Loch Tay resort plan is up for sail

Aug 22 2008 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

HIGHLAND Perthshire attraction, Croft na Caber, looks set for a a radical, £20 million, transformation.

The company behind the development aims to create a world-class sailing resort on the southern shore of Loch Tay near Kenmore beside the Crannog Centre.

The plans for the Croft na Caber project were lodged with the planning authority this week by Perthshire architect Eric Strickland, senior partner of architects McKenzie Strickland Associates, with local business partner, Paul Sale, through their company, Strathtay Developments.

If the project receives the green light it will realise a life-time dream of Mr Strickland, who learned to sail at Croft na Caber as a teenager.

The redevelopment plans, following two years of consultation, include lodges, a sailing school, restaurant, children’s club, health spa and swimming pool. It is expected the investment would create up to 42 new jobs at the resort and, if planning is successful, work could be underway next year.

The pair’s vision is to develop the lochside site into an accessible, high quality resort where people of all ages can sail in a safe environment.

“We are confident our plans will create a ‘jewel in the crown’ resort for Perthshire which both locals and visitors will treasure,” said Mr Strickland.

“Our aim is to preserve the tranquillity which makes the area so special while breathing new life into a resort which is out-dated and no longer meets expectations in terms of accommodation and facilities.

“We are confident our designs will unlock the potential of the existing resort through a long-term, sustainable development which compliments the stunning setting of Loch Tay.”

The development will include one, two, three and four bedroom holiday accommodation units and the buildings would harness green technology including heating using geothermal from the loch and biomass conversion.

“We envisage the resort will be attractive to a wide range of visitors, from people taking family holidays to corporate away-days.

“The loch is s-shaped, 14 miles long and provides a great environment to learn to sail surrounded by spectacular scenery.

“There will be 30-40ft yachts to crew and plans are afoot to host weekly regattas at the resort,” he added.

Strathtay Developments have been consulting closely with the local community, including the operators of the Crannog Centre adjacent to Croft Na Caber. This centre currently attracts around 30,000 visitors annually and the redevelopment plans, added Mr Strickland, take full consideration of the importance of this attraction and the heritage of the wider area.

“The investment at Croft Na Caber should provide improved facilities for visitors to the crannog and encourage them to stay longer in the local area,” commented the architect.