The hotel was built in 1880, close to the village square, as part of the Victorian development of the spa with its large villas and imposing hotels. In 1885 a railway was built to Strathpeffer, and the hotel catered for many visitors who arrived by rail to take the waters.

Strathpeffer was one of the first places in northern Scotland to have its own electricity supply. In 1903 the hotel was lit by 420 light bulbs, using electricity generated by the nearby power station located in an old house : it is still in operation today and can be seen on one of the forest walks north of the village.

The hotel has retained many Victorian features which make the visitor feel as if he/she has stepped back in time. Set in in its own extensive wooded grounds in historic Strathpeffer, the hotel provides an ideal base from which to explore the Highlands.

A few kilometres west of Dingwall, just off the route linking Inverness to the west coast, the village of Strathpeffer sits at the head of the valley of the River Peffery, surrounded by beautiful wooded hills, offering opportunities for gentle scenic walks. Victorians walked along the Diamond Jubilee Drive from the village to the Chalet, a tea room that once stood on Knockfarrel. The walk is still popular with visitors and locals, with views such as that overleaf.

Although the area has been inhabited for very many hundreds of years, the present village was not developed as a spa until the 19th and early 20th centuries. The natural mineral springs that are found around Strathpeffer became famous in the 18th century. There were 12 spas in the UK and Strathpeffer was the only one in the Highlands.

The spa developed as an important cure centre throughout Victorian times, and this was greatly aided by the arrival of the railway in Strathpeffer in 1885. The waters had the reputation for being able to cure all manner of ills, and were thought to be especially beneficial for people suffering from rheumatism. A pump room was built, a rheumatic hospital was founded and at one time five mineral wells were operating. Although the spa no longer exists, visitors may still sample the waters in the Upper Pump Room.

Strathpeffer still has many interesting buildings from the period. Wealthy English people who wanted to come north to sample the waters built large houses and impressive hotels. Almost all of the original buildings are unique, and are not built in the local style. Some say that this gives the village an atmosphere of being almost alpine.

The village of Strathpeffer sits nestles amid wooded hillsides at the head of the valley of the River Peffery, offering opportunities for gentle scenic walks. Victorians walked along the Diamond Jubilee Drive from the village to the Chalet, a tea room that once stood on Knockfarrel. The walk is still popular with visitors and locals alike, with views such as that overleaf.

The spa developed as an important cure centre throughout Victorian times, and this was greatly aided by the arrival of the railway in Strathpeffer in 1885. The waters had the reputation for being able to cure all manner of ills, and were thought to be especially beneficial for people suffering from rheumatism. A pump room was built, a rheumatic hospital was founded and at one time five mineral wells were operating. Wealthy English people who wanted to come north to sample the waters built large villas and impressive hotels. Almost all of the original buildings are unique, and are not built in the local style. Some say that this gives the village an almost alpine atmosphere.

Whilst the area has an ever-changing beauty throughout the year, added attractions include displays by local highland dancers and the Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band in the village Square during the summer months.

Craigvar guesthouse overlooks the Square and is next to the Spa Pavilion.

The Eagle Stone is one of the earliest known Pictish carved stones. On it one can see the carved shapes of a horseshoe and an eagle (which it explains its name). The precise meaning of the stone is not known: it may have marked a boundary of some sort, or a grave, or it may have had some other religious significance. It dates approximately from before 800AD, as stones from the 8th and 9th centuries often included the cross, since Christianity had been introduced by then. Local legend has it that the Brahan Seer, who lived in the 17th century, prophesied that when the Eagle Stone fell for the third time, ships would be able to sail up to Strathpeffer. To date the stone has fallen twice, so it has now been firmly embedded in cement ….. just in case!

Strathpeffer Golf Course boasts the longest drop of any course from its first tee.

Golf Course Road winds away from the upper end of The Square, past White Lodge, one of the oldest houses in the village. Behind that is Heatherlie, which used an artist's studio.

Built by the Highland Railway Company in 1911 in a commanding position close to the original spa facilities, the hotel was originally called the Railway Hotel. Although the original Pump Room and Baths (which stood in the foreground of the photograph overleaf) have long since gone, Strathpeffer still retains its unique, picturesque character. During a stay at the spa in 1880 on his return from California, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote 'Near here is a valley, birchwoods, heather and a stream….. No country, no place was ever for a moment so delightful to my soul.' However, seemingly less well-disposed towards other visitors he wrote a poem 'On Some Ghastly Companions at a Spa'!

The spa began its rise to fame in the 1770s and the first pump room was built in 1819. With the arrival of the Highland Railway in 1855, when a branchline was built from Fodderty Junction, the spa grew even more rapidly. People travelled from as far afield as London - the wealthy often travelling on the overnight sleeper direct to the village, to take 'cures' that lasted for up to three weeks, depending on the complaint. One full glass of the sulphurous waters had to be taken before breakfast every day. To make sure that everyone was up in time to experience this delight, a piper walked around the village every morning at 7 o'clock, playing loudly.

The demise of the spa began during the First World War, when the Highland Hotel, like many others in the village was used as a hospital. The spa never fully recovered during the 1920s and by 1950 it had vanished altogether. Today, the visitor can still enjoy the peace and the beauty of the village and its surroundings without the need to suffer the early morning sulphur-water, (although this can still be sampled if desired!)

Strathpeffer is a picturesque Victorian spa village, with many attractive stone-built villas with manicured gardens clinging to the wooded valley sides. At the heart of the village lies The Square, one side of which houses a range of Victorian shops built around 1860, whilst on the other side lies Mackay’s Hotel which was originally known as the Temperance Hotel.

For those interested in short walks, there are a number that wind their way through the picturesque spa village itself. Others, such as the Victorian Diamond Jubilee Drive climb gently along the side of the Cat’s Back towards Knockfarrel, where there was once a tearoom called the Chalet. The panoramic view from the old vitrified fort at the top is excellent, taking in Strathpeffer, Loch Ussie, Dingwall and the Cromarty Firth. For the more adventurous, the surrounding hills have many routes that cater for all abilities.

On Saturday evenings during summer, there is traditional highland entertainment in The Square, with displays by local highland dancers and with music from the Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band.

Although the original spa facilities closed in the 1950s, health and relaxation are still important today. Mackay’s Hotel, in the heart of the village at the heart of the Highlands, has it’s own hydrotherapy pool for guests’ comfort and relaxation. Strathpeffer is a perfect base for a truly memorable Highland experience.

Strathpeffer is a picturesque Victorian spa village, with many attractive stone-built villas with manicured gardens clinging to the wooded valley sides. At the heart of the village lies The Square, one side of which houses a range of Victorian shops built around 1860, whilst on the other side lies Mackay’s Hotel which was originally known as the Temperance Hotel.

For those interested in short walks, there are a number that wind their way through the picturesque spa village itself. Others, such as the Victorian Diamond Jubilee Drive climb gently along the side of the Cat’s Back towards Knockfarrel, where there was once a tearoom called the Chalet. The panoramic view from the old vitrified fort at the top is excellent, taking in Strathpeffer, Loch Ussie, Dingwall and the Cromarty Firth. For the more adventurous, the surrounding hills have many routes that cater for all abilities.

On Saturday evenings during summer, there is traditional highland entertainment in The Square, with displays by local highland dancers and with music from the Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band.

Although the original spa facilities closed in the 1950s, health and relaxation are still important today. Mackay’s Hotel, in the heart of the village at the heart of the Highlands, has it’s own hydrotherapy pool for guests’ comfort and relaxation. Strathpeffer is a perfect base for a truly memorable Highland experience.

The Band, wearing Mackenzie tartan, plays in the Square every Saturday evening from April until September.

The Band puts on a great traditional display in the Square every Saturday evening from April to September.

Every Saturday evening from April to September, the Band entertains locals and visitors alike in The Square.

The Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band warm up before their Saturday evening display in The Square.

The Village Square owes much of its present appearance to the 3rd Duke of Sutherland and his wife, who made Strathpeffer Spa a place where fashionable people gathered. They invested around £2,500 in the 1860s to create the Pump Room (which stood in the area just above the Square to the left of the picture overleaf), shops and other recreational facilities. The Temperance Hotel, (now called Mackay’s Hotel) and some of the villas overlooking the Square were built around this time. Wealthy English people who wanted to come north to sample the waters built large houses and impressive hotels. Almost all of the original buildings are unique, and as the visitor will see, they are not built in the local style.

The Spa Pavilion was built in 1881-2 and contained reading rooms, a Hall measuring 100 feet by 40 feet and from the front there were grand views across the village and spa facilities. A bandstand was erected at the west end of the terrace that ran in front of the Pavilion: orchestras would play as visitors strolled along the manicured walks. After decades of decay, the Pavilion has now been fully restored.

The Square, with its beautiful floral displays, is still the centre of village life for locals and tourists alike. The shops include a pharmacy, craft shops and a post office cater for a variety of needs, and in summer there are traditional displays by local highland dancers and by the Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band.

The Village Square owes much of its present appearance to the 3rd Duke of Sutherland and his wife, who made Strathpeffer Spa a place where fashionable people gathered. They invested around £2,500 in the 1860s to create the Pump Room (which stood in the area just above the Square to the left of the picture overleaf), shops and other recreational facilities. The Temperance Hotel, (now called Mackay’s Hotel) and some of the villas overlooking the Square were built around this time. Wealthy English people who wanted to come north to sample the waters built large houses and impressive hotels. Almost all of the original buildings are unique, and as the visitor will see, they are not built in the local style.

The Spa Pavilion was built in 1881-2 and contained reading rooms, a Hall measuring 100 feet by 40 feet and from the front there were grand views across the village and spa facilities. A bandstand was erected at the west end of the terrace that ran in front of the Pavilion: orchestras would play as visitors strolled along the manicured walks. After decades of decay, the Pavilion has now been fully restored.

The Square, with its beautiful floral displays, is still the centre of village life for locals and tourists alike. The shops include a pharmacy, craft shops and a post office cater for a variety of needs, and in summer there are traditional displays by local highland dancers and by the Strathpeffer and District Pipe Band.

Although the main Pump Room was demolished in the 1950s, visitors can sample the waters here and learn about the Spa's history from a series of ecxewllent displays

The station was built in 1885 to serve the then thriving Victorian spa. The station closed in 1951 and after falling into disrepair, the buildings were fully restored in 1986. They are now set in secluded gardens and picnic areas.

Although the area has been inhabited for very many hundreds of years, Strathpeffer was not developed as a spa until the 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the most important developments was the coming of the railway to Strathpeffer. It had originally been hoped to build the Highland Railway line from Inverness through Strathpeffer and then on to Kyle of Lochalsh, but some landowners in the village were unwilling to sell part of the land needed. The line was therefore constructed along the north side of the valley in 1870, with a station at Achterneed. In 1885 a branch line was built from Fodderty Junction to the terminus at Strathpeffer, which then allowed wealthy visitors to travel all the way from London to Strathpeffer by rail. During the First and Second World Wars the village’s large villas and hotels were commandeered by the armed forces as a US naval hospital. Wounded servicemen were brought to the village by rail. Sidings further down the valley were used as ammunition stores for the naval base at Invergordon. The station was finally closed in 1951 and the rail tracks were dismantled. After falling into disrepair, the buildings were fully restored in 1986. They are now set in secluded gardens and picnic areas and are home to the Highland Museum of Childhood, a tearoom and a variety of gift and craft shops.

Sunset over Strathpeffer, viewed from the Heights of Inchvannie. February 2003.