Draft:The Trossachs Hotel (Tigh Mor Trossachs holiday apartments)

The Tigh Mor Trossachs Hotel is a historic hotel located in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park in Scotland. Situated on the northwest shores of Loch Achray, the hotel has a rich history dating back to its construction in 1849. It is known for its unique architectural style, which combines elements of Gothick and Baronial designs, creating a striking and distinctive appearance..



History
The Tigh Mor Trossachs Hotel was conceived by Lord Willoughby D'Eresby, with architectural advice from G.P. Kennedy, in the mid-19th century. Lord Willoughby recognized the potential of the site, previously occupied by a popular inn called Ardcheanochrochan, as an ideal location for a modern hotel. The area had gained fame due to its association with Sir Walter Scott's poem "Lady of the Lake," which referenced nearby Loch Katrine

Constructed in 1849, the original building of the Tigh Mor Trossachs Hotel featured a rectangular-plan, three-storey, and attic structure. The hotel's entrance section faced south and consisted of three bays, flanked by slightly tapering towers at the first and second stages. The centred door was set in a squat vaulted recessed porch adorned with a segmental pointed arch. The first floor showcased a pair of full-height roll-moulded round arched windows, intricately articulated with keystones and a central blank panel.

Over time, the hotel underwent several expansions to meet the increasing demand for accommodation. In 1853, an additional wing, known as the E wing, was built, providing 30 more bedrooms. Then, in 1891, the hotel saw the construction of a basement, a three-storey and attic, five-bay wing with a corner tower, referred to as the W wing. These expansions added to the hotel's capacity and enhanced its overall appearance.



In 1859 while the hotel was owned by the Blair family Queen Victoria stayed for a night while on her highland tour. The Blair family would later go on to acquire the nearby Loch Achray hotel and in 1900 the SS Sir Walter Scott SS_Sir_Walter_Scott for the sum of £4,269.

Despite facing serious disrepair in the late 20th century, the Tigh Mor Trossachs Hotel underwent extensive renovations in the early 1990s. The renovations, completed in 1992, included the complete gutting of the interior, the demolition and rebuilding of the 1853 E wing (with the retention of its original corner tower), and the addition of a large five-storey and attic wing to the west. These modern alterations, while transforming the hotel into holiday apartments, have managed to retain the essence of the original structure and its historic charm.

Architecture and Features
The Tigh Mor Trossachs Hotel is characterized by its imposing towers, adorned with dramatic high candle-snuffer coned roofs. The original 1849 block features roughly coursed random rubble construction with a battered rubble basecourse, while the 1891 block exhibits more conventional Baronial detailing, including crowstepped gables, corbelled detailing, and cable knot moulding. The hotel's façade showcases a distinctive, heavy moulded sandstone string course, an articulated sandstone eaves course with corbel motifs, and long and short rubble or sandstone dressings to the openings.

Notably, the hotel's 1849 block has a fairy tale-like appearance, often described as a Highland Camelot. This unique quality, combined with its picturesque location on the shores of Loch Achray, contributed to its popularity among visitors in the 19th century. Today, the Tigh Mor Trossachs Hotel stands as a testament to 19th-century tourism in the Trossachs and the associated Romantic Movement.

Present Day
Currently, the Tigh Mor Trossachs Hotel is managed by the Holiday Property Bond Company. The hotel, transformed into holiday apartments, reopened its doors to tourists in 1993.