A Gallery of Glamour in the Glens; Muckrach Country House Hotel, Grantown on Spey

150 150 Daniel Fountain
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On a cold and fresh day in February with several inches of snow on the ground GALLERY DIRECT delivered 12 rooms of furniture and mirrors to the completely refurbished boutique MUCKRACH COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL in the Scottish Highlands just north of Aviemore. The Victorian shooting lodge has been lovingly restored to its former glory, where contemporary meets Victoriana. Boutique luxury has been brought to the Cairngorm National Park. Muckrach Country House Hotel opens its doors to the public in May 2015. Since January 2014 the historic shooting lodge has been totally refurbished from the bare bones of a soulless granite building into an opulent and lively hotel with a warm Highland welcome with quirky twists to the glamorous luxury and the latest technology. Everyone will become part of the clan!

Frank Hudson SPIRE collection and the spectacular MAINE WING bed with bespoke VERMONT in the sumptuous suites.

Muckrach Country House Hotel is an 11 bedroom Victorian Shooting Lodge set in 10 acres, surrounded by pastureland and a Scottish castle. Once part of the Seafield estate, the lodge was a vibrant hub for shooting and skiing parties of the 1900’s. Locals talk affectionately about Muckrach in its heyday, their sadness during its demise, and their excitement about its detailed restoration.

Frank Hudson MAINE WING bed with VERMONT and MANHATTAN with VALOIS feature mirror creating a stir.

Phil and Ed Cowap, the new owners, said “We are investing in the Highlands because we recognize the quality of the visitor offering in the Cairngorm National Park and we wish to enhance visitor experience by adding a luxury hotel to this area.”

“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Keith from Gallery Direct. His attention to detail and vast knowledge of the industry has been invaluable in the refurbishment process. Keith has helped us to create stunning and fabulous bedroom sets which create an immediate impression of luxury and charm. ”

Frank Hudson ALEXANDRIA creates a more feminine look for one suite and COLLECTION D’ ARTICLES for the Laird of the manor.

Every room is different and guarantees the guest a WOW factor and the warmest of hospitality at its best. This could be a hotel that you never want to leave.

Click here to contact Gallery Direct: http://www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Daniel Fountain / 22.04.2015

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.