News from Kentallen January 2008
Visit our new Railway Lounge with Elvis in the building
Firstly, we wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR from the staff and ourselves at the Holly Tree Hotel.
It’s been very busy over the New Year with the Hotel hosting a LIVELY HOGMANAY PARTY complete with fireworks on the pier, fine food, some fine Ceilidh dancing and lots of partying. There were quite a few kilts worn which made it even more of a Highland party. The band doubled as a cabaret act and performed a very good ELVIS IMPERSONATION and the team from TOP GUN also made an appearance. A very late night was had by all.
Our own news next and it’s a busy time of year for children and animals. On the blog on the website at www.hollytreehotel.co.uk/blog there is a picture of DOUGIE OUR RHYLAND SHEEP as star of the local nativity complete with his red ribbon. Our family dog died at the end of November and so the kids were allowed two FLUFFY BLACK AND WHITE KITTENS. The last cat we had seemed to have run away since we hadn’t seen it for over a year. Two days after the arrival of the new kittens – Sandie the old cat turns up! Very bizarre. Where has she been?
The NEW LUXURIOUS RAILWAY LOUNGE is open for reading, relaxing or maybe an energetic game of chess or scrabble. We have removed the old bar counter and completely redecorated the room and fluffy lounge chairs complete it to make a nice cosy room. It still has the original railway station fireplace and so we try to have the REAL FIRE going as much as possible especially over the winter period.
The swimming pool and sauna are now fully operational and are proving very popular with guests. Its really nice this time of year to have a nice RELAXING WARM SWIM AND A COSY SAUNA.
We are also pleased to advise that we have purchased the self catering lodge business next door to the Hotel and wish Keith and Gilly a long and happy retirement. The lodges offer EIGHT SELF CATERING DETACHED TWO BEDROOM LODGES each with a private balcony. They are well equipped and are open all year for either week stays or shorter three night breaks in the less busy months. The website is www.lochlinnhelodges.co.uk
We have set up a DVD FILM LIBRARY at the hotel reception so you can borrow free of charge a film for the evening. There are already DVD players in the bedrooms and we do try to keep a good selection of new releases. The FREE WIRELESS BROADBAND has also been upgraded recently.
A funny story about one of our staff who shall remain nameless (but normally works behind the bar). In the last week of November we shut down for a week to allow everyone to have a break after a very busy season. The various well known INTERNET BOOKING SITES were visited with fury by our widely travelled staff and one of them duly booked a trip to GOA IN INDIA where they had previously visited. Upon checking by telephone to confirm flights just prior to departure, it was discovered that the WRONG GOA WAS BOOKED- it was Goa in Italy. Too late to book anything else the trip was taken anyway. A trifle wet to visit in late November but it is alleged a good time was had in any event.
Since we are now open all year we have put together a carefully selected SPECIAL EVENTS PROGRAM which is attached. This is a great way to CHASE AWAY THOSE WINTER BLUES!
Local news and Lochaber hosts a large MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL between the 15th and the 23rd February 2008. One of the main features is the first ever UK WIDE SLACK LINING CONTEST which is sort of like high wire walking over a ravine. Well worth a visit by the sounds of it.
We took the kids up the LOST VALLEY IN GLENCOE for a walk the other day and this was a good afternoon out. It’s about fourteen miles away on the road to Tyndrum. It was quite cold but the path is good enough for a four year old to cope with easily. We took a picnic and a flask of hot chocolate. The “lost valley” is hidden before you reach it so it’s really quite exciting. Legend has it that it was used to HIDE STOLEN CATTLE as well as a refuge for escaping clans after the massacre of Glencoe.
Haste Ye Back!
Yours sincerely,
Paul and Annette McFatridge and Family
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