User:CazGreg

History
The Lovat 1860 - 2005

The Lovat is a purpose built station hotel standing on the site of Kilwhimen Barracks, one of four built in 1718. The west curtain wall of the old fort, 34 metres long by 4 metres high in some places, still stands in the hotel grounds. The wall is pierced by a central gateway and ten gun embrasures. The monument is of national importance as the remains of one of the four Hanoverian forts built to pacify the highlanders after the 1715 & 1719 Jacobite uprisings.

Standing in the shadows of this monumental wall will conjure up images of the time Bonny Prince Charlie was in the barracks before he ordered the bombardment of the later Abbey Fort where the present day Fort Augustus Abbey now stands.

The first recorded date of the Lovat Arms being a hotel was thought to have been in 1869, known simply as "The Inn" & run by one Murdoch Bayne.

It was changed, however, in 1880 when the railway was built through Fort Augustus running to Spean Bridge, to "The Lovat Arms & Station Hotel." When the railway closed down in 1911, the hotel became "The Lovat Arms Hotel".

The railway closed to passengers on 1st December 1933 & to goods on 1st January 1947. The Lovat was sold to the North British Railway in about 1911 & would have been transferred to the London & North Eastern Railway in the grouping of 1923.”

The Lovat 2005 – to date

The hotel was bought by David, Geraldine & daughter Caroline on 3rd June 2005 & after major refurbishment from March 2006, it reopened for Easter 2007. The hotel has rebranded as The Lovat, Loch Ness & has since been crowned a top 20 destination by the Good Hotel Guide 2009.

The hotel has 2 acres of grounds, has an elevated position above Fort Augustus, set back from Loch Ness on the A82 which is equidistant to Fort William & Inverness. The Lovat has 28 bedrooms, 2 restaurants, 1 bar & public rooms suitable for weddings & conferences.

== Awards ==

The Lovat holds the following awards:

•	Silver, Green Tourism Business Scheme 2007 •	Envirowise award for Resource Efficiency, 2008 •	VIBES award for environmental management, 2008 •	Three AA Stars and Two AA Red Rosettes with 87% for service provision •	Judges Recognition award, Highlands & Islands Food & Drink 2009 •	Hotel owner, Caroline Gregory received the Young Ambassador of the Year Award, Highlands & Islands Food & Drink 2009

'''

In the press
'''

In 2007, the Lovat Restaurant was named by the Press & Journal as the top 10 in Scotland Hotel owner, Caroline Gregory received a much acclaimed Hotel & Caterer, Acorn Award in 2008, for her contribution to hospitality

In 2009, the Lovat has received remarkable coverage on their environmental efforts, namely the linking with MiT Boston for the launch of sourcemap.org

The Lovat has been shortlisted for 4 categories of the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards to be held on 20th November 2009