ACCOMMODATION providers in Caithness have maintained their quality ratings in a national guidebook.
Two hotels and a bed-and-breakfast establishment held on to their previously awarded stars in this year’s AA Where to Stay and Eat in Scotland Guide 2012.
A four-star highly commended rating was maintained at Wick bed and breakfast The Clachan for the fourth year running.
Owner Elspeth Bremner explained it has been catering to guests at Randolph Place, South Road, since 1986.
"We were delighted to have been awarded four stars with the AA some years ago," she said. "But in 2009 were proud to have been awarded four yellow stars – highly commended – and are delighted to have retained them each year since then. We have also held four gold stars with VisitScotland since 2009 and are founder members of Scotland’s Best B&Bs, which is a small group providing quality holiday accommodation in Scotland since 1996."
Mrs Bremner, who operates the bed and breakfast with her husband, James, said The Clachan offers high-quality accommodation for no more than six guests at a time, assuring visitors they will receive the best of personal attention at all times.
It was also good news for the Forss House Hotel which retained its four-star status, while Mackays Hotel in Wick kept its three-star highly commended rating. Forss House Hotel owner Ian Richards is "delighted" with the rating as well as the two AA rosette award for its restaurant.
"It’s a really important indication of what guests can expect from their visit to Forss House and reflects the hard work that all the team have put in over the years to make Forss a welcoming place for guests to enjoy a relaxed stay and some of the best local food to be found in the North Highlands," he said.
"Over the last eight years we’ve invested heavily in all parts of the hotel from the rooms and decor to all the behind-the-scenes things that guests will never see. However, the thing that makes Forss one of the best hotels and restaurants in the North is the commitment of the staff"
Mackays Hotel owner Murray Lamont is happy to keep the symbol of quality associated with the hotel.
"The AA is one of the oldest recognised and reliable symbols of quality dating back to 1912 when they first started inspecting hotels," he said.
"Some internet sites available today have self-ratings which can be totally misleading to the customer. So the reliability of the AA ratings provides comfort to motorists and other travellers."
The AA’s Where to Stay and Eat in Scotland Guide 2012 combines all the Scottish entries from the popular AA Hotel Guide, B&B Guide, Pub Guide and Restaurant Guide in one place.
