible from within Scotland. The only processed food we use is ice cream! Everything is made fresh daily in the Kitchen (and its very hard work). We try at all times to give you as healthy a diet as possible and plenty of choice. The kitchens are kept spotlessly clean and regular training sessions keep the staff up to date on new and relevant legislation. Food hygiene is central to the way in which we operate and a peak into the kitchens assures you of our standards. Quality of food is guaranteed as the head gardener samples it on a daily basis and woe betides any chef whose food doesn't come up to scratch.

Flora and Fauna There is an astounding diversity of wildlife here, from the birds in the air to deer and numerous other species on the hill and fish and sealife in the ocean. We regularly see eagle, otter, wild red and roe deer, seals are numerous and I saw a minkie whale off Oban this year. There are numerous examples of birds and animals, which are rare or endangered, but numerous in this part of the world. Orcas and basking sharks are returning and are regularly seen.

Public Areas Every evening we all congregate in the hotels after a day in the countryside and of course we are all looking forward to a nice evening, dinner first and then through for coffee and entertainment in the lounge. All Highland Heritage hotels have lots of space for everyone in both the dining rooms and lounges. Everything is thought out for a communal atmosphere and quick and efficient food service. You will find excellent seating, carpeting, and finishes everywhere. There is a dance floor in each hotel entertainment lounge and the windows are lined with plants and flowers throughout the year. The wood panelling in some hotels is superb and a joy for those who treasure tradition. All hotels have a real coal fire adding to the warmth and relaxation during the winter months. There is a well stocked bar open from 6.00pm to 11.30pm every evening. The hotel is exclusively for the use of Highland Heritage guests and is not open for functions or casual visitors. Peace perfect peace! Doors locked and secure at 11.45pm.

Quality Assured and Training The Company has always been a supporter of the STB star scheme. All the Hotels are rated three star and at the very top of the 3 star rating. Some items such as housekeeping are rated quite exceptionally. We have won several quality awards such as the Highlands and Islands Business of the Year. An ongoing and rigorous training programme is the key to this success. Everything the Company does is audited by the British Standards Institute as ISO9002. Your money is safe and secure under E.C.DIR.90/314/EC.