THE DORES INN
WildLand and our collaborative design time are delighted to share the emerging proposals for the Dores Inn and beach and look forward to hearing your views. The design of the project is at an early stage and refinements are still being made. Our proposals for the site are shown below. We welcome your comments and questions about the proposals which you can send here. The deadline for comments is 11th July 2025.
Our Vision
WildLand has a 200 year dream… to care for and share in the recovering of our natural landscapes, buildings and environments in the Highlands of Scotland. The restoration of Aldourie Castle and Estate has been a key part of the WildLand vision and we hope that Dores Inn and Beach will play key part in the next chapter of the story. The Aldourie Castle and Estate has recently undergone a sensitive restoration of the grounds and buildings. The wider estate works focused on the restoration and enhancement of the garden landscape led by Tom Stuart Smith.
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WildLand are now bringing forward exciting new plans to transform Dores Inn and surrounding environment to make it a better experience for locals residents and visitors a like. Tom Stuart Smith will continue on from the work on the Aldourie Estate helping to maintain a link between Dores Inn and the Castle Grounds, as we look to improve the biodiversity of the area and our farming approach. Tuckey Design Studio will lead on the restoration and extension of the Inn with an approach which is thoughtful and sympathetic to this special place at the head of the Loch Ness.
Local Place Plan
The community’s Local Place Plan is an excellent piece of work and highlights local priorities including road safety and traffic, car parking, public toilet provision, play park improvements and the beach area. We want to ensure our plans fully reflect and embrace local priorities, while helping to deliver several of the key proposals outlined in the Local Place Plan. This process is rooted in collaboration, and we are committed to working closely with the community over the coming months to shape a shared vision for the area. Through open dialogue and active participation, we aim to identify opportunities that will achieve the greatest and most inclusive benefit for everyone who lives, works, and spends time here.
Achieved To Date
The restoration of Aldourie Castle and Grounds has been a resounding success - recently winning a Royal Institute of Architects Scotland Award. The Category A listed Aldourie Castle has been reharled with much needed addition to the kitchen facilities, a complete new interior design. The steadings, which were derelict, are now completely restored as Estate Office and Event Space, new additions include Boat House and New Gate Lodge. The Dores Inn Pop-Up and Wild Food Trucks have been very busy since opening and we have been delighted with the response. We aim to maintain a welcoming environment and good food with local provenance as we develop our plans for Dores Inn.
EMERGING VISION
Wider Landscape Context
We envision allowing the surrounding fields to gradually return to their natural state through a carefully managed restoration programme that will enhance habitat creation, manage flood risk, and increase biodiversity. This transformative process would unfold over many years, indicatively:
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The burn would be realigned to improve the beach and protect the Inn from potential flood risk. We will establish a new access and parking area with naturalised beach areas, overseed with native meadow species, and introduce indigenous plantings to soften and integrate the edges of current vegetation.
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Additional native species will be established as areas of scrub and small trees are allowed to naturally regenerate, creating diverse wildlife habitats and ecological corridors.
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Animals such as Highland cattle and Hebridean sheep could be slowly introduced at low densities. The landscape will gradually evolve into a dynamic mosaic of open park pasture, emerging scrub, and naturally regenerating woodland. Light, year-round grazing will help maintain this balance, mimicking the ecological role of extinct wild herbivores. Their browsing, trampling, and seed dispersal will create varied habitats that support greater biodiversity.
DORES INN WIDER CONTEXT - PRESENT DAY
■ Planning Boundary
■ Aldourie Castle Ownership Boundary
DORES INN - 10 YEARS AFTER NATURE RECOVERY
■ Planning Boundary
■ Aldourie Castle Ownership Boundary
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1 Proposed access drive
2 Overflow/beach visitor parking
3 Dores beach public parking
4 Dores Inn Parking
5 Service building
6 Proposed stone bridge
7 Accessible parking for Dores Inn
8 Dores Inn
9 Proposed jetty for Inn
10 Re-graded, naturalised beach
11 The Nessie Hunter reamains
12 Proposed public pier
13 Bakery and toilets
14 Play park
15 Sports field
16 Sauna
17 Existing seasonal wetland
18 New woodland pasture
LANDSCAPE
& NATURE
Imagined view looking across a new stone bridge to Dores Inn
Proposed plan - not to scale
Public playpark
Public sports field
Public footpaths and cycle route
Public car parking facilities
BUILDING PROPOSAL
RENOVATION OF THE DORES INN
Our Approach
The works at Dores Inn will focus on carefully restoring the existing architecture of the Inn, celebrating its historic features whilst thoughtfully exploring opportunities to improve the layout of its internal spaces. At the heart of our plans for the Inn is an ambition to create a greater visual connection to the loch and the surrounding landscape, enhancing the experience for guests to the restaurant and pub. The works will be conducted with a high level of care and craftsmanship, responding to the historic character of the building.
Our Vision
We propose to strip back recent building extensions facing the Loch to reveal the building’s original form. We have then proposed to introduce a new building adjacent to the old, which extends the dining space within the restaurant - providing views out to the Loch. Between the old and the new building we are proposing a new entrance to the restaurant - accessed from the landscape to the north, over the bridge from the car park.
Opening up the building plan will create a more generous pub space in the old part of the building. The bar and restaurant are connected in the plan, with dining tables along the windows looking out to the loch.
BAKERY, CAFE
AND SHOP
Emerging Design Approach
We have positioned the building within a small clearing by the existing woodland. The building is oriented to offer the best views down the Loch to the horizon, with a covered separation between the two linked buildings that frames the view as you approach from the path.
We are proposing that the building will be constructed predominantly from timber, a small amount of stone and a thatch roof. This use of materials intends to soften the building’s appearance within its environment, blending in with its woodland surroundings. The building is designed so to create an informal ‘public square’ in the landscape - set back from the beach. Benches are designed against the building facade, under the overhanging roofs. This offers a communal point to shelter - and to enjoy unrivalled views down the loch. This could provide the space for small pop-up events to take place in the future.
PROPOSED INDICITAVE PHASING
Open Through Development
The Dores Inn and Beach development will be carefully planned in phases to keep disruption to a minimum while maintaining essential services for visitors. Throughout the entire construction period, public toilets and food purchasing options will always be available, either through existing facilities or temporary alternatives that will be positioned on-site. Each construction phase will include clear pedestrian access routes to the beach and parking areas. The Nessie Hunter and Rib Rides will have continuous access throughout the entire development process, ensuring these popular attractions remain operational. The phased approach will mean that while one area is under construction, visitors will still be able to enjoy other parts of the site, ensuring Dores remains open and accessible to the public throughout the development process.
Current setup
Phase 1
Phase 2
Opening
Phase 3
PLANNING PROCESS
Development Overview
Please find below an outline of the consultation and planning process. It explains where and how your comments feed into the refinement of our design proposals and the Council’s decision-making.
Aldourie Castle Limited of the site has undertaken a significant amount of survey and analysis to inform the emerging proposals and detailed design.
The proposed emerging development currently comprises of:
‘Renovation and expansion of the Dores Inn (approximately 385m2), two new jetties, sauna, beach café/ bakery (approximately 65m2), shop/ kiosk/ public toilets (approximately 45m2), car parking, relocate recycling point, service building (approximately 35m2), landscape (including realigned burn and relocated football pitch/ play park), paths (temporary diversions and permanent), access and associated drainage/ service infrastructure.’
‘WildLand (Aldourie Castle Limited) submitted a Proposal of Application Notice to The Highland Council on the 27th May 2025. As a “major development”, we are now undertaking this public exhibition, along with a second event (hopefully in August, date to be confirmed) to inform and shape our proposals before submitting a planning application later this year.’
WE WELCOME
YOUR FEEDBACK
We warmly welcome your comments, questions, and feedback. The deadline to share your thoughts is 11th July 2025. You're also invited to join us in person at the Community Council meeting on 28th July 2025 at 7pm, where we’ll share how your input is helping shape our next steps. We’d love to see you there.