The Douglas Hotel Woodland Extension

On 14th November, the Douglas Hotel unveiled their plans for developing new hotel rooms in the woodland immediately west of the Hotel. Designed by Danish architectural firm NORRØN, the new rooms will be centrally managed from the Hotel reception and are being developed in two distinctive phases. The additional rooms will be set atop and within a continuous stone wall enhancing the characteristics of the area, and welcoming visitors to the island of Arran. The new rooms bring with them a refurbished public woodland walk and new bridges over the Strathwhillan Burn, in this way creating a new entrance to the Arran Coastal Way.

In a well-attended event held in the Douglas Hotel on Monday 14th November, interested parties were given the opportunity to comment on the proposals and the contribution they will make to Arran. The first phase of new rooms will be constructed on the Douglas Hotel’s land immediately opposite the entrance to the ferry terminal. A total of 12 new rooms will be built here providing a modern interpretation of Arran’s famous terrace at Catacol, The Twelve Apostles. With a focus on natural materials, including stone, wood and metal, the building is set to be a talking point.

The first phase of development will also involve replacing the 3 footbridges over the Strathwhillan Burn that have fallen into disrepair over the years. The new bridges and the refurbished path will be open to the public, offering an alternative off-road route through the woodland for walkers on the Arran Coastal Way between Strathwhillan Farm and Brodick.

Further uphill at the old nursery, a second phase of rooms will be constructed on the higher ground overlooking the burn. Nestled within the trees, the designers were at pains to communicate the care that had been taken to retain all of the significant trees in this area, highlighting that discussions with North Ayrshire Council’s tree officer have already resulted in two redesigns of the buildings to ensure trees are retained and managed appropriately.

Visitors staying in the new rooms will be afforded views into the woodland and over the spectacular waterfalls, so long hidden from public view. Again using natural materials, the rooms are being designed to blend into the trees, offering a unique elevated experience of the woodland and the Strathwhillan Burn.