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Shuttered for 30 Years, Historic Seaside Ugadale Hotel in Machrihanish, Scotland, Reopens

The historic Ugadale Hotel, Scotland, officially reopened last weekend.

Thirty years after closing its doors, the historic Ugadale Hotel in The Village at Machrihanish Dunes, Scotland, lives again.

The hotel was officially reopened last weekend by the Village at Machrihanish Dunes to great pomp and circumstance. The Duke and Duchess of Argyll, along with David Southworth, President and CEO of Southworth Development  LLC; Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute and Willie Roe, Chairman of Highland and Islands Enterprises opened the doors of the famed hotel with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony surrounded by invited guests and well-wishers.

The crowd cheered and the Machrihanish Dunes Pipe Band played as guests were escorted into the new hotel for the first time.

Guests enjoy the warm atmosphere at the bar.
 

The following day The Ugadale Hotel hosted an Open House welcoming over 1,300 visitors from the local community. Guests were treated to a tour of the hotel’s suites and rooms, the Kintyre Club Restaurant, fitness centre and spa facilities.

For many it was a chance to witness the results of a building that long stood empty and dilapidated but for a select few it was a step back into history with many of the guests reminiscing of special occasions once celebrated at the hotel.

Dine at the Kintyre Club Restaurant.

Once regarded as the pinnacle of luxury accommodation in the west of Scotland when it was alternately known as The Ugadale Arms Hotel and The Machrihanish Hotel, The Ugadale Hotel is again welcoming visitors following a year of careful restoration work. Book your stay here.

It is the first time the hotel has welcomed guests in more than 30 years. The new Ugadale Hotel offers 22 luxurious guest rooms and suites, many overlooking the Atlantic and famed Machrihanish Golf Club.  It features a restaurant and bar called The Kintyre Club, the full-service Serenity Spa and a Fitness Centre.

The hotel has a waterview.

The Kintyre Club Restaurant
Complementing the historic charm of the hotel is the The Kintyre Club, a warm and inviting restaurant and bar in a private club setting offering inspired dining and spirited good times that takes its name from the organization formed in 1825.

Then, a group of twelve altruistic Scottish businessmen with roots in the Kintyre region banded together with the aim of assisting those in need in the Kintyre community – a charitable effort that the new club will continue.  The Kintyre Club is a private dining area reserved for hotel guests and club members, with all proceeds from membership dues distributed to Kintyre-area charities.  Over 600 memberships were accepted over the opening weekend thus raising over £6,000 for charity. 

Modern Amenities with Historic Charm
With style and architecture that echoes its historic past, The Ugadale provides guests with modern luxuries in each of its spacious and comfortable suites and rooms. These finely-appointed spaces feature rich walnut wood and antique brass highlights, along with traditional Scottish elements.

The new Serenity Spa offers weary travellers, as well as local residents, high-quality spa services and treatments, including facials, body treatments, sport/full body massages, manicures and pedicures. Serenity Spa features top-of-the-line Decleor Paris products. Located on the ground floor of the hotel is a Fitness Centre with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean outside its windows.

A Major Investment for Kintyre
In addition to bringing valuable jobs to the area, Southworth has invested over £ 19.3 Million ($30 Million US) to the overall project, along with grants from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) totalling £2.2million, including £886,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding support.

In addition, HIE provided a grant totalling £ 509,606 for the development of the Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course which opened in 2009.  A special grant was also awarded to the Royal Hotel by the Scottish Ministers, through Historic Scotland under the Historic Environment Regeneration Fund and the Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration Project (Argyll & Bute Council).

The Royal Hotel, the second historic hotel that’s currently being restored by Southworth, will offer in-town accommodations for guests of the Village at Machrihanish Dunes at its location overlooking Campbeltown Harbour.  It will feature 23 elegant rooms, a gourmet restaurant, and a lively waterfront pub.   The Royal Hotel is scheduled to open early May 2012.

About Machrihanish Dunes
Scotland’s award-winning seaside resort offering luxurious seaside cottages, the world’s most natural golf course and two-historic hotels all comprised to create The Village at Machrihanish Dunes.  Located on Scotland’s magnificent Argyll coastline, The Machrihanish Dunes Golf Club; The Ugadale Hotel; The Ugadale Cottages and The Old Clubhouse Pub are situated in the quaint town of Machrihanish. 

A mere five miles from Machrihanish in the heart of historic Campbeltown, The Royal Hotel stands serving as an in-town hotel option for those visiting the Village at Machrihanish Dunes.  With a growing collection of accommodations, fine restaurants and lively pubs, The Village at Machrihanish Dunes and The Royal Hotel will provide a warm welcome and first-class service to business and leisure travellers world-wide

Amazing Photos from a Cell Phone: Vineyard Haven Harbor at Dusk, Feb. 17, 2012

I am amazed sometimes at the photos my little cell phone camera takes. See below for a few shots at sunset, taken from the town dock at Owen Park, on February 17, 2012. The ferry has just come in and in the distance on the other side of the harbor you can see the Black Dog ships Alabama and Shenandoah at their moorings and waiting for summer.

Frederica, St. Simons Island, GA, Offers Private Golf, Boating, Equestrian & More

Frederica: Golf, boating, equestrian and more.

NEW TODAY: FREDERICA, ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA

Frederica is a 2,500-acre, private, gated golf club community located on St. Simons Island, GA, and bordered on three sides by historic Ft. Frederica, the Frederica River and salt marshes.

The luxurious boathouse.

Luxury amenities include golf golf course( designed by Tom Fazio), equestrian facilities, tennis, pool, fishing, boating and deepwater access to the St. Simons waterways. The community is being developed by Huizenga Holdings, owned by Wayne Huizenga, who is active in the club along with his wife Marti.

Explore and have access to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Featuring 2,500 acres of Lowcountry splendor, private and secure, framed by the Frederica River, edged by sweeping marshlands and adjacent to historic Fort Frederica, Frederica is a true private haven.

Lake Stories: The Boathouse offers a place for residents and members to access the lake via community canoes, kayaks and electric powered boats. It is not uncommon to hear tales of fish ranging from 10 to 11 pounds being pulled from the lake.

Enjoying the waterfront.

Real Estate: Frederica, GA

• Single-family homes and homesites with golf, lake, marsh, river, wooded view
  • Priced from $1.275 million to $3.295 million
• Homesites with golf, lake, marsh, river, wooded views
  • Sized from 1 – 4+ acres
  • Priced from $275,000 to $2.7 million
• Send me more information about Frederica

Snow Falling on Vineyard Haven Harbor Creates a Magical Saturday Morning

A light snow fell on Vineyard Haven Harbor this morning, transforming the liquid landscape into something special. See photos below.

Gannon & Benjamin Marine Railway, boat building and repair.

Black Dog launch service dock and building.

Black Dog Tavern.

BD Tavern entrance.

Schooner Perception on the hard.

Schooner Alabama at anchor.

Wooden boats within the Inner Harbor.

Harbor lookout.

Taking a February dip.

Black Dog Ships dock.

Gannon & Benjamin, where boating magic happens.

Alabama.

 

Gannon & Benjamin's New Family Sailboat Takes Shape in Their Vineyard Haven Shipyard

This winter work began on Nat Benjamin’s newest daysailer, Design #78, a family boat built for Vineyard waters for adventures near and somewhat far.

This newest vessel in the Benjamin & Gannon catalog can carry either a gaff or Marconi rig and two of them are already on order with a scheduled launch for early summer 2012. 

Benjamin had in mind several requirements for the boar:  affordability, easy maintenance, trailer-able, good performance and an appeal to a wide age group. 

The generous sail area, long LWL and powerful quarters are designed for good performance as well as good looks that would make it attractive to younger sailors for racing and adventuring. 

Older sailors will appreciate the bench seats and comfortable coaming to support the lower back. The boat will have painted topsides, deck and bottom. Only the spars will be varnished.

Varnish can be used, if requested, but G&B recommends tung oil finish on the coamings and guard rails, and Penefin for the interior in order to keep the maintenance low. 

The keel is made of angelique, and locust and white oak will be used for the stem and frames.  Planking will be white cedar.  Fastenings will be silicon bronze and copper rivets.           

The deck will be marine plywood covered with canvas. The cock-pit coamings and trim will be in silver balli and wana. 

Specs:  LOD 18’3"       LWL: 17’5"  

BEAM:  6’3"    DRAFT: 10"/3’9"   SAIL AREA: 171sf   

See more photos on the G&B website.

 

 

River Landing, NC’s “Building Bucks” Buyer Incentive Program Saves $1,000s in Dues, Upgrades

>> Real Estate Deals

> River Landing, Wallace NC announces its 2012 “Building Bucks” incentive program for lot buyers ready to build. It starts with a “Pick Two” opportunity of any of these four options: One year of club dues waived; one year of the Premier Golf Cart Plan paid; $2,500 in landscaping products/services; a free Social Membership or free upgrade from Social to Sports or Sports to Golf.

There’s a bonus for Building Bucks participants—entry into a drawing for a free, brand-new, personal golf cart and charger. Send me more information about River Landing!

Sign Up to Test Drive M-Series Morris Yachts at the Miami Boat Show, Feb. 16-19

The antidote to winter.

Escape the flurry of the Miami Boat Show and head down to the peaceful waterfront in Coconut Grove to view the beautiful M-Series yachts--the M29, M36 & M42--lined up at the docks. Cuyler, Prent, Scott and Doug will be on hand to greet you and answer your questions.

Your advised not to wait until it's too late. Reservation space is limited. Call today to schedule your test sail of the M-Series in Miami, Florida February 16-19.

Schedule
Thursday, February 16th - Sunday, February 19th 10am - 5:30pm

Location
Shake-A-Leg Sailing Center
2620 South Bayshore Drive
Coconut Grove, FL, 33133

Contact Morris Yachts to reserve your appointment time, appointment time required, via email, or call  or +1 (207) 244-5509.