We have come a long way since Claire and I shared maths lessons at school at the age of 15 in Chelmsford Essex. Now we are the proud owners of one of the best glampsite’s in the UK, maybe Europe and maybe even the world!!!
Claire and I met at secondary school and now have 4 children together, our actress daughter Elizabeth, our computer genius son Austen, our sportsman Finlay and comedian Benjamin make up our family.
Meet the Team
Claire is a trained nurse, it is her calling to care for people, this is obvious when you meet her and are given the tour of Delny on route to your accommodation. Within minutes you will feel like an old friend. Claire enjoys nothing more than snuggling up on the sofa with people around her.
l have had many previous lives from barristers clerk in London, sales manager, Police Officer and chartered business consultant. I am all about people, meeting, spending time together and doing all I can for them. For me the Highlands is paradise I’m currently working my way through the Munros which I anticipate will take me the rest of my life!
Our lifelines are found in the form of our two housekeepers Mandy and Wendy. Both locally born and raised we couldn’t run the place without them. They present themselves each morning with a smile and nothing is too much for them
How it all Began
It was early 2017 in a Somerset pub one evening when I asked the waiter for a pen and paper. We listed everything we wanted in life, family time, working from home, animals, space and community. Glamping in the highlands soon became our target!
Later that year we visited family locally to Delny and decided to do some house viewings. Delny House presented itself as a mammoth property full of history. A overgrown walled garden seemed a perfect spot for glamping cabins, a disused and run down former salmon smoke house would one day be a luxury accommodation. Plenty of land, plenty of space, sea views surrounded by fields and wildlife. This was our dream and to confirm the dream we were presented with a striking and majestic rainbow over the trees of Delny. We were given our sign so we made an offer that was accepted.
Highland Life
By October 2017 we were in! packed up, leaving friends and family to venture to the north coast of Scotland, home to the world famous NC500, Nessie, Munros, rugged landscape, mesmerising lochs, breath taking castles and none stop beauty.
After a few (to say the least) bumps in the road we were ready to open our doors in July 2018. The phrase every days a school day hasn’t never been so true. One thing is for sure, our guests have given us way more laughter than tears.
We look back now and realise how far we have come. Each month that followed our opening month we have progressed with the introduction of our large pirate ship play park, wash station, large animal pen, more animals, adding touches and tweaks to the cabins and most recently the finishing of our luxurious adults only Auld Reekie with hot tub.
Plans for the future
The ideas for our glampsite never stops with the main aim of adding value. Adding value to our guests experience and enhancing the time our guests have with their families and friends.
Some sneak peak plans for the future include finishing a new website which will be launched during May 2020, allowing our guests to access more information relating to our glampsite and the local area. We are also adding the ability to purchase e-vouchers via our website and appointed a talented illustrator to design a site map with a difference.
We have just finished building a massive rabbit enclosure for our beautiful Sandy and Rizo to enjoy, big enough for you to walk into for a cuddle. We have also created a picket fenced area for our new bee hive! That’s right, Delny honey will hopefully “Bee” on its way soon.
The journey has been an adventure, everything we could ask for following that night in the Somerset pub.