Avid anglers hook Overscaig
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A couple of “avid" anglers, who love remote places, have bought a traditional Sutherland fishing hotel.
Kevin Muir (51) and Karen Goldthorpe (49) have spent the last three months refurbishing the Overscaig Hotel, located 17 miles west of Lairg and overlooking Loch Shin, prior to its opening at the start of this month.
The couple move from Aberdeen where they both worked in the oil and gas industry, Kevin as a quality health safety and environment manger and Karen as an administrator in the same field.
No strangers to Sutherland, they have enjoyed angling breaks in the county for years.
Mr Muir said: “We love remote places and are avid fly fishers. We have been in the habit of holidaying in Sutherland - usually at Inchnadamph, -around three to four times a year. We just love it.
It was when the couple drove home last September with their next fishing break not until March that Mr Muir turned to his partner and suggested they buy a B&B in the county.
“She just said ‘Yes!’ immediately and when we got home that night we went on the Internet to see what was for sale,” he said.
“We spotted the Overscaig and came back a week later on a reconnaissance mission and fell in love with it at first sight.”
He added: “Our work experience ties in really nicely with running a hotel because of all the legislation that is running amok in the hospitality industry.”
The Overscaig has eight en suite bedrooms, most with a view of Loch Shin, and has been run for the past 14 years by Martin and Jan Fraser.
It has five boats and fishing rights over three trout lochs - Loch Shin, Loch Merkland and Loch Ghriama.
Since being handed the keys on January 10th, the new incumbents have been busy freshening up and modernising the property.
Mr Muir said: “We have done a lot of work in key areas which we felt had become worn and jaded with the passing of time and we also really wanted to put our stamp on it.
“The bedrooms were in good nick and spotlessly clean so we didn’t need to do much there. We have redecorated the bar and the porch
“Our biggest investment has been to lay high quality industrial laminate on the entire downstairs floor – that has been a huge improvement.”
Mr Muir and Ms Goldthorpe have been helped enormously by experienced hotel couple Paul and Fran Leach who have worked at the Overscaig for the last four seasons as chef and housekeeper.
Mr Leach previously worked at a Michelin starred restaurant in Switzerland.
“Paul and Fran have been a great help to us and we have found that we are a good team,” said Mr Muir.
Together they have totally revamped the hotel restaurant menu and have added an a la carte offering with an emphasis on Scottish fare. There is a daily special and the desserts are all home-made.
The new owners are very keen to attract local trade – a departure from previous years when non guests were not encouraged - and they also want to increase the numbers of anglers staying with them. In recent years only 20 per cent of guests have been anglers.
“Our doors are open to anybody,” said Mr Muir. “And we would particularly love to see local people. in our bar or restaurant.”
Interest in the hotel has been brisk and guests so far have left glowing reviews.
