We are thrilled to announce that a year after breaking ground, Dalriada Luxury Lodges has been awarded a five-star accreditation by the national tourism organisation, VisitScotland. VisitScotland’s 5-star Quality Assurance award recognises businesses which achieve exceptional levels of excellence. The QA scheme is a benchmark for quality across the tourism industry and operates across accommodation, visitor attractions and the food sectors.

The award was presented to Bob McAlpine, CEO of Dalriada Luxury Lodges by Jo Robinson, VisitScotland’s Regional Director earlier this month.

Mr McAlpine said “The Dalriada Directors and staff are delighted to receive the VisitScotland 5 Star Quality Assurance award for our self-catering lodges. Our aim is to provide a luxury experience for our guests and to receive the top award is recognition of the hard work that we have all put into the business. We engaged fully with the VisitScotland team and received invaluable support, assistance and expert guidance throughout our journey. We will look forward to working with Jo, Dennis and their Visit Scotland colleagues in the future.”

Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Regional Director said: “It was a pleasure to present the team at Dalriada Luxury Lodges with their well-deserved 5-star plaque. My sincere congratulations go to them on this outstanding achievement and I wish them continued success for the future.”

“Our Quality Assurance schemes are world-leading and provide a trusted, independent and impartial source of information for visitors. The star rating reflects the entire visitor experience, as well as the investment in the business to make it as economically sustainable and profitable as it can be.”

The eight luxury self-catering lodges are located on an elevated site with fabulous views over Stonehaven Bay towards Dunnottar Castle and were opened in March this year, only ten months after the ground-breaking ceremony. The McAlpine family have invested over £1.5m into the development and believe that tourism is one of the fastest growing business sectors for the North East of Scotland. The region’s investment in the Aberdeen peripheral road, exhibition and conference centre and harbour extension will all help to encourage leisure tourists into the area.

Dalriada Luxury Lodges is the only luxury self-catering accommodation of its kind in the area and is believed to represent one of the largest investments in high-end, self-catering accommodation in the region. Each of the self-catering lodges has been crafted to create a comfortable and stylish home from home which can accommodate up to 4 adults. They are tastefully decorated with a modern interior and comfortable living/dining areas with south facing aspects. The two generous bedrooms are complete with their own en-suite facilities, which can be made up with either super king size or twin beds. The kitchens are sleek and a delight to use, with everything one could need for a self-catering break.

Each lodge has its own personal kit house for safe and secure storage of everything from bikes to golf trolleys or fishing rods, and a south-facing deck creating an ideal haven for a breakfast at sunrise or an evening drama as the sun sets. Seven of the lodges are pet-friendly.

Photo: Bob McAlpine, Chief Executive at Dalriada Luxury Lodges presented with 5-star Quality Assurance plaque by Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Regional Director.