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Search for new operator for Wick caravan and camping park





Wick caravan and camping site was leased from Highland Council by local couple Tricia and William Miller.
Wick caravan and camping site was leased from Highland Council by local couple Tricia and William Miller.

New operators are being sought for Wick's caravan and camping site after it emerged last month that the couple who run the park planned to retire.

Highland Council has now put out a call for "an exciting business opportunity" for somebody looking to make the most of a boom in tourist numbers to the far north.

William and Tricia Miller explained in January that they planned to retire after 15 years running the site.

The lease expires on May 28 and the council is looking for a new operator to take over the lease from that date.

Councillor Raymond Bremner, chairman of the local authority's Caithness committee, said: “We all wish William and Tricia the very best for their retirement.

"The site which is by the river is in a key location to provide for the many visitors who come north on the NC500 route as well as those who opt to come to Caithness year after year to enjoy spending a more leisurely time exploring.

“A lot of work is under way to regenerate Wick town centre and encourage visitors to stop and spend more time in the town and our surrounding communities.

"This is an exciting opportunity for someone interested in taking on what I’m sure will be a very popular business opportunity that will provide visitors with much needed accommodation as they explore the fantastic scenery of Caithness.”

The site, which takes caravans and tents, includes a reception office/shed building and a toilet block with 15 hard standing pitches with access to electric outlets.

There are 14 electric points providing 42 connections placed around the site.

The council is looking for offers over £20,000 per annum for the lease and the closing date for applications to be submitted is April 4.

The summer season at the Wick caravan and camping site normally runs from mid-April until the end of September.
The summer season at the Wick caravan and camping site normally runs from mid-April until the end of September.

Anyone interested is being encouraged to come along to two open site viewing opportunities. The first of these takes place on Monday, February 28, between 10am and 2pm and the second will be held at the same time on Monday, March 21.

To note interest for one of the viewing sessions people should contact William Crombie on 07443 190292 or e-mail william.crombie@highland.gov.uk

Full details of the site are available on the council’s website at www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/1704775/wick_caravan_park/category/93/caithness

Mrs Miller explained that the site was in a run-down condition when they first took over.

“When we first took it over, the camp site had been closed and it was totally vandalised and run-down. It was in quite a poor state and it really took a lot more work than we anticipated," she said.

“We were extremely fortunate that our family and friends and members of the local community came in and helped us."

She added that the rise of the North Coast 500 had brought an increase in numbers, although holidaymakers doing the coastal road trip tend to have shorter stays than traditional visitors.

"It has been good because it has boosted the numbers, but they only stay one night so you’ve got a continual turnover of people.

“That’s okay, because you’re filling your pitches. But we had regular visitors who came to us – they’d come up for a week or 10 days or a fortnight and you got to know them and then they became friends because they came back regularly to you.”

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