Former Caithness care home sold
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A FORMER Caithness residential home has been sold, it has been confirmed.
The Achvarasdal care home near Reay – run by CrossReach on behalf of the Church of Scotland for many years – was on the market for over £330,000.
A CrossReach spokeswoman said the property had been sold but could not not give further details. It is not known who has purchased it, although it is not thought to be a company but an individual.
Achvarasdal was described by the estate agents as "an attractive historic hunting lodge" which had been redeveloped into an elderly people's care home which could accommodate 28.
"The house is set within 13 hectares of woodland which incorporates a number of walks and an impressive driveway," the agents stated. "Within the grounds there is an additional dilapidated former cottage and stables with rooms above known as East and North Cottage, which, although run down, may be suitable for redevelopment to a number of uses including a family home, owner accommodation or holiday lets. The house itself has retained a number of attractive period features along with its conversion and hosts an extensive walled garden with a number of outhouses in place."
The property was a care home for 67 years and was latterly run by CrossReach on behalf of the Church of Scotland.
But the home had been running at "a significant loss" for a number of years and had become financially unviable.
CrossReach worked with NHS Highland for over a year to find a way of securing the future of the home but its attempts did not succeed and the property was put up for sale.
Alternative accommodation was found for the residents who were looked after by around 26 full-time and part-time staff.
Achvarasdal care home was one of the beneficiaries of a bequest by former Thurso teacher Mary Sutherland who left more than £2 million in her will when she died in 2004.
