New loch-side restaurant on menu at Dores
LOCH Ness could be in line for a new visitor attraction overlooking the world famous waters.
A local family are in the early stages of developing a restaurant in a field about one-and-a-half miles along the shore from Dores village on the Foyers road.
Leading the venture is Iain Cameron, the former laird of Aldourie Estate, who with his wife Candy runs Drummond Farm above Dores as an equestrian centre called Loch Ness Riding.
His family previously owned Aldourie Castle and estate, and leased out the popular Dores Inn to a succession of operators.
However, the inn was sold to the current operators, local couple Adam and Tanya De’Silva.
Mr Cameron said: “There is a drive at the moment to improve infrastructure such as restaurants and other visitor facilities Scotland-wide.
“Increases in visitor numbers are not being matched by the provision of facilities. And it’s not just for tourists.
“Dores is the most convenient access to Loch Ness from anywhere east, including Inverness city itself, and could use another destination.”
He stressed that at present they were investigating the possibilities, and, so far, have only had a surveyor in to look at the proposed site on land he owns.
“We are thinking of something of a similar character to the Storehouse at Foulis venture at the north end of the Cromarty Bridge, or Camerons Tea Room at Foyers, but it would also be open in the evenings,” Mr Cameron said.
“However, we are still at an assessment stage. We have no plan, let alone made an approach to the planning authorities.
“We are in discussion with a local architect and builder with a view to keeping both design and materials as local as possible.”
At present the south side of Loch Ness is not well served by restaurants and tearooms compared with the busier A82 trunk route on the north side, and the popular Dores Inn regularly has to turn people away at busy times.
About 12 miles further down the loch at Foyers there are two or three food and refreshment outlets, including the Camerons Tea Room, which has no connection with the Camerons at Dores.
Graeme Ambrose, chief executive officer of VisitInvernessLochNess tourism business improvement district, said: “In general terms the rise in tourism down the south side of Loch Ness in the last few years is very noticeable, and the volume of traffic at Dores and Foyers is way more than it used to be.
“The demand is there without a doubt, and with the busy summer season extending now well into the shoulder months, there is an opportunity there.”
Mr and Mrs De’Silva could not be reached for comment yesterday.
