After a £12 million revamp, the iconic Kinghouse in Glen Coe is preparing to open its doors to visitors on 8 February 2019.

With documented history stretching back to the 17th century, the Kingshouse Hotel in Glen Coe has seen its fair share of conflict over the centuries – including resistance to the ‘industrial-style’ hotel revamp, which prompted objections from organisations including Mountaineering Scotland and the John Muir Trust.

The project team is now in the final stages of completing the revamp, which organisers say takes “great care to retain the informality of the inn, at the same time as upgrading facilities for a 21st-century audience.”

Kingshouse will be managed through the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels. Owner Stephen Leckie said, “Our motivation from the outset was to provide continuity for all the things which make Kingshouse unique, while ensuring its longevity for another century and more.

“The owners know and love the Hotel, having stayed here themselves over several decades. It was important for all of us to retain the ethos of muddy boots and wet dogs drying in front of open fires, while ensuring the standard of hospitality and comfort was fit for the international audience attracted to dramatic Glencoe.”

The bunkhouse facility has been retained and upgraded for visitors seeking basic overnight accommodation

Graeme Ferguson, project managing agent at Bidwells, added, “The extent of investment by the owners meant we were able to utilise sustainable technology and design to ensure Kingshouse enhances local facilities and employment, while making as little impact on the natural environment as possible. It helped enormously that all involved genuinely love the area and we are hugely excited at the prospect of revealing what’s been achieved.”

The bunkhouse facility has been retained and upgraded for visitors seeking basic overnight accommodation, but the Climbers Bar has been renamed ‘The Way Inn’. A new restaurant has been added, serving traditional favourites and using local produce wherever possible.

New General Manager Craig Haddow said, “I can’t tell you how happy I am to be announcing the reopening of Kingshouse Hotel. I feel really fortunate to be part of the next chapter of this historic inn and I totally understand the love people feel for this special part of Scotland.

“While the revamp allows us to serve a broader audience and cater for longer stays than the old hotel, I can’t wait to welcome a new generation of walkers and travellers to its door, to fall in love with the place, the fabulous backdrop and the warmth of the hospitality that my team and I are committed to offering.”

The Kingshouse Hotel is due to reopen on the 8th February 2019. A new website is up and running at www.kingshousehotel.co.uk.